Programs & funding

Local government & authorities

Schools are at the heart of communities and can create partnerships with local government to implement sustainability projects. Some schools have also developed projects with utility authorities. The following examples illustrate some of the opportunities available to schools:

Darebin City Council’s Green Depot Precinct

The Darebin City Council has been working with Yarra Trams, Preston Girls Secondary College, Samaritan Catholic College and the Sacred Heart Primary School and Church Hall to save water in Preston. Each school submitted their own funding applications to the Federal Government Water Grants program, all under the banner of the Council’s “Green Depot Precinct”.  Darebin Mayor, Cr Stanley Chiang, said “The Preston Girl's Secondary College received almost $30,500 to install a tank to collect rainwater to irrigate the school grounds. An automatic leak protection system and a remote water meter reading system will also be installed. These changes will save 810,000 litres of water each year at the school. The Sacred Heart Primary School will install push-button taps, waterless urinals, an automatic leak protection system and a smart water meter system. A rainwater tank will be used to collect rainwater to water the school grounds. Sacred Heart received more than $31,000 for their projects.The Samaritan Catholic College, which attracted just over $45,300 in funding, will save 2,520,000 litres of water each year installing flow restrictors, high-efficiency showerheads and waterless urinals. In addition, a tank will be installed to collect rainwater for toilet flushing and irrigation of the College grounds.”

St Pauls Anglican Grammar, Traralgon & West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority

St Paul’s Anglican Grammar in Traralgon has partnered with the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority to incorporate wetlands and a water storage catchment into the school. The project features naturalised waterways through the school property that will capture 50 million litres of stormwater for irrigation around the school. Additionally, over 4 hectares of land will be planted with indigenous species to enhance the landscape, creating a haven for native birds.

MacKillop College, Werribee & City West Water

MacKillop College in Werribee will use Class A recycled water to irrigate its sporting fields, gardens and recreation areas in a partnership with City West Water and the Victorian Government’s Sustainability Fund.  The $163,000 project includes a pipeline which connects the school to the Werribee Irrigation District Pipeline and is expected to save around 20 million litres of drinking water per year, or enough to fill 10 Olympic swimming pools.

City West Water also has plans to supply recycled water from the Werribee Technology Precinct to Heathdale Christian College, the Melbourne University Veterinary Science Campus and Victoria University.

St Kilda Park Primary School & Port Philip Council

Port Phillip Council’s EcoCentre, together with CSIRO grants, has helped the St Kilda Park Primary School install a rainwater tank to supply water to the school’s vegetable garden. A solar powered pump is used to pump the water to the garden in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Oak Park Primary School & Moreland City Council

Moreland City Council has established a “walking school bus” for the students of Oak Park Primary School to encourage students to walk to school, saving greenhouse gas emissions and promoting better health.