13 October 2006

NATIONAL WATER WEEK - 15 - 21 OCTOBER
-Protect, Conserve and Get Involved

Next week is ‘National Water Week' and an opportunity for our community to better understand and take action to protect and conserve our precious water resources and habitats. Members of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Environmental team will be visiting primary schools next week encouraging our next generation of adults to learn about the environment they live in and how their actions impact on our land and water and to get involved in water resource management.

The program involves a fun, interactive and educational look at the MIA water system and the inputs along the water's journey from the Snowy River , through our productive MIA region and then out to the Barren Box Storage and Wetland site. The children will see the results first hand of how people impact on the quality of water and will learn how they can easily make a significant difference to their environment and the MIA region they live in by better managing and caring for the water they use.

“Whenever we have run this program in schools the kids have really enjoyed it and quickly learn what they do in their everyday lives, impacts on our environment. They take away with them ideas and thoughts as to how they can better manage water and help look after our waterways and the land, vegetation and animals it supports. We need to plant these seeds of thought in our next generations if we are to ensure the sustainability of our region's future”, said Rob Kelly, Murrumbidgee Irrigation's Environment Manager.

The education program is part of Murrumbidgee Irrigation's MIA EnviroWise program which aims to maintain and enhance the sustainability and profitability of agriculture, rural industries and associated communities as well as supporting the protection and enhancement of natural resources. Education is the key to achieving this goal.

The first National Water Week was held in 1993 and participation in community activities held each year has grown substantially as people are recognising that sustainable management of water is a social priority for all Australian s. The ongoing theme of the week is ‘Water for Life' and further information about the national event can be obtained from www.nationalwaterweek.org.au

For the MIA community, water is vital. For this reason, Murrumbidgee Irrigation has made the education program available to schools at any time throughout the year, not just during National Water Week. Schools can contact Kate Lightfoot of Murrumbidgee Irrigation on 02 6953 0100 to organise a visit and presentation.