29 August 2007
NEW PROGRAM TO KEEP A WEATHER-EYE ON WERRIBEE PLAINS WATERWAYS
The health and wellbeing of waterways in the Werribee Plains will be even better monitored thanks to official launch of a new $715,000 program to be officially launched on WEDNESDAY AUGUST 29 to develop an army of ‘waterwatchers’ across the region.
To be launched in Werribee the Werribee Plains Waterwatch program will seek to sign- up more than 26,000 participants over the next two years to don their waders and get involved in a range of hands-on activities designed to encourage community involvement in river health monitoring, protection and conservation across the region.
Melbourne Water General Manager of Waterways, Chris Chesterfield, said the new program would build on the success of the parent Waterwatch program, which saw more than 40,000 people from business, the community and local schools participating in 1,000 Waterwatch activities at more than 300 sites in 2006/07.
"Waterwatch gives participants a real sense of the impacts that we can have everyday on the health of our local waterways and the things we can all do to improve their condition.
"Armed with this knowledge they develop a real sense of connection with their local river or creek and the things we can all do to protect and improve them, both for our own benefit but also for the benefit of the huge variety of native frogs, birds, dragonflies, platypus and other animals that call them home."
Mr Chesterfield said the new program was a partnership between Melbourne Water, the Department of Sustainability and Environment Vision for Werribee Plains, the Natural Heritage Trust and local government including the City’s of Wyndham, Melton, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Brimbank and Moorabool Shire.
The official launch will a celebration of the Werribee River with fishing, canoeing, water quality monitoring and a visit from a giant platypus, and follows a month of activities at over 100 sites throughout the Werribee Plains region to get a snapshot of water quality in the area.
"This information has provided a baseline against which comparisons, trends and changes to waterway health can be measured by volunteers as they get to know their local waterways.
"It will also help determine what action Melbourne Water can take to improve waterway health," Ms Chesterfield said.
Schools, community groups, community members and businesses interested in the free Melbourne Waterwatch education programs may contact their local Waterwatch coordinator at www.melbournewater.com.au/waterwatch
Melburnians can learn more about how they can to help to protect the health of our rivers, creeks, wetlands and bays by visiting Melbourne Water’s website at www.melbournewater.com.au