Councillor Column - Waterwise Leadership
I am delighted to announce the City of Bayswater was recently recognised as a Gold Waterwise Council at an event hosted by the Hon Minister for Water Dave Kelly MLA.
The award recognises the City's ongoing innovation and leadership in embedding waterwise principles into its operations and a whole of water cycle approach to sustainable water management.
To achieve Gold status the City had to demonstrate at least 10 initiatives that contributed to saving water. The initiatives included the recent conversion of stormwater drains at Russell Street Park in the Morley CBD into a series of living streams to improve water quality, biodiversity and green the area.
Free Waterwise Gardening Workshops and the annual Native Plants to Residents Program which gives residents access to up to ten free native plants for a gold coin donation, have also been extremely popular.
Personally, one of my favourite waterwise initiatives was the City's Annual Catchment Activity Day during which around 150 local primary school children took part in a series of hands-on environmental activities in Riverside Gardens. I believe in educating our children about sustainable practices now we will ensure our natural environment is protected into the future.
Cr Catherine Ehrhardt
