7 September 2006
LOCAL STUDENTS GOING GREEN FOR RIVER HEALTH
Melbourne Water and Greening Australia have joined forces on a schools education program to promote the value of the Yarra River and demonstrate how we can all work together to help protect and improve river health.
The $25,000 Melbourne Water funded Yarra River schools education program builds on Greening Australia’s national River Recovery Program and Melbourne Water’s extensive Yarra River community and education programs.
Melbourne Water General Manager Waterways, Chris Chesterfield, said three sites of environmental and cultural significance from the upper, middle and lower Yarra were being targeted for a range of activities including water quality monitoring, revegetation and cultural activities.
"Locally, students from Ivanhoe East Primary School, Ivanhoe Grammar and Alphington Primary School will participate in a tree planting day next week (12 September) at Wilson’s Reserve, in conjunction with the Banyule City Council.
"Wilson’s Reserve is right on the Yarra and is home to a variety of native bird and other animal species including the endangered Powerful Owl, frogs, possums and micro-bats.
"As part of their Yarra River education day, the students will also have the opportunity to conduct water quality monitoring through the Melbourne Waterwatch program, learn about some of the important food sources and habitat requirements of the native animals that call the reserve home and why it is so important that they’re preserved."
Mr Chesterfield said the Wurundjeri Community members would conduct a Welcome to Country ceremony as part of the event and educate students about the significance of cultural heritage when considering sustainability in vegetation and waterway management.
"The project has been planned with the Wurunjeri Community members, City of Banyule and Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, and is a great example of how we can all work together to protect the health of our iconic Yarra River."
Melbourne Water invests about $26 million a year on protecting and improving the health of local rivers and creeks.