1 September 2006
BULLEEN HEIGHTS STUDENTS STENCIL OUT CREEK LITTER
1 September2006
Students from Bulleen Heights Specialist School will bring the anti-litter message to the streets using Melbourne Water’s new drain stencils.
Melbourne Water has donated the stencil kit to Manningham City Council for community schools and groups to use to raise awareness of the affect litter can have on the health of local waterways and as a cause of local flooding.
Each drain stencil depicts either a platypus or a frog and include a message about protecting the local Manningham waterways - I love living here - so please protect the Yarra River (for example).
Melbourne Water General Manager Waterways Chris Chesterfield said drain stencilling was an effective way to remind the community that litter and pollutants can get washed into stormwater 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 waterways and the native animals and plants that live there," Mr Chesterfield said.
"We hope these simple drain stencils will remind people that their litter and other pollutants can have a harmful effect on waterways, if allowed to get into the drains.
"By doing a simple few things like disposing of our litter correctly, cleaning up after pets, 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."
Anyone who wants to volunteer for the drain stencilling project in their neighbourhood should contact Monique So from Manningham City Council on 9846 0579.
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.