This process which involved the majority of schools has acted as an educational tool, not only for the students involved in the project, but for the companies that were interviewed and assessed. The questions were structured to raise awareness of issues, for example that polluted water entering stormwater drains ends up in the local creeks.

The results of the assessments have also provided the MEC with a tool to examine the strengths and weaknesses in industry knowledge and have given an indication as to how to address:
    • A high level of industry concern over local water quality, but a lack of knowledge on the
    connection between their drain and the creek
    • A lack of knowledge on industry impacts on the catchment and ways to prevent them
    • A need for a more pro-active educational approach to the issues that are of concern,
    especially general housekeeping practices
    • An awareness of the role of council and benefits of projects such as kcc
    • A willingness to accept advice and information on what companies can do to help
    • An interest in becoming involved in future projects and waste information nights
    • The need for a greater baseline knowledge on environmental management

The students:
    • Gained an insight into real life problems, solutions and impacts on the environment
    • Recognised that 60% of industrial pollution is due to bad housekeeping
    • Could identify possible sources of pollution from the appearance of the company premises
    • Were not afraid of being critical of company practices
    • Accurately assessed good environmental management and attitudes
    • Enhanced their social skills and communication
    • Enjoyed the detective work immensely

Initiatives Following the Assessment

To combat the apparent lack of environmental knowledge evident in the results, the MEC has applied for grant funding to establish a mobile teaching programme,

‘Eco-Breaks’, that will visit small companies and provide face-to-face contact. A company waste guide will be prepared for distribution, together with other educational resources.

The programme will provide information on current technologies available, biodiversity in the catchment, pollution issues, laws regarding the discharge of waste into the stormwater system and the benefits of good housekeeping practices.

Getting the Message Across

Conveying the message of water quality to the general public has been identified as a priority for sometime. With a higher awareness in the community it is time to build on this and promote a change in daily behaviour and involvement in projects, its time to ‘Walk the Talk’ and ‘Hop in and Help’.
    • weekly ‘kcc Catchment Watch’ column in the local newspapers
    • website with images of the lagoons and water quality data
    • school/community newsletters

Adopt-a-Drain

Mapping of the mini-catchments of stormwater systems reinforces the connection between the drain and the creeks. This will encourage locals to become involved in cleaning up their own drains by:
    • stencilling each drain with a numerical code and message at the inlet and outlet e.g. ‘This
      Drains to Manly Lagoon / Dam / Creek or Sydney Harbour’
    • passing on information to the industries or residents that make up that mini-catchment
    • testing the outlets to help determine sources of pollution
    • supplying information on water quality at these outlets to the ‘kcc Catchment Watch’ and
      displaying this at the drain

‘Adopt-a-Creek’

As kcc moves into Stage 3, the MEC is making use of strong links with industry and school groups in the community to start an ‘Adoption Programme’ in late 1998. This will enable the community to develop ownership of the local environment through:
    • stronger partnerships between schools and companies
    • increasing awareness of the importance of diversity of native species through propagation,
      preparation and planting days
    • a combination of the Hawkesbury Nepean ‘Greenhouse Parks Programme’ and ‘Roofs for
      Revegetation’

The kcc project has been developed over a period of 5 years and will continue in the Manly and Curl Curl Lagoon catchments and further afield. Mary White, in her book ‘Listen Our Land is Crying’, expressed her views on the importance of kcc:

"Such a project has a snow-balling and far-reaching effect beyond the local area where attitudinal change has occurred and environmental gains have been made. The hundreds of young people who move on after their school days continue as ambassadors because they know they have the power to influence their world".