Warrnambool library partnered with Beach Patrol Warrnambool to put together a marine debris display as part of Plastic Free July. This was an opportunity to showcase what is washing up on our beaches, polluting our oceans and killing marine life.
The ‘sources’ that impact these remote beaches are:
• Local Sewage Outfalls (Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland)
• Waste from the commercial fishing industry
• Waste from the international shipping industry
• And some historical waste that washes out of sand dunes during big seas and in them, there is a lot of old polystyrene foam, plastic film, fishing rope, old bottles.
Artist: Ms Beachtrice Comber
Beach-combed Materials: 18 metres of lobster pot plastic cane to build the skirt inner hoop, 39 plastic bait baskets to create the dress and 10 lobster pot necks to create the hat, shoulder pads and skirt.
The display consists of 85 jars of debris (100 different items), two small toy figurine displays, five screens playing multimedia, artworks created by Hawkesdale P-12 School (marine animals made from marine plastic), a display of all the foreign drink bottles we have collected and a ‘Better Buds’ campaign display.
Due to lockdown, the display has been extended to allow more people to go and visit it. If you can’t go, you can admire it from afar through the photos in this blog #plasticwaste #oceanpollution #beachpatrol #marinepollution #plasticfreejuly #Warrnamboolcity
Acknowledgments:
- Warrnambool City
- Colleen Hughson
- Mandy Shute
- Beachtrice Comber
- Lobster Pot Ball Gown created by Colleen Hughson and Gage Adams
