Through a coordinated program comprising the Stormwater Ambassador Project and Environmental Assessment Project, Maclean Shire Council, in New South Wales, is successfully raising community awareness of the issue of stormwater. Council’s Stormwater Awareness Campaign commenced in 1998 and has been continually bringing stormwater related issues to the awareness of the community. It specifically targets school aged children, as well as local businesses.
“The basic concept of the Stormwater Ambassador Project is for school students to raise stormwater awareness within schools and the local community,” said Maclean Shire Council’s Manager Projects, Stephen Bell.
This Project requires school students to nominate ‘ambassador’ students to attend training workshops at Council. Activities include an examination of Council’s Gross Pollutant Trap, constructing catchment models, viewing urban drainage on Council’s GIS, as well as developing journalistic skills for writing school and newspaper articles.
The Environmental Assessment Project is directed at local businesses.
“Its aim is to promote awareness and improve work practices among industrial and commercial businesses in Yamba and Iluka,” Stephen Bell said. “It follows a pilot program undertaken at Maclean during 1998.”
It has four component stages commencing with an environmental assessment of the premises. The distribution of stormwater education information, follow up regulatory audits and water quality monitoring complete the four stages.
Maclean’s Stormwater Awareness Campaign was a Joint Winner in the Stormwater Management Award category at last year’s Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW, Local Government Excellence in the Environment Awards.
For further information, contact Stephen Bell, telephone (02) 6645 2266.
