New program urges community to ensure only rain goes down the drain

Released 25/07/2017

Joint Media Statement with Zed Seselja, Senator for Australian Capital Territory

‘Only rain down the stormwater drain’ is the take home message of a new education program aimed at improving the health of waterways in Canberra and the surrounding region including Queanbeyan, Cooma and Yass.

Senator for the ACT Zed Seselja and ACT Minister for the Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman, today launched the ‘H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy’ program as part of a joint Federal and ACT Government initiative to improve water quality in the ACT and wider Murray-Darling Basin.

“The biggest cause of water pollution in our lakes and waterways is contaminated stormwater run-off from our streets, house blocks, development sites, retail and industrial areas,” Senator Seselja said today.

“Monitoring tells us that many of the creeks and waterways in our urban areas aren’t that healthy and, with Canberra’s increasing population, the pressure on the ACT’s lakes and rivers and downstream in the Murrumbidgee River system will grow. It’s important we think long term to improve water quality by taking action now.

Senator Seselja said the H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy program will run in conjunction with the construction of new infrastructure on up to 25 sites around the ACT.

The program, which will run until June 2019, is part of the joint Federal and ACT Government funded ACT Healthy Waterways Project.

“Everything that goes down the stormwater drain ends up in our lakes and rivers,” Minister Gentleman said.

“We’re tackling the problem from two directions. The Federal and ACT Governments are working toward improved water quality by building new infrastructure like ponds, wetlands and rain gardens, and we’re asking everyone in the region to do their part by making sure only rain goes down stormwater drains.

“H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy aims to reduce pollutants entering our waterways by engaging with the community and teaching people better ways to keep pollutants out of our water. The program highlights key habits that contribute to poor water quality such as raking or blowing leaves into the drains, over-fertilising and washing cars in driveways.

“A range of education and engagement activities such as community events, demonstration sites and artwork on stormwater drains, as well as a region wide advertising campaign, will be used to show how simple changes in behaviour help keep our waterways healthy,” Minister Gentleman said

“While the program aims to reach everyone in the community, messages have been tailored to four target audiences – urban residents, rural residents on small blocks, the building and construction industry and the maintenance and cleaning industry, such as commercial cleaners and landscaping and mowing businesses,” Minister Gentleman concluded.

Earlier this month the community was invited to have their say on development plans for the first 11 water infrastructure projects as part of the $80 million ACT Healthy Waterways Project. 14 additional projects will be submitted for development approval over coming months. Construction is expected to start on the projects in mid 2017.

For more information on the ACT Healthy Waterways Project and H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy education program visit www.act.gov.au/h2ok

- Statement ends -

Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases

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