Goulburn Mulwaree deputy mayor and chairman of the West Goulburn Bushland Reserve Group Cr Bob Kirk said initially a group of five volunteers gathered on Sunday morning at the Ridge St hill and started their cleanup.

A group consisting of himself, Vicki Saville, Rick McPherson, Ray Holmes and Tim Street initially set about cleaning up the northern end of the reserve from Ridge Street down to Henderson Street.

They were joined by Tony and Bronwyn Warren and their two boys - Lloyd and Bryce. The group also ventured into the top section along Ridge Street up to the water towers.

“The amount of dumped rubbish within these areas was considerable, and included sheets of iron, wire and netting, paint tins, beer cans, plenty of broken bottles and glass, bed bases, other assorted rusted “things,” bits of brick, concrete, wooden pallets, tiles, shoes, plastics, golf balls, busted up car batteries – and even a vehicle which we left there for another day,” Cr Kirk said.

He said Council provided a skip for the collection, which was soon filled, as well as a further pile of bagged rubbish from the 20ha (45-acre bushland area).

“All up there was about four cubic metres (0.5 tonne) of material removed from the four acres. And there is only 40 more or so, acres to go,” Cr Kirk said.

“There is still much to do, but people were stoked. They were amazed at their efforts and what was in there.

He said the plan is to continue the cleanup program, with regular working bees.

“There are over 30 people who expressed interest at the first meeting.

I know we will end up with a core of 10 or 12. Based on how much we got done on that first day, it is not going to take us a long time,” he said.

Cr Kirk said the next effort will be scheduled for Sunday morning July 7 from 9am to 1pm, starting at the water towers on Ridge Street.

“That was our first Sunday outing, but we are going to try and alternate the times, because weekends don’t suit everyone,” he said.

Meanwhile, the next general meeting of the group is to be held at 5.30 pm on Wednesday, July 10 at The Black Sheep Irish Pub. Anyone interested in joining this community group, and helping with the project are welcome to come along. For further information, contact Bob Kirk on 0418 217 520.