Lanyon schools receive ActewAGL grant for water-focused community project

Tuesday 28 February 2012

ActewAGL has awarded the Lanyon Cluster of Schools with a $25,000 grant for a community project to protect local waterways while teaching students about giving.

The Lanyon Cluster of Schools includes Lanyon High School, Bonython Primary School and Gordon Primary School and has collaboratively supported student learning since 1996.

The grant, awarded through ActewAGL’s Source Water Protection program (SWPP), will support the school’s Connecting Through Giving project. Together with the Southern ACT Catchment Group the project will work to implement community- and school-based activities with an environmental focus, particularly on reducing the community’s impact on the Murrumbidgee water catchment.

The program will include units of class work for preschool to year 10 students, focused on giving to others, the community and the environment. Beginning during the 2012 school year, these units can also be taught in future years.

ActewAGL Water Treatment Manager David Glavas said, “ActewAGL is pleased to support the school’s efforts to protect our local water catchments. We see community projects like this one as an important component of the Source Water Protection program, which works to reduce the risk of contamination of the ACT drinking water supply through protection of Canberra’s drinking water catchments.”

Lanyon Cluster of Schools Deputy Principal Rita vanHaren said, “The initiative focuses on encouraging students to engage with the community and the environment. The grant from ActewAGL is going to help us make a real difference for our local waterways.”

The SWPP grant scheme is open to community and non-government organisations, individual property owners, government agencies and local councils for initiatives that will have benefits for water quality within ACT catchments.

More information about ActewAGL’s Source Water Protection program and the grant scheme application form is available at actewagl.com.au/sourcewater

Image caption: ActewAGL Water Treatment Manager David Glavas presents students from the Lanyon Cluster of Schools with a grant for a water-catchment protection initiative.

For further media information only:
Nicole Millwood
ActewAGL
Mobile: 0414 515 359