With the issue of protecting the natural environment at the forefront of concern for Federal, State and Local Governments alike, Kogarah Council in New South Wales has instigated a new efficient and effective way of doing business. When it comes to environmental education and achieving environmental sustainability at the local level, Council is working in partnership with its younger residents.
Council’s Manager Catchment and Waterways, Isabelle Ghetti, said Kogarah’s Catchment Crusaders program aims to increase student knowledge and awareness of localised sustainable catchment management issues. It also provides a framework to implement actions.
“Catchment Crusaders is an interactive program, where Council staff members present a two day schedule of workshops to school children,” Isabelle Ghetti said. “Workshops range from waste management, environmental health, catchment and waterways and depot works. Students also participate in a number of associated activities, including mock spills, drain stencilling and water testing, as well as a local catchment bus tour, which visits gross pollutant traps, constructed wetlands and mangrove areas. The final component of the program enables and encourages students to implement their own school specific Catchment Action Plans, containing activities that can be carried out within the school to improve practices and increase awareness.”
Kogarah launched and trialled the Catchment Crusaders Pilot Program in 2005 and as a result of its success, it has now been running continually for two years.
Council has streamlined the program and made it available to every grade four primary school class within the municipality. This saw more than 170 students participating in the program in 2007.
“The success of the program was measured by student and teacher feedback,” Isabelle Ghetti said. “This has shown that the program has been extremely effective in empowering students to make informed decisions and find ways to work towards a more sustainable world.”
The program recently took out the Excellence in Stormwater Education category at the 2007 Stormwater Industry Association (SIA) Awards and won the Environmental Education Award at the 2007 Excellence in the Environment Awards run by the New South Wales Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA).
For further information contact Violeta Becvarovski at Kogarah’s Department of Assets and Services on (02) 9330 9448.
