The Australian Government today congratulated Riverina Water County Council for winning the Green Globe Award for Water Efficiency for its Urban Nature Strip Lawn Replacement Rebate Scheme.
Riverina Water County Council supplies water to the four local government areas of the Wagga Wagga City Council and the Lockhart, Urana and Greater Hume Shire Councils.
“Riverina Water County Council deserves much praise for encouraging local residents to reduce potable water consumption through more efficient nature strip landscapes,” Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment Simon Birmingham said.
“This innovative water savings scheme is a demonstration of what can be achieved when people living and working in Basin communities work together to promote smart water use and revitalise the environment.”
“It has resulted in the replacement of approximately 400 grassed nature strips in Wagga’s residential streets, involving a total grassed area of more than 41,000 m². As a result, participants in the Rebate Scheme have helped save an estimated 680 kilolitres of water on a peak day because of the water efficient designs that have been adopted,” Senator Birmingham said.
The Rebate Scheme was partially funded through Riverina Water County Council and an investment of $455,000 from the Australian Government’s Strengthening Basin Communities program.
The award was presented by the New South Wales Government at the Green Globe Award ceremony at New South Wales Parliament House on 24 September 2013.