Need For Action
Manly and Curl Curl Lagoons are recognised as being two of the most severely degraded recreational waterways on the Eastern seaboard. Streamwatch results indicate that the use and mis-use of stormwater by light industries, which make up a large proportion of the catchment, are contributing to the decline in water quality within the catchment. Oil, nutrients, sediments, sewerage and litter are entering the creeks via stormwater drains.
Objectives
The objectives of kcc are to improve water quality through interaction between local school children and companies. The students provide a non-threatening contact through which attitudes can be examined and changed within small business on stormwater management policies. Students are also important ambassadors for the future in planning and motivation.
History
KCC evolved from the realisation of a need for action following the start of the Streamwatch programme at Freshwater High School. In 1989, a series of pollution incidents prompted students and their teacher, Sue Lennox (Oz GREEN) to begin water testing. The water testing confirmed their fears and in 1990 they decided to survey local industries in the catchment to identify sources of pollution. This was followed up in 1993 with a Waste Information Forum at the school to educate industry on waste water and the problems facing the lagoons. Local company Blackmores Ltd spoke at the Forum about good environmental practice. Following this Blackmores Ltd, Manly Environment Centre and Oz GREEN joined forces to hold the first KCC Eco-Expo in 1994.
In 1995, following the launch of the first KCC manual by the Hon. Pam Allan, Minister for the Environment, the programme gained state-wide recognition for its success in alerting the community to issues concerning the health of local creeks. The programme has since won a Gold Award from the NSW Government RiverCare 2000 programme and a Keep Australia Beautiful award. It has also been used as a case study in a recent EPA document 'What We Need is a Community Education Project'.
'Community education in Manly Warringah, particularly on water pollution issues, is so highly regarded that it is often used as a model at international, national and state level' (Mary White author of 'Listen our Land is Crying' 1997).
Since the first KCC expo in 1994, a number of
KCC programmes have been initiated in other catchments by Oz GREEN:
• Georges River Catchment
1995 and 1997 with the Georges River CMC
• Cooks River Catchment 1996
with the Cooks River CMC
• Cattai Creek in 1997 with
the Hawkesbury-Nepean CMT
In addition KCC has inspired projects at Oxley Creek in Brisbane and at Cowan Creek in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment.
Reaching out to the residents on Ocean Care
Day
The KCC Waste and Eco-Expo promoted the use of
sustainable
products and offered environmental alternatives
to current practices. The expo took sustainable technology to the
streets,
raising the awareness of our impact on the environment and providing
practical
solutions to protect our local waterways.
With a comprehensive media coverage, this high profile event provided an ideal opportunity to showcase these technologies to an ever broader audience.
In 1997, the KCC Waste and Eco-Expo was held
in
conjunction with the fifth Ocean Care Day and showcased over 40
exhibitors,
including conservation groups, displays on solutions to stormwater
pollution
and the DLWC Catchment Caravan. Different activities and performances
enhanced
the atmosphere of the day these included:
 |
•
School bands
on the Corso
• Clean Waves surf competition featuring some of the Peninsula’s best surfers • 30 metre sand sculpture entitled ‘Wake up to Waste’ • Marine art exhibition at Manly Wharf • Local bands at North Steyne • Ocean Care Mural painted by children in the Corso |