New signage promotes rivulet health
Published on 29 June 2022
An idea from Kings Meadows residents to promote care for a local waterway has been brought to life by the City of Launceston's ABCDE Learning Site project.
The Council's Learning Site program works with a new Launceston suburb each year to facilitate community-driven projects utilising each suburb's greatest resource — it's people. In recent years the program has been hosted at Rocherlea, Ravenswood, Mowbray, Youngtown and — most recently — Kings Meadows.
Following community suggestions to improve public education around the health of the Kings Meadows Rivulet, two signs have been installed to encourage residents to consider the waterway in their everyday activities. The signs encourage people to:
● Pick it up and bin it — Clean up pet waste and litter. Use designated bins for disposal.
● Fertilise safely — Follow manufacturers application recommendations. Excess fertiliser runs into our waterways.
● Remember that drains are for water — Never pour chemicals, paints or oils down our drains. Use designated waste centres for disposal.
● Be car smart — Wash your car on the grass or gravel, or visit a commercial car wash.
Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said the Kings Meadows Rivulet was an important urban waterway, providing habitat for a range of plants and animals.
"These signs will highlight the value of the rivulet as a natural system and show how we can stop pollutants entering the waterway," Mayor van Zetten said.
"As an urban waterway, Kings Meadows Rivulet bears the brunt of what we wash down our drains, and by keeping these simple points in mind we can contribute to a healthier ecosystem."
Learning Site Community Connector Sarah McCormack said consultation throughout the Kings Meadows Learning Site project showed the community prized the rivulet as an important part of their suburb.
"What's clear is that the local community really values the rivulet as a natural asset and we had a number of ideas suggested for promoting the health of the waterway," Ms McCormack said.
"The signs are a simple way for us to promote some practical tips on how to prevent pollution from entering the rivulet, and a reminder that our waterways are connected to the ocean."