CCC eNews, Issue 7, September 2007

Mudcrabs–Cooks River eco volunteers

By Peter Munro

The Mudcrabs–Cooks River Eco Volunteers carry out and enjoy community clean-ups to improve the health of the Cooks River and regenerate the foreshores by planting native trees and shrubs. Mudcrabs is a growing environmental grassroots group supported by local councils. You can often see members of this well-named group moving along the river removing litter with their 'pincer-like rubbish pullers.' The Mudcrabs also showcases local art which highlights the health and beauty of the Cooks River in Sydney's inner west by supporting the annual Riverworks–Cooks River Environmental Sculpture Competition.

The Mudcrabs–Cooks River Eco Volunteers grew out of the interest and involvement of Chris Bartlett and Ian Bruce who, in early 2005, began a regular community-based clean up of the river – other people noticed them working along the river and offered to help.

Canterbury Council also became involved and now assists by supplying bags, rubbish grabbers, boots and gloves. Initially, Chris had to individually phone all the volunteers to tell them when and where the cleanups would be held. This became onerous and expensive as more and more people wanted to help, so an email database was developed and now information is distributed regularly to more than 350 volunteers.

In October 2005, Bronwyn Tuohy, a member of the group and a local artist, supported by the Mudcrabs, ran the first Riverworks–Cooks River Environmental Sculpture Competition. Bronwyn used only recycled material sourced from Reverse Garbage at Marrickville. This competition is now held annually to highlight the Cooks River and focus attention on the health of the river.

The name 'Mudcrabs' was chosen because the presence of mudcrabs in the river is a sign of the health of the river and because of the image of individuals moving about the foreshores with 'pincer-like rubbish pullers'. A logo was designed and t-shirts were printed. Interest in our activities started to grow quickly as members wore their Mudcrabs t-shirts to the clean-ups. Both Marrickville and Canterbury Councils were becoming keen to use our services and were prepared to support the group by supplying equipment, paying for t-shirts and providing morning tea.

Since July 2005, the Mudcrabs has removed more than 900 bags of litter, estimated to be more than 200 cubic metres from the Cooks River. The Mudcrabs has also removed 154 bags of weeds and planted over 300 native trees and shrubs at its bush regeneration site at Rosedale Reserve.

The goal of the Mudcrabs is to remain a grass roots group. There is no structure or formal organisation but we also realise that we must become more politically active to reduce the flow of pollution at its source. The fight continues and we have recently joined the Cooks River Valley Association to assist in our endeavours.

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