12 December 2012
Streamwatch cuts undermine community water monitoring efforts
The NSW Government’s decision to cut funding for the popular Streamwatch program will reduce the ability of the community to monitor water pollution, and will deny thousands of kids the opportunity to learn more about their local environment, according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
Documents obtained under freedom of information laws have revealed that a detailed public relations strategy was devised to minimise negative reaction to the important environmental monitoring and education program being transferred from Sydney Water to the Australian Museum.
The documents showed Streamwatch cost Sydney Water about $340,000 a year to run. Under the new arrangements, Sydney Water will pay the Australian Museum just $100,000 a year to maintain it.
“The Australian Museum clearly has the expertise to run the program, but we are concerned it will not have the resources to maintain it at the same level as did Sydney Water,” NCC Chief Executive Officer Pepe Clarke said.
“Streamwatch has engaged thousands of school children and scores of community groups since it was established in 1990 and has been a tremendous way of educating local communities about water quality and engaging them in a practical way to help protect the local environment.
“The program has also revealed several instances of industrial pollution, including pollution by state-owned corporations, and has been an important way of monitoring whether government and business are abiding by their pollution licences.
“The environment and the community will lose out if the new arrangements reduce the program’s capacity to continue this important work.
“We call on the government to publish annual reports on the number of water quality tests conducted, compared against historical levels, so the community can see the impact of the funding cuts on environmental and educational outcomes.”
Sydney Water had managed more than 175 Streamwatch groups, including about 110 schools and 65 community groups. Prominent groups and schools are listed below.
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