The Hunter Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy (HCCREMS) has commenced an upgrade of the urbanwater.info website. The new website content will be rolled out between January and November 2008. This upgrade has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environment Trust. Your suggestions and feedback are welcome here.
Our News page suggests a range of journals, newsletters and news sources which may be of interest to professionals and those working to improve integrated water management outcomes for Australia.
The capacity building program to Mainstream IWCM in the HCCREMS region of NSW (including the Hunter, Central and Mid-North Coasts), is currently being reviewed by HCCREMS. Comments from the 14 member councils and other key stakeholders are sought by 14 September on this draft strategy which will guide activities in 2007-08. Follow this link to view the Draft Strategy.
Up to $50,000 per school is available to install solar hot water systems and a rainwater tank (of at least 10,000 litres) to improve energy and water efficiency. The program will apply to all Australian primary and high schools until July 1, 2008. The Federal Government anticipates that the Solar Schools Program will be in place after this date.
Schools must register their interest. For more information on both the Green Vouchers and Solar Schools programs go to: www.environment.gov.au/programs/greenvouchers/index
The new State Government Rainwater Tank Rebate program commenced on 1st July 2007. It is part of the NSW Government's $310 million Climate Change Fund which is helping business, households and government save energy and water.
The rebate is available for the installation of any new rainwater storage system for residential properties in NSW. Rebates are also available for residential hot water systems and insulation.
Under the Hunter Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy (HCCREMS), 10 schools in the Gosford-Wyong area, hard hit by the dought, have participated in an exciting 10 month program to save water and learn about integrated water management at the same time. This successful project, completed in early 2008, was made possible with the financial support of the NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund.
Smart water meters have been installed on the school's normal meters to monitor water use every 15 minutes. Teachers and students can login to a special website set up by Watersave Australia, the company supplying the Waterguard smart meters, to view the data at scales ranging from 15 minutes to months. A set of supporting curricular material for teachers helps the students learn how to use the smart water data, together with a water audit of their water fixtures, to be water detectives.
For more information and project results visit the Central Coast schools Integrated Water Program page on the HCCREM's website.
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