‘Keep it clean, platypus downstream’ is the message Ashmont Public School students Tahlira Gibbons and Alex Moran, their teacher Ben White and project lead Ros Prangnell have for Wagga residents with obstructed gutters. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Did you know that a platypus has made its home right here in Wagga Wagga?
Well, if you did, what you might not know is that your rubbish might be hurting the little guy and putting him and his habitat at risk.
The iconic Aussie critter can be found at Flowerdale Lagoon in the city’s northwest but, unfortunately for him, his home is a catchment for almost every drain in Ashmont and Glenfield, meaning anything that goes down those suburbs’ gutters directly affects the lagoon.
Fortunately, a few eager students at Ashmont Public School (APS) and one dedicated member of the Wagga Wagga community have worked together to remind people of the harms that come with clogging gutters, drains and other run-offs.
APS students like Alex Moran and Tahlira Gibbons were approached by Ros Prangnell, with the idea of creating stencils and artwork to put on gutters around the affected suburbs, politely reminding them about the harm it can cause Wagga’s resident platypus and Flowerdale Lagoon.
Only a few weeks later, the project is basically complete.
“For five or so weeks, we created posters that would then be painted on the drains around the suburb,” Year 6 student Alex said.
“It was really fun to make because we worked together and figured out some poster ideas to remind people to keep drains clean.
“We actually found over 38 drains just at our school that needed to be cleaned.”
Ms Prangnell displayed how many residential drains lead to Flowerdale Lagoon. Photo: Jarryd Rowley.
Fellow student Tahlira said when she learnt about the platypus, she was upset to hear about how people were indirectly hurting it and its home.
“We went for a walk, and we were walking near all the drains, and if they were clogged or if we’d see some rubbish, we’d get a plastic bag and put it in the bin,” she said.
“It was really cool being able to make the posters and get out of the classroom while learning about lagoons, platypus and the different parts of the city.”
The project took years to get off the ground and was led by Wagga Wagga Urban Landcare Group’s (WWULG) Ros Prangnell.
WWULG – with particular help from Jenny Hill (environmental educator), Sarah Danckert (Murrumbidgee Field Naturalists) and resources from Joanne Connelly (CSU) – approached Wagga Wagga City Council for funding to get the project up and running.
Thanks to Ashmont Public School’s contributions to creating the artwork, the project has almost been completed.
“We approached several schools within the catchment area to come on board and Ben White (APS tacher) really grabbed by the horns,” Ms Prangnell said.
“We really tried to get the students to see how somebody dropping some litter here can affect something down there, can affect the platypus, and the kids really got it.
“The project really wouldn’t have been as successful as it was without them.”
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