Released 05/03/2019 - Joint media release
ACT Senator Zed Seselja and ACT Minister for the Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman today announced 12 winning designs as part of the H2OK Schools DrainART competition.
The competition calls on local primary and secondary students from the ACT and surrounding region to design eye-catching street artwork to spread the message ‘only rain down the stormwater drain’.
“Each winning design uniquely demonstrates the impact pollution has on our waterways through colourful, creative and thought-provoking art,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The competition encourages students to become local champions for improving and protecting our waterways and helps reinforce the importance of ensuring only rain goes down the stormwater drain.”
The winning artwork will be printed on high quality stickers designed for placement on asphalt and installed near stormwater drains at key locations across Canberra.
Senator Seselja said the competition forms part of the education program designed to promote awareness of our impact on water quality, and the winning artwork highlights that stormwater drains flows directly to a nearby waterway.
“It’s important our community understand this direct connection. It is only a short trip from a stormwater drain in the street to our lakes and waterways where pollutants can contribute to outbreaks of blue-green algae and harm native wildlife,” Senator Seselja said.
“For example, rubbish that washes down drains in the Civic and Braddon area flow directly to Lake Burley Griffin and downstream into the Murrumbidgee River.”
“The Australian Government has committed $85 million to protecting and improving the long-term water quality in the ACT and Murrumbidgee River System, and I’m pleased to see younger members of our community understand the impact their actions can have on our water systems,” Senator Seselja concluded.
The DrainART project is part of the H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy stormwater education program which is a joint initiative of the Australian and ACT Governments to improve the quality of water in ACT waterways that flows into the Murrumbidgee River system.
Winning designs are available online at act.gov.au/h2ok
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases
Media Contacts
| Name | Phone | Mobile | |
|---|---|---|---|
Cassandra Choake (Seselja) |
0427 839 164 |
||
James Webber (Gentleman) |
0466 023 084 |