Case Studies

Mintaro - Farrell Flat Primary School

Monitoring Sites

Mintaro and Farrell Flat townships are in the Clare and Gilbert Valley region (Broughton River and Wakefield River catchments).

Information about the group

Mintaro - Farrell Flat Primary is a dual campus school that began its involvement with the Waterwatch program in the year 2000. With a campus in both the Broughton and Wakefield river catchment areas, this school is a unique Waterwatch group with diverse monitoring sites. Lead by principal Gary Fieldhouse, students monitor in the Broughton River Catchment at the Farrell Flat Railway Dam and the Farrell Flat Golf Course Dam, as well as the Wakefield River Catchment in the spring fed head waters at Mintaro.

Why they got involved in Waterwatch

The school has a strong focus on environmental education and community links. Principal Gary Fieldhouse says "The school became involved with the Waterwatch program as it provided an opportunity for exploring and understanding local aquatic ecosystems and the impacts we have upon them. The students were keen to learn more about local water catchment issues such as groundwater pollution through water quality testing."

Achievements or activities

Achievements

• During the 2001 National Aquatic Snapshot students made a surprising discovery by collecting a species of fairy shrimp in the Farrell Flat Golf Course dam. This was of much interest to Waterwatch and Freshwater ecologists as this species was not known to exist in this area.
• The school received a certificate of merit at the 2002 Waterwatch Awards for their enthusiastic involvement in Waterwatch.

Activites

• Mintaro-Farrell Flat has participated in a wide range of activities, including regular water quality monitoring, education sessions, National Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Snapshot, Frog Census and Saltwatch.
• The school sent four student delegates to the International River Health Conference in Mildura this year to discuss and express their views on rivers as a sustainable resource.
• The students are currently working with a local artist in developing a 3D mural representing local land and water environments. In the coming months, this mural will be erected in the Farrell Flat township to promote community awareness and highlight the diversity of local environments.