Western Australian councils recognised for water saving initiatives

May 8, 2023

Two Perth councils have been presented with awards for innovative water-saving initiatives as part of Western Australia’s Waterwise Councils program.

City of Stirling and Town of Cambridge took out the Platinum Waterwise Council of the Year award in recognition of their efforts to reduce water consumption and improve efficiency.

City of Stirling was recognised for encouraging ratepayers to choose native plants during a series of pop-up garden workshops, and for launching its Sustainable Verge Awards program which supports residents to transform verges into waterwise gardens.

Special mention was also made of the City’s efforts to reduce groundwater consumption at a park in Balcatta through hydro-zoning technology, which involves strategically grouping plants with similar water needs together.

The Town of Cambridge was acknowledged for making upgrades at several local parks and reserves, including a stormwater diversion project at Perry Lakes west of Perth that’s helped replenish water levels and created a breeding habitat for swans.

Presenting the awards this week, Western Australian Water Minister Simone McGurk said the face of climate change and declinging rainfall, it’s never been more important to build climate resistant communities.

Minister McCurk advised "through the Waterwise Council and Aquatic Centre programs, local governments and recreation centres have access to expert support from Water Corporation and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to make meaningful changes in how they use water.

“Make no mistake, these programs can and do make a real difference.”

48 Western Australian councils have now been endorsed through the program, including the City of Cockburn which marked 10 years participation. The Town of East Fremantle, City of Gosnells, City of Melville and City of Karratha each earned gold recognition.

Meanwhile the event also celebrated council recreation facilities in Water Corporation’s Waterwise Aquatic Centre Program.

Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre and Kwinana Recquatic were named joint Platinum Waterwise Aquatic Centre of the Year, while Northam Aquatic Facility in the Shire of Northam and Swan Active Beechboro in the City of Swan earned gold recognition.

A total of 64 councils are participating in the Waterwise program, including all 32 metropolitan councils and 32 regional councils.

In 2020/21 the Waterwise greening scheme funded 13 councils to create 216 waterwise verges, plant 621 waterwise trees and more than 35,000 waterwise plants.

The Waterwise Councils program was established by the Western Australian Water Corporation and the Western Australian Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to encourage waterwise practices among local government.

Image: Kwinana Recquatic.

5th May 2023 - City of Perth launches its inaugural ‘Tree Month’

31st March 2023 - LIWA Aquatics launches second Annual Western Australia Aquatic Recreation Industry Awards

21st March 2023 - Perth’s Aventuur surf park secures development approval

20th April 2023 - Rockingham’s Aqua Jetty marks 20 years with free fitness classes and water activities

8th March 2023 - City of Rockingham recognised for ongoing achievements in sustainable water management

27th January 2023 - New Western Australian advice on the safe operation of waterslides

24th October 2022 - Royal Life Saving WA partnership with BHP continues to support water safety education and employment programs

6th May 2022 - Perth’s Bayswater Waves receives platinum waterwise title

4th May 2022 - Western Australian Water Minister praises top Waterwise aquatic centres and councils

19th December 2020 - Fremantle Leisure Centre secures Gold Waterwise Status

31st August 2020 - New recognition levels for Western Australia’s Waterwise Aquatic Centre Program

7th October 2019 - LIWA Aquatics’ new President outlines future association objectives

13th August 2019 - Eight new Western Australian aquatic centres receive recognition for being Waterwise

11th July 2019 - Cockburn ARC named Western Australia’s 40th Waterwise aquatic centre

3rd January 2019 - Bayswater Waves welcomes Waterwise status

9th December 2018 - Three WA facilities recognised as Waterwise Aquatic Centres

4th August 2017 - Karratha Leisureplex recognised for WaterWise initiatives

22nd September 2015 - Bilgoman Aquatic Centre gets Waterwise recognition

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