MELBOURNE SCHOOLS AWARDED $50,000 TO CARE FOR OUR WATER RESOURCES
21 September 2004
More than 30 Melbourne schools have received $50,000 in grants for innovative projects to address water quality in rivers and creeks and increasing water conservation.
The grants are part of the second round of the Melbourne Water Young Watercare Grants program, which aims to help protect and improve Melbourne's rivers and creeks and assist in the sustainable use of Melbourne's water resources.
Melbourne Water Acting Managing Director Grant Wilson said the grants aimed to encourage young people to value Melbourne's water resources and protect the environment.
"Our rivers, creeks and wetlands are highly valued by local communities, and the work of volunteers, such as school students, is invaluable in helping to protect and improve them," Mr Wilson said.
"Some 31 schools have received grants this year, and up to 60 additional schools are expected to benefit from this program over the next two years.
"Schools who receive grants are undertaking projects to help conserve water, test the water quality of local creeks, or manage stormwater."
The Melbourne Water Young Watercare Grants program is a three-year program, launched last year to celebrate the International Year of Freshwater. Melbourne Water is providing $150,000 in grants to schools. The program is part of the wider Mitre 10 Junior Landcare Program.
Grant application forms, guidelines and closing dates for the 2005 round of Melbourne Water Young Watercare Grants Program can be found at http://www.landcareaustralia.com.au Details are also available by calling 1800 151 105.
Every year Melbourne Water commits more than $23 million in projects to protect our rivers and creeks including education and community programs.
| School | Project | Grant Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Court Kindergarten Inc (Altona Meadows) | Purchasing a rainwater tank to save water | $535 |
| Diamond Creek Primary School | "Beyond Your Backyard" | $700 |
| Woori Yallock Farm School | Wetsuits for the Yarra Odyssey | $2000 |
| East Preston Islamic College | Darebin Creek riparian garden | $1501 |
| Lyndale Primary School | Koori Trail water monitoring | $900 |
| Bayswater North Primary School | Water recycling and monitoring | $1100 |
| Birmingham Primary School (Lilydale) | Frog ponds | $2000 |
| Craigieburn Secondary College | Junior Science Environmental Program | $2000 |
| Bimbadeen Heights Primary School (Mooroolbark) | An environmentally-friendly garden | $1200 |
| Lalor West Primary School | "Keeping our Stormwater Clean" | $2000 |
| Glen Waverley Primary School | Installation of rainwater tank and underground watering system | $1180 |
| Preshil -The Margaret Lyttle Memorial School (Kew) | Student-powered pumping of rainwater to wetlands | $1980 |
| Lakeside Secondary College (Reservoir) | Water conservation and stormwater management project | $1990 |
| Spensley Street Primary School (Clifton Hill) | "What's in our Water?" | $2000 |
| Epping Secondary College | Permaculture garden - extension | $1300 |
| Coral Park Primary School (Hampton Park) | Investigating the wetlands - water quality and bug surveys | $2000 |
| The Patch Primary School (The Patch) | Protecting the Patch Primary School wetland | $1788 |
| Sherbrooke Community School (Sassafras) | Water quality testing, education and ongoing monitoring of swamp and Sassafras Creek | $1600 |
| Doveton Secondary College | Doveton Environment Water Storage (DEWS) | $1950 |
| Mordialloc College | Purchasing a monitoring kit for testing the water quality of Mordialloc Creek | $1000 |
| Fitzroy High School | "Watching our waters" | $2000 |
| Northcote High School | Waterwise garden | $1710 |
| Chisholm Institute - Conservation and Land Management Diploma students (Dandenong) | Water quality monitoring of Chisholm Wetlands | $2000 |
| St Albans Secondary College | Water harvesting and its diverse uses | $2000 |
| Footscray Primary School | Waterwise garden | $1975 |
| Carnegie Rudolph Steiner Preschool Inc | Purchasing and installing a rainwater tank to save water | $2000 |
| Princes Hill Secondary College (Carlton North) | Hydrology of Merri Creek | $2000 |
| Kings Park Primary School | Purchase of equipment to improve school and local waterway | $740 |
| Mentone Primary School | Saving and recycling water | $2000 |
| Lynall Hall Community School (Richmond) | Water recycling project | $1750 |
| Preston East Primary School | A "Be Wise with Water" rainwater tank | $1101 |