Drinking taps turned on

TWO tap water drinking fountains were unveiled last week as part of a new partnership between Golden Plains Shire and Central Highlands Water.

The fountains, located at Smythesdale’s Woady Yaloak Equestrian Centre, and within the town’s historic precinct, are the first in a series of installations across the shire as part of CHW’s Choose Tap program.

The initiative aims to promote tap use over plastic in drinking water, and Golden Plains Shire deputy mayor Cr Helena Kirby said Smythesdale was the perfect starting point to launch the program in the Shire.

“Smythesdale is a growing population with so many markets and activities happening, it’s a no-brainer to be one of the first parts of the Shire to be part of this,” she said.

“Of course, single-use plastic is going to be eliminated in the Shire from the start of January next year so this is a really good stepping stone for that initiative as well.”

Both fountains are covered with artwork by Wadawurrung artist Billy-Jay O’Toole titled Managing Country Together, which represents the four Aboriginal groups connected to CHW’s catchment.

The launch was attended by students from Woady Yaloak Primary School, and local Historical Society, and the Smythesdale Progress Association.

With the historic precinct’s fountain installed at the site of the Smythesdale Country Market, organiser Bill MacNeill said it is a great addition to the area.

“What’s also happened as part of this is water has finally been connected to the historical society rooms here and to the courthouse,” he said.

“For the courthouse especially, they run a cafe at the market and they used to have to bucket in water because they only had tank water.

“This has absolutely been in demand. It’s something that will go a long way for us.”