LAKE PARRAMATTA FRESHWATER FESTIVAL

Images © David Wallace Photography 2006

On the 3rd December, over a thousand residents celebrated the achievement of bringing the water quality in Lake Parramatta up to swimmable levels.

Though the much anticipated open and competitive swimming events were called off due to the rain storm that happened on Saturday afternoon, the Freshwater Festival held at Lake Parramatta on the 3rd December was a resounding success, with many other activities making the day an enjoyable one.

The Trust's chairman, Bob Junor, and two of its trustees, Pam Smith and Paul Barber (also Deputy Lord Mayor of Parramatta) were at the festivities, as were the Federal member for Parramatta, the Hon. Julie Owen MP, David Borger the Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council and Clean Up Australia's chairman Ian Kiernan AO. The state life saving team from the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia came to act as the life guards for the day, and a little bit of old fashioned glamour was provided by the Aquacade Sisters.

As the weather was fine, spirits were not dampened by the preceding day's rain, with many other activities to captivate people's interest. For the children there were jumping castles and a tea cup ride, local Scout groups were present, an attempt, organised by one of the day's sponsors, at setting a record for the most people simultaneously playing Totem tennis (also known as swingball) which was achieved (subject to confirmation) with 108 people joining in for 11 minutes and 32 secs.

As swimming can only occur at club managed events, the main patron of the day was Parramatta City Swim Club, who put a lot of effort into the organistation of the Festival, and with approximately 1300 people attending the Festival, even without the swimming, they can consider their time well spent.

Read and see more...

For information about the 4th Edition of the On-site Stormwater Detention Handbook click here

ATTENTION STUDENTS: Are you doing a GEOGRAPHY or SCIENCE project? Click here to discover fact sheets, maps, photos and activities.

• Whole catchment information (biodiversity, demographics, geology, geomorphology, hydrology, landuse, rainfall, social history, soil types and vegetation communities)
• Sub-catchment information (the seven sub-catchments within the Upper Parramatta River catchment)
• Environmental issues information (biodiversity, ecologically sustainable development, environmental legislation, flooding, impacts of urban development, water sensitive urban design)
• Curriculum links
• Field trips including a virtual field trip to the Ganges River, India
• Geography and Science activities

If you require further information, phone the Trust on 9891 4633.

Streamline

To find out what has been happening around the catchment lately read the November 2006 issue of Streamline or you can also view back issues

• Winners of Regional Environment Awards
• Flood Culvert Opening
• The Trust's final months
• Swim for the day at Lake Parramatta

The River Rag

Find out what schools and community groups are up to in the Waterwatch program. The October edition of the River Rag is available now. You can also view previous editions here.

• Post Trust survival kit
• Fifteen years of Waterwatch celebrated
• Farewells

Environmental Education Kit for Secondary Schools

The Trust's Environment Education kit for Secondary Schools been designed to fully comply with curriculum requirements and provide accurate and up-to-date information on local, regional and global environmental issues and solutions. The kit contains 10 information sheets on catchment characteristics, 9 sheets on the sub-catchment, 10 sheets on local environmental issues, 10 field trip guides, 10 Geography activities, 16 Science activities, 18 full-colour maps and curriculum links. The kit also includes a reference book on local plants and animals and a classroom set of specially-printed topographic and air photo maps of the catchment.