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Storming into the future

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 13th October 2005 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire Council launched their high profile Urban Stormwater Best Management Practice Guidelines in Cowes last week, in a bid to encourage all members of the community to take responsibility for keeping our stormwater clean.

MC’d by Environmental Theatre Group, "Vox bandicoot", the launch was a colourful event that highlighted the importance of keeping our stormwater clean.

"Litter, chemicals and sediments don’t stop where they hit the ground," said Bass Coast Shire Council’s Environment Project Officer, Clare Lamers.

"When these are carelessly placed or discarded on our streets they end up in local waterways after being washed into stormwater drains.

The aim of the launch was both to educate and entertain, with the members of "Vox bandicoot" involving the crowd in a number of examples of ‘litter disposal’ techniques and "impacts of litter’ on aquatic environments.

A community art mural was also unveiled as part of the launch. The mural, made by local artist Rachel Warren, with assistance from the community and Newhaven College students, features unwanted and recycled materials. The mural represents the theme "Bin it or Swim in it" and is a visual reminder that what we do in our streets impacts on our local waterways. The mural can be seen on the wall of the Cowes Cultural Centre.

"Contamination of stormwater can seriously degrade the areas we use for tourism and recreation and can result in the death of fish and other aquatic life," Ms Lamers said.

The Bass Coast Shire Council received a grant through the EPA Victorian Stormwater Action Program to enable the development of the stormwater guidelines.

EPA Water Cycle Management Senior Policy Officer, Ian Innes-Wardell atttended the launch and was enthusiastic in his support for the new guidelines.

"This campaign is aimed at educating builders, industry and commercial premises about the impacts of stormwater pollution from their businesses," said Mr Innes-Wardell.

"People need to take personal responsibility for managing the quality of stormwater leaving their premise."

The Council has produced Best Practice Management Guidelines that detail many simple practices businesses can employ to prevent contamination of the stormwater system. The information is designed to help ensure that stormwater run-off entering local waterways is clean and free of pollutants. The information will also help to ensure that individuals and businesses comply with Council and State Regulations.

A copy of the Urban Stormwater Best Practice Guidelines is available from Council on (03) 5671 2270 or by visiting www.basscoast.vic.gov.au (search under Council Services and Environment).

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com