Friday, December 9, 2022

Students get top marks for teaching about Zero Litter in Georges River

Connells Point students are visited by Cr. Mahoney and Mayor Katris from Georges River Council to see the work they are doing for the Zero Litter in Georges River project
Mayor Nick Katris and Councillor Peter Mahoney visited Connells Point Public School students

Mayor Nick Katris and Councillor Peter Mahoney recently visited Connells Point Public School students as they started their quest to reduce litter in Georges River to zero.

The local school was one of six primary schools along the river to be involved in the ‘Zero Litter in Georges River’ program developed by Georges Riverkeeper with funding from the Australian Government.

The ‘Zero Litter in Georges River’ program provides environmental education, aligned to the NSW curriculum, about stormwater pollution, and encourages students to look for solutions to reduce litter flowing to the Georges River. During this school term, Connells Point Public School will complete the education program with the support of Georges River Council.

As part of the project, students started creating designs for artworks to be painted on local footpaths near storm drains. The students will star in campaign videos with the footpath art and QR codes linked to program information to help educate their community.

The street art developed for the campaign features the innovative use of Augmented Reality technology which allows passersby 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.

Georges River Mayor Nick Katris welcomed the initiative and praised Connells Point Public School students for the start of their creative contributions to the campaign.

“It’s wonderful to see such enthusiastic interest to learn more about their local environment and helping to play their part in protecting the Georges River.

“We are fortunate here in Georges River to be surrounded by beautiful waterways that not only support local flora and fauna, but also provide fantastic recreational opportunities for our whole community to enjoy. 

“Council is delighted to support this collaborative project which will encourage further awareness of the importance of keeping our parks, streets, and waterways healthy and clean for generations to come.”

Georges Riverkeeper Program Manager, Scott Reyes, says most of the pollution in the Georges River flows through a network of connected stormwater pits and pipes.

“We need to stop waste, litter and pollution from ending up in gutters and washing through stormwater drains to the river.

“This program is a fun way to educate kids anti-pollution habits that they can teach their community about, and continue these habits into adulthood. When you know what to do, what to avoid and why, the Georges River, the surrounding environment, and community will benefit.”

‘Zero Litter in Georges River’ lessons were developed in collaboration with Georges River Environment Education Centre are available for any school to access for free via a google site.

Schools and Councils involved in the project are Como Public School, Sarah Redfern Public School, Wattle Grove Public School, Bossley Park Public School, Connells Point Public School, Padstow Park Public School, Sutherland Shire Council, Campbelltown City Council, Liverpool City Council, Fairfield City, Georges River Council, and City of Canterbury Bankstown.

To find out more about the project and lessons go to zerolitter.georgesriver.org.au