Gippsland Water sponsors hands-on learning for local students
Sale-based environmental education organisation Bug Blitz Trust has used Gippsland Water funding to teach local students about fish and macroinvertebrate species in Flooding Creek.
The program was funded through Gippsland Water’s 2018-19 community support program, providing students from Catholic College Sale, Araluen Primary School and Sale College with a hands-on learning experience during a series of field days held in May.
Gippsland Water managing director Sarah Cumming welcomed the opportunity to support the educational program.
“We’re pleased to have been able to support Bug Blitz in delivering such a unique learning experience to young Gippslanders, highlighting the essential role waterway health plays in the life of our community,” Ms Cumming said.
Bug Blitz program director John Caldow said the funding allowed them to run their first fish-based programs.
“The support enabled Bug Blitz to design and provide field programs focussing on fish and eels in our local waterways,” Mr Caldow said.
Students were treated to an electrofishing demonstration by Dr Dion Ievasi of Austral Research and Consulting, who captured native and invasive fish species for the students to identify and record.
They also used nets to capture macroinvertebrates, identified the various species that inhabit the Flooding Creek ecosystem and conducted carp autopsies to examine internal organs of the pest species.
Gippsland Water’s 2018-19 community support program also provided funding for Mirboo North Golf Club to implement an irrigation system, and Gippsland Rotary Centenary House to install a rain water tank.
Applications for Gippsland Water’s 2019-20 community support program will open in this month. For more information about the program and other sponsorship opportunities, visit www.gippswater.com.au/sponsorship.
