An initiative to recycle fishing line waste and turn it into street furniture is one of the projects that has been supported as part of Lake Macquarie City Council’s Innovator Support Program.
It involves the installation of fishing tackle bins across the region’s popular spots to collect fishing line waste and divert it from entering the lake and ocean.
The collected waste will then be used to make products such as street furniture.
Applicant and avid fishing enthusiast Renee Tuxford has ambitious plans for the simple but potentially significant impact the installation of fishing tackle bins will have on the environment and community.
“As a family we love fishing, but we often find lost and littered fishing line at jetties and on the lake foreshore that either ends up in the environment or landfill,” she said.
“It’s a huge problem that impacts our environment, waterways and wildlife.
“It’s a simple solution, but with the help of council, we can install the fishing tackle bins and collect the waste.
“From there, I will work with volunteers to collect the waste and send it to Newcastle Street Furniture to wash and compound the fishing line into a desired product. It then can be used in furniture, jewellery or even concrete material for footpaths.”
The fishing waste initiative is one of three projects funded under the Innovator Support Program, which will provide more than $14,000 to support the successful applicants.
The two other supported initiatives include funding for the further development of a plastic recycling system by PrintStream that converts consumer plastics into 3D Print filament and a roving ‘pop up’ gallery that will be presented in aged care facilities developed by Lake Macquarie artist Bridget Whitehead.
Lake Macquarie City Council’s Smart Cities Lead Claire Chaikin-Bryan said the three initiatives were perfect examples of how innovation and creativity can be beneficial for the community and environment.
“We have a clear focus on encouraging and supporting innovation across the City,” she said.
“The grant program is an initiative from our Innovators Support Roadmap, so it’s wonderful that we are now seeing the roadmap come to life with real projects that have flow on benefits for the environment, community and our lifestyle.”
To view the Innovators Support Roadmap, visit lakemac.com.au/Our-Council/City-strategies-plans-and-reporting
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