The litter campaign, introduced in May last year into the CBD, resulted in Brisbane winning a Litter Prevention award at the inaugural Keep Australia Beautiful Sustainable Cities Awards.

Cr Newman today announced he would expand it into the suburbs if he were re-elected with a Council majority. And, in the spirit of nationwide Tidy Towns awards, the city’s suburbs would be able to complete to become Brisbane’s “Spotless Suburb”.

“Our inner-city litter campaign has been a raging success and I can’t see any reason why that fantastic work can’t continue throughout our suburbs,” the Lord Mayor said.

“I have been working hard in the suburbs, improving parks with new playground equipment, building local roads, more footpaths and keeping grass cut but a lot of my good work has been overshadowed by the publicity of the TransApex tunnels.

“My CBD littering campaign stopped huge amounts of cigarette butts being washed down drains and flowing into Moreton Bay. But that litter in the suburbs can also find its way out into the bay which is why I am turning my attention to the beautiful ‘burbs.

Littering costs Brisbane ratepayers $3 million each year which is why the Lord Mayor launched the anti-litter campaign in May last year.

Over 1000 people were hit with a $150 fine for littering, with the money plunged back into the program – and used to get more police on the beat in and around the Queen St Mall.

Since October 2006, the Lord Mayor has also installed 100 cigarette butt bins throughout the CBD, increased litter patrols and had an extensive litter prevention campaign.

 “This policy I’m announcing today will build on what has already been achieved,” he said. “Like the CBD campaign, it will be revenue neutral. This is not about revenue raising.”

The Spotless Suburbs competition will see residents work in Council and local businesses to help keep their areas clean and tidy, with the winners to be recognised by signage at the entry points to the suburb.

In addition, a Can Do Council will trial a “City Slicker Squad” maintenance team, which will monitor and respond to complaints about dirty streets, gutters and footpaths in the CBD. If successful, it will be rolled out to other litter hotspots in the suburbs.

“I want every single Brisbane resident to be proud of their suburb and a good start is to have them clean and presentable,” Cr Newman said.