Clean Ocean Foundation
The Clean Ocean Foundation is an environmental organisation that is dedicated to the closure of ocean sewerage outfalls in Victoria (Australia). It was formed in 2000 by surfers who became concerned at the high level of pollution at Mornington Peninsula surf beaches such as Gunnamatta.
The Foundation has been at the forefront of a campaign to close the South Eastern Outfall at Gunnamatta beach, which deposits partially treated sewerage from the city of Melbourne, conveyed from Eastern Treatment Plant operated by Melbourne Water.[1] This has proven successful and the Eastern Treatment Plant is due to be upgraded to a Class A standard of treatment by 2012. Following this victory, the Foundation is now working toward the recycling of all wastewater from 144 outfalls around Australia.
The Foundation has also been successful in lobbying the NHMRC for Australia's recreational water guidelines to be raised to match World Health Organisation criteria.
Clean Ocean's mission, stated on their website is: "To protect our ocean ecosystem and establish sustainable water management practices"[2]