By Dani Cotoli – Sales & Operations, Protect What You Love
More than 80 community members came together on 26 January this year to take part in the latest Clean Up The Crystals event at Williamstown’s iconic coastal site, removing nearly 850 litres of rubbish and reinforcing growing local support for the protection of Hobsons Bay’s marine ecosystems.
The event marked the third clean-up initiative held at The Crystals since March 2025. Participants included snorkellers, scuba divers, swimmers, and land-based volunteers of all ages, highlighting the broad community commitment to safeguarding the bay’s unique coastal environment.
By the end of the morning, volunteers had filled two 420-litre bins — one general waste and one recycling — preventing a substantial volume of pollution from remaining in the marine habitat. Organisers reported that the effort involved more than 80 participants, including seven trained staff members who coordinated in-water and shoreline activities while ensuring safety procedures were followed throughout the event.
All clean-ups were conducted under permit from Hobsons Bay City Council and registered through the Clean Up Australia platform. Organisers provided safety and emergency equipment, protective gear such as gloves and rubbish collection bags for all volunteers, and trained dive professionals to supervise underwater activities. A small community raffle, featuring three prizes donated by Protect What You Love, was also held to thank participants for their contribution.
Beyond the immediate environmental impact, the event also served as an important platform to raise awareness for the proposed expansion of the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary. A community-driven petition advocating for stronger protection of the area has now gathered more than 5,000 signatures, reflecting growing public recognition of the ecological value of the Jawbone Marine Protected Area and surrounding habitats.
Organisers noted that participation has steadily increased across the three events held to date — 30 March 2025, 5 October 2025, and 26 January 2026 — demonstrating strong and continuing community engagement. Volunteers travelled from across Melbourne’s western suburbs and beyond, with some participants making the trip from regional areas such as Ballarat to take part.
“The diversity of people involved is one of the most inspiring aspects of these events,” organisers said. “From young families to experienced divers and long-time local residents, it’s encouraging to see so many people willing to give their time to protect the marine life and coastal spaces that make Hobsons Bay so special.”
High-resolution photographs documenting the three clean-up events, captured by underwater photographer Dom Buyers, highlight both the scale of community participation and the variety of debris removed from the site. Organisers say planning is already underway for future clean-up dates, with the goal of continuing regular community-led conservation activities while maintaining public attention on the proposed sanctuary expansion.
Residents interested in supporting future events or learning more about local marine conservation initiatives are encouraged to follow updates via the event organisers: conservation group Protect What You Love, Snorkel & Dive Safari Altona Beach, and the Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Care Group, which are all working collaboratively to protect and promote the long-term health of Hobsons Bay’s coastal ecosystems.
