A community clean up, co-ordinated by the NSW government’s Department of Family and Community Services was held on Tuesday afternoon and the aim was to ensure the area would come out gleaming. Wattle Hill was selected by the department, which is responsible for some of the public housing in the area, after similar events in Ashmont and Tolland in Wagga and Pioneer in Griffith. 

Skip bins were provided to remove some of the bulkier items from in and around their homes, with community members also heading out to pick up rubbish in and around the area. 

One eager gentleman also took it upon himself to clean up around one of the channels that runs behind some of the public housing properties, with others coming along behind him to pick up everything he was scooping out and removing. 

Luke Gooding from the Department of Family and Community Services said the idea had been received with positivity. “We know residents in Wattle Hill want to take pride in their surroundings, but they are sometimes limited in doing so,” he said. 

“Whether it’s access to a vehicle or even removing rubbish because of the cost associated. That’s why we chose Wattle Hill and we were pleased to see so many jump on board.”

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Before the initiative headed to Wattle Hill, the project had cleaned up eight tonnes worth of collective rubbish at the three other sites. While Mr Gooding was unsure on the final tally for Wattle Hill, he said there was a significant difference in how the area now looked as a result of the clean up. 

Following the tidy up, participants were rewarded with a fun afternoon of play time at Gossamer Park, a barbecue, free hair cuts, a visit from an ice cream truck and a jumping castle. 

“The idea was to bring the community together, while also getting something positive done,” Mr Gooding said. The day was organised in conjunction with Leeton Shire Council, Intereach and the Leeton Aboriginal Lands Council.