WITH enthusiasm, clients of Challenge Disability Services at Dubbo rolled up their sleeves in a collaborative effort with other community organisations to clean up the banks of the Macquarie River.
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At the end of Tamworth Street near the river on Thursday, high-visibility vests dotted the area as community members from Challenge Disability Services, Dubbo City Council, Dubbo Macquarie River Bushcare and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fishing and Aquaculture worked together.
Pulling weeds from around newly planted saplings and picking up rubbish were completed in the lead-up to the launch of the Dubbo Macquarie River Bushcare initiative Protect Repair Connect this Sunday at Pilchers Reserve.
Broken glass and cigarette butts were common items and put into garbage bags.
Sam Davis from DPI Fishing and Aquaculture said the main point of the day with clients of Challenge Disability Services was to broaden community participation in caring for the Macquarie River.
“These guys have such enthusiasm and passion and a great outlook on life,”she said.
‘’It gives you a different perspective working with different groups in the community.”
Rubbish picked up on the day by the working party was disposed of by Dubbo City Council appropriately while weeds were to be mulched.
Clients of Challenge Disability Services will continue to participate in Protect Repair Connect in the coming weeks working on conserving the banks of the Macquarie River.
“Hopefully this experience is providing a new opportunity for them that they might not have had,” Ms Davis said.
Protect Repair Connect supported Dubbo City Council, Inland Water Rejuvenation Association, Taronga Western Plains Zoo, and the DPI is keen to engage more non-government organisations in the $250,000 initiative funded by the NSW Environment Trust.
Dubbo Macquarie River Bushcare is also celebrating 10 years of restoration of the local river at the official launch of Protect Repair Connect by mayor Mathew Dickerson this Sunday.
From 9am to 12pm at Pilchers Reserve face painting, animal encounters, weed and fish identification, cleaning the reserve and a sausage sizzle will be part of the celebration and launch.
megan.taylor@ruralpress.com