TWO tap water drinking fountains were unveiled last week as part of a new partnership between Golden Plains Shire and Central Highlands Water.<\/p>\n
The fountains, located at Smythesdale\u2019s Woady Yaloak Equestrian Centre, and within the town\u2019s historic precinct, are the first in a series of installations across the shire as part of CHW\u2019s Choose Tap program.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmythesdale is a growing population with so many markets and activities happening, it\u2019s a no-brainer to be one of the first parts of the Shire to be part of this,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both fountains are covered with artwork by Wadawurrung artist Billy-Jay O\u2019Toole titled Managing Country Together, which represents the four Aboriginal groups connected to CHW\u2019s catchment.<\/p>\n
The launch was attended by students from Woady Yaloak Primary School, and local Historical Society, and the Smythesdale Progress Association.<\/p>\n
With the historic precinct\u2019s fountain installed at the site of the Smythesdale Country Market, organiser Bill MacNeill said it is a great addition to the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s also happened as part of this is water has finally been connected to the historical society rooms here and to the courthouse,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has absolutely been in demand. It\u2019s something that will go a long way for us.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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\u2019s Woady Yaloak Equestrian Centre, and within the town\u2019s historic precinct, are the first in a series of installations across the shire as part of CHW\u2019s Choose Tap […]<\/p>\n