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Water batons take off for the Gippsland LakesBy Latrobe City Council - 5th May 2005 - Back to News Children from Stockdale Road Primary School in Traralgon tested water samples they took from the lake at the Traralgon Railway Reservoir Conservation Reserve on Wednesday, as part of the Gippsland Lakes relay. Their water sample was then poured into a special baton that is being carried to Lakes Entrance.
Nadine Cranenburgh, Waterwatch Regional Co-ordinator, West Gippsland, explained that the Gippsland Lakes Relay included the collection of water, water testing and water transportation by school children across the Gippsland Lakes catchment.
"Each participating school has been adding a water sample to the baton and passing it on to the next school along each major river; these are the Latrobe River, Thomson, Macalister, Avon, Mitchell, Nicholson, and Tambo; all the way to the Gippsland Lakes.
"When the baton reaches the river mouth it will be transported by boat to the entrance in Lakes Entrance. A celebration will take place on Bullock Island, Lakes Entrance, and the water from the batons will be symbolically poured into the Lakes," Ms Cranenburg explained.
Waterwatch Project Officer, Becky Van Der Heyden, explained how communities linked to the catchment all have an impact on our waterways and the Gippsland Lakes.
"There are many ways we can look after our water; one simple way is to always put your litter in the bin," Ms Van Der Heyden said.
"The Gippsland Lakes are fed by a huge catchment area stretching from Warragul to Lakes Entrance; it covers over 20,000km², which is nearly 10% of Victoria. The health of the Gippsland Lakes is essential for the environmental, economic and social success of our region,"
"Over time levels of nutrients, salinity and sediments have increased and the water flow has reduced affecting the water quality and the overall health of the Gippsland Lakes," Ms Van Der Heyden said.
In addressing the young students, Latrobe City Mayor, Cr Bruce Lougheed, said that only in more recent times had his generation realised that if they tip rubbish, or chemicals or soil into a tiny stream, it gets carried down the stream to a bigger one, then gets carried into a river, then ends up in the lakes and then the sea.
"Everyone seemed to think that once the rubbish had disappeared from where they dumped it in the water, it didn’t matter, because it was no longer a problem.
"As the larger streams got dirtier, and the rivers got more polluted, the lakes became clogged with muck and even the sea bed became covered with rubbish. Then we finally realised we had to stop putting rubbish into even the tiniest little stream.
"It’s great to see that kids today seem to be a lot smarter than their grand-parents. As mayor, I’d like to congratulate you and ask you to make sure that you don’t do anything that will harm the lakes. And then when you grow up and have grand-children they will probably think you were pretty smart!" Cr Lougheed added.
Following the finale of the Water Relay, Waterwatch will launch their Environmental Education Resource for Gippsland schools. The resource will be launched by Jane Ryan, the Strategic Engagement Manager, River Health, Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Regional Waterwatch Coordinator, East Gippsland, Megan Burns, said the education resource is a localised, innovative package that links in with the curriculum standards framework for upper primary and lower secondary schools. "The objective is to lay the basis for the generational change needed to address the issues affecting the health of Gippsland’s catchments," Ms Burns said.
Waterwatch is a national community based program which aims to encourage the active participation of communities and schools in understanding and protecting our rivers, lakes, streams and estuaries.
Further information regarding the event is available from Nadine Cranenburgh telephone 5175 7800, or Becky Van Der Heyden telephone 5153 0462.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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