Eco Nets trialled at the coast

by Jess Milne

The Cooloola Coast waterways are getting a helping hand from an initiative by local Paul Bentley and his Eco Net litter prevention traps.

After eight years of research, design and data collection, his Eco Net traps are now being installed in Tin Can Bay.

Using recycled trawler nets, the traps are designed to catch waste that exits drain outlets before it reaches the water.

“Last year Gympie Regional Council supported a trial of the nets at two sites in Gympie.The Hungry Jacks outlet yielded 480kg of waste from a 4ha catchment area in just eight months,” Paul explained.

After the successful trial, Absolute Environment Solutions were granted funding from Gympie Regional Council to expand in the Tin Can Bay area with further proposed sites in Cooloola Cove and Rainbow Beach.

Paul outlined the positioning of nets was decided by “analysing the catchment area and rating each for litter contamination risk. Those that are deemed to be a potential high risk are flow charted to find the last outlet before a waterway to ensure that runoff is clear of rubbish before being released into the Sandy Straits.”

One site that the nets can be seen in action is in the double drain beside the footpath on the southern side of Wes Mitchell Park. The nets are inspected after rainfall and if needed emptied with data collected.

Paul wants to expand Eco Nets to form part of a litter control system in Main Road areas as he is concerned about the amount of waste still escaping vehicles. “Whether deliberate or accidental, this roadside rubbish floats its way to water and I want my Eco Nets to grab it,” Paul said.

In the next twelve months the Eco Nets will be on guard around the Cooloola Coast and if we all do the right thing and put litter in the bin, they’ll finish the job by catching wayward waste that has somehow escaped good intention.