Queenscliff pupils lead the way in water savings

QUEENSCLIFF Primary School pupils and teachers are leading the way in water savings.

The Bellarine school has become the 1,100th school across the state to register for the Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP).

The program is a key component of the Labor Government’s Water for Victoria plan for improving water efficiency and the management of water resources.

Minister for Water Lisa Neville said the outstanding program was saving water and provided a great opportunity for students to learn more about the role they can play in conserving water.

“I congratulate local kids and teachers for leading the way in saving our precious water resources and setting an example for the rest of us to follow,” Ms Neville said.

“This program is a great opportunity to educate our young people about the importance of saving water and the value of water to communities.”

Principal Richard Buckingham said as a growing school this program would be one for pupils and teachers to monitor and build into the school curriculum on a regular basis to improve water efficiency.

Barwon Water’s support of the SWEP continues to grow, with local schools saving almost $650,000 on water costs last financial year.

School participation, which enables schools to monitor their water usage and detect and repair leaks, has almost doubled across the Barwon region over the past 12 months, as word is spreading about the advantages of participating in the program.

While the Victorian Government subsidises schools for the first year of the program, Barwon Water covers the $150-a-year subscription fee (ex GST) for the second and third years, making SWEP program a free opportunity for local schools to make informed choices about their water usage.

Of the 149 schools in the Barwon region, almost half (70) have now signed up to take advantage of the free three-year program.

SWEP is available to all Victorian schools, visit myswep.com.au.