WATERWATCH GROUP TAKE ACTION ON CREEK LITTER
2 February, 2006
Members of the Mill Park Lakes Melbourne Waterwatch group will be the first to trial Melbourne Water's new anti-litter drain stencils.
Focusing on local waterways in the City of Whitlesea - Darebin Creek, Diamond Creek, Merri Creek, Edgars Creek and the Plenty River - the group will help to raise awareness of how litter and stormwater pollution can affect the health of rivers and creeks.
Using a drain stencilling kit provided by Melbourne Water, a unique stencil design depicting either a platypus or a frog and the message "I love living here - so please protect Darebin Creek" (for example), the program aims to reinforce the direct link between the stormwater system and local waterways.
Melbourne Water Managing Director, Rob Skinner, said drain stencilling was an effective way of reminding the community that litter and pollutants can get washed into drains when it rains and into rivers and creeks, and eventually the bays.
"Litter and stormwater pollution can have a major impact on the health of our local waterways and the native animals and plants that live there," he said.
"By doing a simple few things like cleaning up after dogs, ensuring that litter can't blow out of bins or recycling containers, and not allowing paint or chemicals to wash into drains, we can all make a difference."
"This program aims to raise awareness of the problem of stormwater pollution and create community ownership of local rivers and creeks."
Melbourne Waterwatch is a free river health education program for schools and local community groups. Via a range of engaging hands-on activities students and members of local community groups learn about important river health issues, and help to identify local river health issues through their monitoring activities.
Mill Parks Lake Waterwatch Group is supported by North East Melbourne Waterwatch in conjunction with the City of Whittlesea, and monitors the health of Mill Park Lakes on the first Sunday of every month.
David Ford, Member of the Mill Park Lakes Waterwatch group said that the group's aim was to provide a health check of the water, which can provide an early warning system for potential problems.
"Drain stencilling will be a great high-profile way to create awareness within the community that simple actions such as dropping litter or letting chemicals get into the drains can have a catastrophic affect on the health of the Lakes and local waterways."
Julia Vanderoord, North East Melbourne Waterwatch Coordinator, said that the program was a fantastic way for people of all ages to learn about their local rivers and creeks and the impact that our daily activities can have on their health.
"These drain stencils will be another way that the Mill Parks Lake Waterwatch Group can raise community awareness within their local community about the work they do to protect and improve the health of Mill Park Lakes."
Following this trial program, it is anticipated that the program will be expanded to all councils in the Port Phillip and Westernport region.
Melbourne Water invests around $26 million a year in the Healthy Rivers Program. The Healthy Rivers Program is funded from drainage rates. Melbourne Water also supports over 10,000 volunteers involved in helping protect Melbourne's rivers and creeks.