South
East Waterwatch groups have been recognised for their commitment
to water conservation through the annual Waterwatch South East
Awards. The awards recognise those groups who have taken an extra
step to help in the protection of water resources in the South
East catchment.
Millicent North Primary School
received the highest accolade for the region with the Outstanding
Commitment to Water Conservation award. This award recognises
the groups commitment to undertake water quality monitoring, take
action to protect water quality and to undertake water conservation
practices.
Some of the activities the school
was involved in include:
- active involvement in the Waterwatch
"snapshots" program
- undertaking an audit of water
use in the school
- writing letters to local council
raising concerns about litter along the Millicent Drain
- taking action to protect local
stormwater quality by cleaning up organic waste and litter around
their school ground.
Reidy
Park Primary School (Mt Gambier) received 2 awards - the Catchment
Education award and the Best First Year award.
Reidy Park Primary School took
part in the Waterwatch program for the first time in 2004 and
stood up to take action to protect water quality in the Blue Lake
Catchment Zone. The school participated in:
- the "snapshots" program
- the Drain Defenders program
and
- 2 classes at the school regularly
took part in Waterwatch education sessions and completed units
of work from the Waterwatch South East Curriculum Resource.
The
catchment education award recognised Reidy Park's extensive participation
in education activities - developing water conservation initiatives
at school, which included drain stencilling conservation messages
around the school and participating in stormwater awareness raising
activities by protecting stormwater quality within the Blue Lake
Capture Zone.
Naracoorte Primary School also
received an award recognising the schools commitment to water
quality monitoring in the South East Catchment. Students undertook
chemical, physical and biological monitoring on 5 occasions during
2004 and regularly displayed feedback posters within their classroom.
They used the information to further understand water quality
trends along Naracoorte Creek and other sites throughout the South
East.
Millicent North, Reidy Park and
Naracoorte Primary School all received their awards at the end
of the 2004 school year.
