March marks Clean Up Month across Australia, and the Dawesville community is stepping up with a series of local clean-up events aimed at protecting our bushland, beaches and estuary. Three community groups are leading the charge, each hosting a clean-up day to help reduce litter, protect wildlife and keep the region looking its best.

Local Clean-Up Events

• 1 March: Connecting Corridors - Anaconda Reserve and surrounds
• 22 March: Coastal Waste Warriors - Dawesville foreshore
• 29 March: Bouvard Coast Care Group - Tims Thickett

These events offer residents a chance to roll up their sleeves and take part in caring for their neighbourhood. Community clean-ups not only remove rubbish from public spaces, but they also strengthen local pride and help reduce the amount of waste entering our waterways.

Why Clean-Ups Matter

Plastics left in the environment don’t simply disappear. Over time they break down into tiny fragments known as microplastics, which end up in our soil, air and waterways. In the Peel-Harvey Estuary, these particles are easily eaten by crabs, bream, whiting and other local species. And who eats those fish? Humans do - along with dolphins, birds and a wide range of marine & estuarine wildlife.

Once microplastics enter the food chain, they can accumulate and cause long-term harm to animals & ecosystems. Reducing plastic at the source is one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect the estuary and the species that rely on it.

Everyone Has a Role to Play

Clean Up Month is a reminder that caring for Dawesville’s natural areas is a shared responsibility. Whether it’s joining a community clean-up, picking up litter during a morning walk, or reducing single-use plastics at home, every action helps. By working together, residents can keep Dawesville’s beaches, bushland and waterways healthy for future generations - and for the wildlife that calls this place home.