CARRUM DOWNS — Last Sunday morning on March 1st, saw the shores of Keast Park and the surrounding foreshore transformed into a hub of environmental action. Three prominent local groups—3196 Chelsea BeachPatrol, 3198 Seaford BeachPatrol, and the Carrum Down Adventures and Pathfinders—joined forces for Clean Up Australia Day 2026, proving that community spirit is the best defense against litter.
The event, which saw well over 100 enthusiastic locals scouring the sand and scrub, wasn’t just about picking up trash. It served as a powerful platform for a growing national movement: the push to increase the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS) refund from 10c to 20c.
The collaboration brought together a multi-generational workforce. While the BeachPatrol groups provided the local expertise on litter “hotspots” near the Nepean Highway and the Seaford Wharf, the Carrum Down Adventurers and Pathfinders brought high energy, filling bags with everything from microplastics to abandoned household items.
“When groups like BeachPatrol and the Pathfinders unite, we don’t just clean the beach; we send a message that we care about our backyard,” said Jaqui O’Leary, Chelsea Beach Patrol leader. “But even with all this effort, we are still seeing too many bottles and cans ending up in our dunes.”
Supporting the event was Boomerang Alliance, a leading environmental advocacy group currently campaigning for an upgrade to Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme (CDS). They were joined by several local Members of Parliament who walked the foreshore to witness the litter impact firsthand.
Boomerang Alliance is calling for the state government to increase the container refund from 10c to 20c, and states that the current 10c incentive, which has remained unchanged in some states for decades, has been eroded by inflation. They presented data suggesting that doubling the refund to 20c could boost return rates from the current plateau of about 65% to over 90%, inject millions of dollars back into local community groups and charities while significantly reducing the amount of litter entering the Port Phillip Bay ecosystem.
Local MPs noted that while the Victorian CDS has been a success since its 2023 launch, the “value” of 10 cents in 2026 doesn’t carry the same weight it once did. For a family or a community group, the difference between $1.00 and $2.00 for a bag of 10 cans is the difference between a minor gesture and a meaningful contribution to their fundraising goals.
By the end of the morning, the tally was impressive: over 115kg of rubbish and several kilograms of recyclables were diverted from the ocean. As the volunteers packed up their gloves, the message to the state government was clear: provide a better incentive for the benefit of the community.
