A combination of art and new traps has produced the latest weapon in the campaign to keep the Georges River as pollution free as possible.
Students from Sarah Redfern Public School in Minto created the art work put on local footpaths near storm drains – and starred in a campaign video to boost awareness of the need to protect the river.
The art features the innovative use of augmented reality technology which allows passers-by to scan a QR code to interact with a virtual long-neck turtle called Zero, one of the native animals found in the river that is threatened by pollution.
As part of the same project, Campbelltown City Council installed a specialised gross pollutant trap at Kooringa Reserve.
These traps collect large pollutants such as litter from the stormwater runoff channel, preventing them from entering the nearby natural wetland, Bow Bowing canal and then the Georges River.
Georges Riverkeeper partnered with Campbelltown City Council and Sarah Redfern Public School for the project, which was funded by the Australian Government.
“Most of the pollution in the Georges River flows there through a network of connected stormwater pits and pipes, so we need to stop waste, litter and pollution from ending up in street and carpark gutters and drains,” says Georges Riverkeeper program manager Scott Reyes.
“It’s great to see enthusiastic youngsters taking a keen interest in learning more about their local environment and helping to play their part in protecting the Georges River,” he said.
Mayor of Campbelltown George Greiss also praised the Sarah Redfern students.
“These fantastic artworks will help raise awareness in our community around the importance of protecting our local waterways,” he said.
The gross pollutant trap installed at Kooringa Reserve will help to prevent pollution from entering sensitive environmental areas, protecting important local flora and fauna, the mayor said.
“Council has a number of similar traps across the LGA, however Kooringa Reserve is an important location, taking in several large suburbs and feeding into areas such as the Bow Bowing Canal and Georges River,” he said.
To find out more about the project and lessons go to zerolitter.georgesriver.org.au
Pictured above: from left, Cr Rey Manoto, Georges Riverkeeper program manager Scott Reyes, Campbelltown Mayor George Greiss, Cr Matt Stellino and students from Sarah Redfern Public School who took part in the project.
