Community Action - Individual Action
Recognised in their community as a leader in water conservation, the winner of this award will have achieved outstanding water savings and demonstrate a long-term commitment to efficient water use. This category is open to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding water savings and encourage others to do the same.
WINNER
Janet Steele
| Janet Steele of Mitcham purposefully set out to make her new two-storey home water-smart and as a result is saving 125,000L of mains water over 282 days of the year – her solutions awarding the household about 60 per cent self-sufficiency. Janet installed four 2,250L rainwater tanks at the side of her house to supply water for cooking, washing, drinking, hot water, toilets and laundry – a solution that cost about the same as adding dual plumbing to just a few fixtures. She also installed a 600L rainwater tank to water the vegetable garden. The garden features pavers instead of lawn, with 10cm gaps to encourage water drainage. Roof and guttering was installed over the pergola and balcony, increasing roof space to capture 135L of water per millimetre of rain. In addition, Janet obtained approval from her neighbours to divert water from their roofs into her tanks. Janet saves a further 21,000L annually by using a front-loading washing machine and favours non-chemical laundry products (saving a further 20L of water per load). With her new home rated as equivalent to a ‘one person home with no garden’ as opposed to her former ‘six person home with large garden’, Janet is actively spreading her motto ‘We do – you can too!’ |
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FINALISTS
Barbara Hallett
Barbara Hallett’s water wise garden reduces mains water consumption at her half acre Wonthaggi property to just 46KL per year.
For the past 15 years Barbara has diligently maintained a garden that uses hay compost to retain rainfall in the soil, eliminating the need for hose watering during the growing season. The garden is also sheltered by fences and trellis to reduce the drying effects of wind.
Barbara has five water tanks capturing water run-off from the house, garage and shed, which are used around the house and for washing. A small bowl of rinsing water stands on the kitchen bench at all times to empty into pot plants. A 10kg twin tub washing machine can wash two or three loads in the same water.
Passionate about her tried and true water-wise techniques around the home, Barbara regularly addresses community groups to help them conserve what she considers our most treasured and precious commodity.
Kevin Walsh
Kevin Walsh of Castlemaine estimates that his comprehensive promotion of water efficient and sustainable gardens over the past 18 months has helped Victorians to save about 40ML of water per year – or 16 Olympic sized swimming pools*.
As a presenter of the Green Gardeners program with Sustainable Gardening Australia, Kevin directly educates nursery and garden industry workers throughout Victoria on sustainable best practice.
During his presentations to the general public and regular segments on ABC regional radio and Melbourne’s 3CR, Kevin explains how to best preserve, modify and maintain gardens during dry periods and make permanent changes towards water wise gardens.
With more than 15 years’ experience, Kevin advises water authorities like Sydney Water and Central Highlands Water, and edited Coliban Water’s Smart Gardens for a Dry Climate booklet. He has also authored Waterwise Gardening, first published in 1993 and now in its third edition, used as a resource by water authorities, TAFE colleges, universities, and professional and amateur gardeners.