In 2001, Parramatta City Council, in partnership with the Trust, was awarded a $148,000 grant under the Stage 3 round of Stormwater Trust grants to fund a regional stormwater awareness campaign targeting ethnic communities in the Parramatta and Western Sydney region. GEMS Pty Ltd was engaged by Parramatta City Council to develop and run the program. The program is an educational one targeting ethnic communities in the catchment. There are four aspects to the program: school, industry, TAFE and the community.

The schools component asked school students in the catchment to draw the Parramatta River as they would like it on special art blanks and translate the slogan "The Drain is Just for Rain" into their native tongue on the artwork. Each winning entry was framed with a certificate and presented to the student during the school assembly. The overall winner won a cartooning lesson for the school class. The best 12 entries have been published in a 2002 wall calendar (please contact the Trust for a copy). Some entries were displayed for two weeks at Westfield Parramatta in early January. The calendar was co-launched by the Chairman of the Trust and the Lord Mayor of Parramatta City Council at Lachlan's Restaurant, Parramatta Park on 13 February 2002. To view winning art works scroll down on this page.

The TAFE component of the involved bi-lingual educators accompaning Parramatta Council audit staff and targeted businesses run by different non-English speaking people. The initial evaluation of this program has identified the improved communication with business owners ensured a greater understanding of council requirements.

The Industry component involved bi-lingual educators accompaning Parramatta Council audit staff and targeted businesses run by different non-English speaking people. The initial evaluation of this program has identified the improved communication with business owners ensured a greater understanding of council requirements.

The general community component, the project adopted an eel as the mascot and image to relay messages across. An Eel Suit was made up and has been used at various community events. A 'name the eel competition' was run at community events and in the local papers, with the winning name, "EMANUEEL". Advertising of the programs key messages has been run in the following ethnic newspapers: Sing Tao (Chinese), Al Bairak (Arabic), El Telegraph (Arabic), China Daily News, Korean Herald, Vietnamese Herald. A set of display boards has also been developed and used a community fairs and the council foyer.

Winners of the Schools Art Competition

	Aakash Mahajan - Parramatta East Public School
	Emil Feghali - St Patrick's School
	Wilson Xu - Girraween High School
	Amanda Ghadieh
	Jane Lu - Lansvale Public School
	Jeremy Rajadurai - Girraween High School
	Jessie Poon - Burnside Public School
	Jessica Holmes
	Pearl Lai - Girraween High School
	Sarah Yarrow - Parramatta East Public School
	Ranwa Jreige - Our Lady of Lebabon
	Anna Sarlej - Girraween High School