Agencies unite to clean up Ukerebagh Island flood debris

16 August 2022

A 12-tonne pontoon washed down river from South Murwillumbah has been removed along with more than 50 cubic metres of flood debris from the Ukerebagh Island Nature Reserve at Tweed Heads.

The clean-up, led by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), began after the EPA reviewed information from aerial surveys.

Council Community Development Officer, Aboriginal Community Services Tim Appo also contacted the EPA after identifying a large amount of flood debris on the eastern side of the island which is located on the main channel of the Tweed River.

EPA flood clean-up crews, assisted by Tweed Byron Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) rangers, Tweed Aboriginal Co-operative Society, specialist marine clean-up contractors, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Council, faced the challenging task of removing the debris and transporting it by barge to a local waste staging area.

EPA flood recovery manager Martin Puddey said that clean-up of Ukerebagh Island saw the removal of drums and containers, timber pallets, silage bales, tyres, furniture, gas bottles, various plastics as well as the 12 tonne pontoon which was washed down river from South Murwillumbah, 25 km away.

The pontoon has been returned to its grateful owner.

“The waste removed from Ukerebagh was sorted as much as possible for recycling and reuse to reduce the volume of debris going to landfill,” Mr Puddey said.

“Rangers from the Tweed Byron LALC and the Tweed Aboriginal Co-operative Society shared their valuable knowledge of the local area with clean-up crews to help preserve culturally sensitive sites on Ukerebagh.”

Chairperson of the Tweed Aboriginal Co-operative Society, Nicole Rotumah, said that Rangers provided cultural support to the clean-up crews.

“Ukerebagh Island is important to our local Aboriginal people including the Blue Hole, for traditional hunting and gathering oysters, crabs and fish,” Ms Rotumah said.

CEO of the Tweed Byron LALC Leweena Williams said it was really important that the LALC was part of the clean-up and making the area safe,

“This river system is really important to our people, we’re saltwater people and we have a responsibility to take care of it.”

The community can report flood debris in local waterways and beaches or seek advice regarding the removal of hazardous materials through the Environment Line on 131 555 or info@epa.nsw.gov.au or flood.programs@epa.nsw.gov.au