Open gardens to showcase stormwater solutions


Released 19/10/2018

Innovative solutions for managing stormwater on residential properties will be on display in the second round of open gardens, to be held across the ACT and region this month.

“Five properties, including one rural residence, will open their doors and showcase successful ideas for utilising stormwater in their gardens and how to minimise contaminated run-off,” H2OK Project Officer, Lyndsey Day said.

“These residents received grants last year totalling more than $60,000 under the H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy education program and they have done a fantastic job of implementing imaginative and creative solutions.

“Each property demonstrates a range of ideas including rain gardens, mulching systems, downpipe disconnections, nature strip treatments and erosion control. The aim, is for others to see these measures in place and develop and deliver similar approaches in their own gardens.

“It’s important that we are able to effectively manage our water, as well as reduce our contaminated water run-off from our streets, which is the biggest source of water pollution. This helps improve the water quality in the ACT and in the wider Murray-Darling Basin.

“Water management is particularly important right now when many areas of Australia are dealing with extremely dry conditions. Managing water use and runoff is an important contribution to keeping our waterways healthy.

The open gardens event is delivered through a partnership between the ACT Healthy Waterways project and Open Gardens Canberra. The open gardens will be held on Saturday 20 October and Sunday 28 October.

A free courtesy bus is available on Saturday 20 October and will leave the Dame Pattie Menzies building in Dickson at 8.45am and take registered participants to each property. A packed lunch and morning tea will be provided and participants will be at each garden for approximately 45 minutes. People can also make their own way to the open gardens.

To book a spot on the bus, visit: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/h2ok-residential-demonstration-site-open-day-bus-tour-tickets-45325951140

For more information on the properties and the H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy education program, visit: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/water/ACT-Healthy-Waterways/h2ok

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ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate | Media Releases

Media Contacts

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Christopher Clarke

(02) 6207 1587

0422 660 867

christopher.clarke@act.gov.au


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