Clean Up the World Weekend 2009

19 September 2009

Outer Tubes and Honeymoon Bay

On September 19th 2009 members from The Australia Land Based Anglers Association Inc. (ALBAA), volunteers, cadets and staff from the Defence Environment Team came together to celebrate 'Clean Up the World Weekend' (CUTW) at the Beecroft Weapons Range (BWR) in Jervis Bay. The clean up efforts were centred around popular Land Based Game fishing location, The Outer Tubes, Honeymoon Bay camping area and Target Beach south.

During the day over a ton of refuse was collected by more than 38 volunteers and support crew from these locations and removed from the range for proper disposal. CUTW Weekend marked an important step for ALBAA, engaging not only the Defence Force but working with the Environment Team and volunteers to achieve a positive outcome for the area.

ALBAA president, Christain Gough hit the muster point early to meet up with Jan Forbes (Defence Environment Team co-ordinator) and get the formal part of the day started. Dragging Kurt along the one thing they could agree on was breaking camp early to the smell of bacon and eggs left a distinct feeling of loss and envy! All that aside the trestles were set up and the rules for the door prize draw (kindly donated by Shimano Australia) established before most of the troops arrived.

The cadets turned up en-mass just as our blokes headed out to site no. 1. We were allocated one pair of these future troopers to help at Tubes while the rest went into Honeymoon Bay and surrounds. We also had a volunteer or two turn up for the day. One from HMAS Albatross and a civilian that heard the event was happening on ABC radio. Julie we'll make sure that we get the word out sooner next time so we can get you and your friends down for the day, thank you for all your hard work!

Leaving the cadets to be 'briefed in' the ALBAA crew rendezvoused at the lighthouse carpark. It didn't take long before we were heading down the track with the younger ones making the older ones feel a little older. Over the past season the Defence Environment Team has undertaken an access improvement project at the Outer Tubes. The result of this is a wide walking track and galvanised stair case leading onto the ledge itself. The new track makes it possible to gain vehicular access to the Ledge in case of emergency and is also hoped to improve environmental conditions.

The Outer Torpedo Tubes is a world famous LBG fishing location made even more unique by its relatively calm and safe waters. Being inside the mouth of the bay but still subject to the currents (under certain conditions) the Outer Tubes has seen Black Marlin in excess of 300lb and Various Tuna species landed from its shores. Once onto the ledge Lou's ‘grabber thingies’ were a massive hit with the kids! We will have to make some enquiries into getting hold of a stack of these things. Does anybody know the marketing person from E-Z Reacher? There may be some shameless plugs coming their way in the near future!

Trav Furlong kept dad (Jim) busy for the whole time we where there, not only giving the grabbers a work out but also getting right under the Tubes chassis to make sure nothing was missed.

With Trav on the job the cadets were put to work carrying sacks out with the rest of the crew before Leon slowed things up with a photo shoot on the new stair case.

The ledge itself was found to be in reasonable condition but as with any spot that’s seen over 50 years hard fishing you could literally spend all day picking up tidbits of fishing line and small terminal tackle.

Once off the ledge and we loaded up the tray back ute with the heavier items and kept a couple of bags in case anything was found on the way out.

The old track was hard on the thighs coming out and the new one just condenses that with a steep section at start that really lets you know just how many muscles you have in your legs!

At the track head we waited for the ute to catch up and a quick head count before relocating back down to Honey Moon Bay where we were greeted by a horde of Cadets, the smell of BBQ’d onions and a Marquee!