On Sunday, March 7, more than a tonne of rubbish was collected from around the Nambucca Valley.

Local school children joined in the effort, cleaning up nearby streets and scanning the school grounds to collect every scrap of rubbish.

The Nambucca Valley River Users Group was out in force around the waterways.

Collecting less rubish than last year was a positive outcome for the group, spokesperson Katie Adams said.

All up she estimated about one-tip truck load of rubbish on last years two-tip-truck loads.

“Clean Up Austria Day is an important opportunity to get out and clean the local area to ensure the environment stays clean and inviting,” Mrs Adams said.

The river users group found that the worst areas for rubbish along the Nambucca end of the river, was South Beach, across from the V-wall.

The group believed irresponsible campers were to blame for the garbage bag loads of rubbish collected.

The huge effort put in by volunteers around the valley resulted in a total of 1.2 tonnes of rubbish and waste being collected.

Nambucca Shire Council Waste Management Officer Simon Chapman said that is was a pleasing result for the community.