What is Clean Up the Alps?

As part of the Victorian Government's ‘The Alps; A fresh start - a healthy future' program, Clean Up Australia is working with Parks Victoria, Conservation Volunteers Australia and local communities to Clean Up the Alps.

The Clean Up the Alps Weekend held on November 11 and 12, 2006 was a great success with over 80 volunteers cleaning up at Mount Buffalo and Falls Creek. This activity is the first of many volunteer opportunities to help protect and restore the fragile alpine environment.

To find out more about volunteer projects in the Alpine region, contact Convervation Volunteers Australia on 1800 032 501 or visit www.cva.org.au

Why do we need to Clean up the Alps?

• The Alps contribute nearly 10% of Victoria's stream flows and play a vital role in supplying fresh water for river systems and communities.
  
• Human interaction has had a negative impact on much of the Alps vegetation through the littering of rubbish and the introduction weeds and feral animals.
  
• Alpine mossbeds when healthy guarantee the delivery of quality water to the catchments - over the years they have been severely damaged.
  
• Discarded rubbish is a serious threat to the sensitive alpine environment and Victoria's fresh water supply. On Clean Up the Alps Weekend 2006 over two tonnes of rubbish was collected from seven sites. The top litter items were cigarette butts, confectionary wrappers and pieces of plastic.

Learn more about the fragile Alps environment.

Click Here to download the Clean Up the Alps Snapshot (3MB) (3017.48kb)

Clean Up the Alps Ambassador: Michael Robertson

Clean Up Australia is proud to introduce Clean Up the Alps Ambassador, Michael Robertson. The Freestyle Skiing champion and 2006 Torino Olympian, attended the Clean Up the Alps event at Falls Creek and was a great support to volunteers.

"The Victorian Alps are an area of outstanding beauty and a great place for skiers. I rely on this area during the winter months for training and the Clean Up the Alps Weekend is a great way for me to give something back and help to preserve the area."

Download Bio of Clean Up the Alps Ambassador Michael Robertson (65.29kb)