The Squid Squad from Katoomba Public School is on the loose and coming to a creek near you after an inspirational catchment education day run recently by Blue Mountains City Council.
The students adopted their Squid Squad name after visiting and “adopting” a brand new SQID (Stormwater Quality Improvement Device) – which was recently installed by Council near their school at Leura Falls Creek.
Down at the creek, the kids toured the SQID site and discovered that stormwater drains connect directly to waterways. They also learnt that everything that goes into our roof gutters and streets ends up in our creeks.
They surveyed litter being captured by the SQID, tested water quality in the creek, and learnt how their creek is under pressure, from the megalitres of stormwater runoff, including pollution, litter and sediment, it receives from Katoomba township.
With their newfound creek connection, the kids are bristling with enthusiasm and bursting with ideas about how to help protect their creek.
“This project has really captured the imagination of the kids at our school. They are well aware that we live in the midst of a World Heritage National Park; and that our actions can directly affect our waterways. They are learning first hand that they can make a difference,” said Sally Dare, teacher at Katoomba Public School.
The creek visit was part of an ongoing partnership between council and Katoomba Public School to inspire the kids about Leura Falls Creek, which feeds the iconic Leura Cascades and Warragamba Dam, Sydney’s largest drinking water supply.
As well as partnering with local schools, council is working closely with Water NSW and volunteers from the Leura Falls Creek Catchment Working Group to restore the creek, removing weeds and installing litter traps and sand filters at critical points in the catchment. It is one of 130 sites being actively managed by council across the city.
Leura Falls Creek is also one of over 40 waterways regularly tested by council across the Blue Mountains. In July this year, Council released its Blue Mountains Waterways Health Report, which shows that 53 per cent of our waterways are in good condition or better.
To find out more about local water quality, visit www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/waterways
See a video of Council’s Connecting Kids to Creeks program at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgtW9VEHhz4