Stormwater awareness raised

Gosford City Council will shortly begin an education program with Peninsula businesses to raise awareness of stormwater pollution.

The program will be funded by an EPA Stormwater Trust grant awarded to Council last November.

The program aims to develop and implement a partnership between Gosford City Council and small businesses.

"The partnership will address stormwater pollution issues as part of Council's ongoing 'Use your Brain not the Drain' campaign and the implementation of Council's Stormwater Management Plan," said the council's environmental project officer, Ms Patricia Donnelly.

Over the coming months businesses on the Peninsula will be encouraged to join an Environmental Alliance with Council to undertake assessments of business practices.

The program will also be run in Terrigal, Gosford and East Gosford.

"Council realises that increasing knowledge and awareness lead to a better understanding of the environmental impacts of work practices," said Ms Donnelly.

Council has formed a steering committee to aid in the delivery of this program.

The committee is composed of Council officers and representatives of the Central Coast Waste Board, Chambers of Commerce and the Central Coast Community Environment Network.

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce secretary Mr Mark Snell has welcomed the program.

"We are keen to see this program as being a partnership indeed, not just a one-way exercise.

"Water quality of the beaches and bays around the Peninsula is as important in developing our tourist industry as it is in our enjoyment of the water as residents.

"In the past, the Council's own practices have not been beyond reproach.

"There is a lot more the council could be doing to help address water quality issues around the Peninsula.

"I am hopeful this committee will provide the opportunity to have some of these broader issues addressed as well as providing information about what we can do ourselves," said Mr Snell.

Last December, surveys of local businesses were undertaken to gain information about their knowledge of stormwater pollution issues.

Over the next few weeks, newsletters further explaining the program will be distributed.

Also in the near future, workshops will be organised and all small business operators will be encouraged to attend.

If any small business would like further information on the program, or doesn't receive a newsletter, contact Patricia Donnelly on 4325 8175.

Carl Spears, February 7