Water-saving passport will be issued

Platypus Pete's Water Passport will be taken home by students of Pretty Beach Public School next week as part of the "Take it Easy with Water" initiative to be launched throughout the Central Coast.

Pete, the water inhabiting marsupial, represents all the animals and plants in the environment that share the water supply.

School principal Ms Vicki Redrup said the aim of the passport was to teach children about sustainability.

Ms Redrup said the passports had been distributed by The Rumbalara Environmental Education Centre and were "a way of raising the awareness of the water crisis on the Coast".

"Residential water makes up two thirds of the overall water supply within the area," Ms Redrup said.

According to Rumbalara spokesperson, Mr Mark Attwooll, introducing Pete to the children was a way of educating families as to how they can reduce water use in their homes.

"The whole idea behind Pete is to make what he is teaching fun, informative and rewarding," Mr Attwooll said.

"The passports engage the household in homework activities that reveal how, when and why water gets used and in ways in which it can be saved."

Students will receive prizes for the most "Platypus Points" offered for each litre of water saved above the target of 100 litres per week.

On completing their passport every participant earns a certificate.

Ms Redrup said the school "jumped at the chance" to take part in the initiative.

"The children at Pretty Beach are acutely aware of the importance of their environment because of the school's unique location between the bay and the bush," Ms Redrup said.

"The children are looking forward to taking part in Pete's water saving activities because they know he'll show them how to make important water saving behaviour changes."

Press release, 9 March 2007 Vicki Redrup, Pretty Beach Public School