Divers haul e-bikes, trolleys and asbestos from Tweed creek

LOCAL divers will enter Terranora Creek on Clean Up Australia Day to remove submerged rubbish that poses risks to wildlife and water users.

The Tweed Gold Coast Freedivers Club will lead the clean-up, targeting areas beneath bridges and jetties where dumped waste regularly accumulates.

Club secretary Craig McNiven said last year’s dive removed two tonnes of rubbish from the creek with the help of about 20 volunteers.

“Bridge-jumpers always run the risk of landing on a rusted shopping trolley hiding down there,” McNiven said.

“But then you’ve also got fishermen regularly snagging their lines on these obstacles, which causes even more rubbish like sinkers and hooks.”

McNiven said abandoned crab pots were among the most hazardous items recovered.

“They’re deathtraps for marine life,” he said.

Batteries are also commonly found, posing environmental risks as they corrode and release heavy metals into the water.

Asbestos has also been recovered during previous clean-ups, which McNiven said may be linked to the cost of disposal on land.

While the Tweed River is widely regarded for its appearance above the surface, McNiven said conditions below the waterline were often overlooked.

Items recovered in past dives include shopping trolleys, electric rental bikes, car tyres and bottles.

“We even pulled out an entire toilet system once,” McNiven said.

The upcoming dive may be affected by recent heavy rainfall, with visibility dependent on tides and water clarity.

“The river looks like chocolate at the moment, but we are lucky that a big high tide falls on the day, so fingers crossed we’ll have some good visibility by then,” McNiven said.

Divers will meet at Kennedy Drive Boat Ramp at 7.30am on Sunday March 1 and will clean Terranora Creek until 12pm.

The club is seeking additional volunteers, particularly those with small boats or similar watercraft.