UP A DRY GULLY - SCHOOLS PROGRAM

The Up a Dry Gully competition, developed through the Hinze Dam Alliance (HDA) community engagement strategy, began as an annual school-based competition for the life of the project between 2008 and 2010.  The program was developed to create and increase community awareness, acceptance, understanding and support of the overall Hinze Dam Stage 3 (HDS3) project whilst challenging Gold Coast students to investigate and learn about Australian drought and water supply issues.

 

Topics included environmental sustainability, methods of water supply and how water is moved around the South-east Queensland Water Grid. Other educational areas covered in the competition included environment, science, geography, maths, art, film and studies of society and environment (SOSE).

 

Initially, the projects main objectives were to:

 

Years 1 – 3 (ages 6 to 8) Teachers introduce the concept of water in the community.  Students followed a storybook of fun characters and created pictures to learn.

 

Years 4 – 7 (ages 9 to 12) Students explored how water is supplied by dams, desalination, recycling and aquifers.  Students worked in teams to solve a water supply scenario for a fictional town.  Students could choose to develop a bulk water supply solution or explore how water can be conserved using the principles of water sensitive urban design. 

Teams were required to submit a written report, video or presentation and build a model of their solution to demonstrate how they would supply water to a community or design a community or house that could save water.

 

Years 8 – 9 (ages 13 to 14) Students explored a sustainable water theme for a fictional town. 

Students worked in team to design a sustainable water supply using new technology and innovative urban design.  They were then required to submit a written report and a short film.

 

The programme’s success resulted in its roll out to students in Years 11 and 12 in 2010.

 

Teachers were provided with a free resource kit containing classroom activities, lesson plans, fact sheets and background information, plus the support of a dedicated Education Officer supplied by the HDA.  Students were asked to complete the relevant scenario and submit their entry by a specified date.

 

The programme was supported by the Gold Coast Titans, the local National Rugby League team, as part of their ‘Titans 4 Tomorrow’ programme, which encourages students to realise their full potential in all aspects of life.  Every school in the competition received a school visit from a Titans player who discussed drought and water supply issues with the students.

To support the ‘Up a Dry Gully’ program and water education in general, the HDA created a virtual tour of the HDS3 project to explain the features and parts of the dam affected during construction.

The interactive tour combined panoramic images, video and multi-media elements to bring each scene to life.  Users could view details of the construction by clicking on information hot spots on each scene.  The touch screen kiosk continues to travel around Gold Coast and Logan libraries to support general learning about water processes and the HDS3 upgrade.  The touch screen assists local children and adults alike to continue learning about water and water management.

 

The Up a Dry Gully webpage, formerly located on the HDA web site, contained all learning materials, as well as a virtual storybook and online cartoon.  To support the ‘Up a Dry Gully’ program, the HDA created a series of cartoon animals called the Catchment Creatures – based on some of the fauna found in and around the Hinze Dam. 

 

School children responded incredibly well to these creatures, as well as learning water’s importance in sustaining animal life. Seqwater is planning to create a merchandise range for school children based on the Catchment Creatures, promoting their ‘Water for Life’ message.

 

 

Recognising the success of the competition and a strong desire for knowledge of water management in the community, Seqwater has launched a dedicated educational tour program for primary and secondary schools, universities, professional delegations and other interested groups to a number of its dams and water treatment sites throughout South-East Queensland.

With Queensland on permanent water restrictions, it is more important than ever to educate younger generations on water management.  By the end of the 2010 program, ‘Up a dry gully’ had educated thousands of children on the importance of water management.

 

As the Hinze Dam is completed in mid 2011 and the state of the art Interpretive Centre is opened at the dam, Up a Dry Gully will continue to provide a highly effective Water Grid education program highlighting the importance of water in our world.

 

 

In 2010 the Hinze Dam Community Engagement Team was awarded the IWA MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION AWARD CATEGORY: School information programme – enhancing water awareness among young people up to the age of 15.

 

The Up a Dry Gully programme was completed as part of the HDS3 schools programme at the end of 2010. Seqwater will continue the programme in their Learning Centre given its enormous success.

 

If you would like to know more information about the Up a Dry Gully programme or register your class or school please contact Seqwater on (07) 3035 5570, e-mail education@seqwater.com.au

or follow this link http://www.seqwater.com.au/public/learning-centre/up-a-dry-gully to the Up a Dry Gully page on the Seqwater website.