Gatton State Primary School – Westpac Education Award

Project Profile

Issues

Gatton State Primary School has made a significant contribution to the area’s environmental sustainability through participation in a range of community based projects including the Comalco Green and Healthy Schools initiative, developing students learning of local environment and landcare needs, the Powerlink Community Benefits Program, which supports innovative environmental programs and the Greening Lockyer project. The local students have maintained the school’s community nursery, vegetable and water wise gardens as well as participating in Landcare conferences, Under 8s days and Environment Week.

Project Detail

Gatton State Primary School has been nominated for a National Landcare Award for its contribution to the environmental sustainability of the local community.

Over the past six years, students have helped to improve the look of prominent community locations as part of the Greening Lockyer project. The students joined with community members to form the 2,600 strong volunteer base that has dedicated more than 7,400 hours to the project.

The local students have maintained the school’s community nursery, vegetable and water wise gardens as well as participating in Landcare conferences, Under 8’s days and Environment Week.

The school has made a significant contribution to the area’s environmental sustainability through a range of community based projects including the Comalco Green and Healthy School’s initiative, developing students learning of local environment and landcare needs, the Powerlink Community Benefits Program and the Greening Lockyer project. The school has also been successful in receiving grants to work towards healthier waterways.

Through theoretical and hands-on experience, students have gained a thorough understanding of how to overcome environmental challenges, learned about natural conservation, litter prevention, recycling, healthier eating, fitness and managing adversity.

Specifically, the Powerlink Community Benefits Program resulted in the rejuvenation of the landcare community garden with over 1000 hours poured into the project by students and community volunteers. Special needs students also participated through the integration of a diverse life skills program. At the completion of the project, students were rewarded with environmental and garden guru passports as well as certificates from the local mayor that were presented in a community parade.

The school was successful in gaining $100,000 worth of grants through the Australian Community Water Funds as well as a Lifestyle Waterwise grant of $30,000. The grants allowed students to audit and promote the school’s waterwise savings of over 30 per cent, resulting in healthier waterways. The school now has storage capacity of over 200,000 litres of stormwater and the harvested tank water also stores over 120,000 litres of water for gardens, nursery and amenity use.

The work of the school in environmental sustainability has resulted in a holistic environmental model for future generations to enjoy.

The Gatton State Primary School project is one of 88 finalists in the National Landcare Awards to be announced in Canberra on 24 June 2010.  Commencing in 1991, the Awards celebrate the achievements of individuals and groups that make a valuable contribution to the land and coast where they live and work

Photography

Gatton State Primary School