The lobbying of Warrnambool environmental groups Beach Patrol 3280 and Good Will Nurdle Hunting has resulted in police becoming involved in getting an answer to the dumping of packages into the ocean in Warrnambool, which has happened regularly since June.
After contact with Warrnambool City Council and Victoria Police, the following is an update from the community environmental groups of the situation.
“It has now been confirmed that the person involved is Melbourne-based and had been travelling to Warrnambool on weekends to “let go” of these parcels into the ocean.
Across six known occasions, hundreds of bundles — tied with plastic balloon ribbon and containing paper, cloth and other materials — entered the marine environment.
Fewer than 50 were ever retrieved, the rest have likely sunk or drifted further out to sea.
Balloon ribbon is one of the most harmful forms of marine debris for seabirds. This was never just paper.
Victoria Police are now involved and, according to authorities, welfare checks have taken place.
All recovered legal documents connected to the Melbourne law firm where this employee previously worked were collated and returned directly to the firm so they can conduct their own internal investigation.”
