Schools, Community Groups Receive Environmental Grants
Ten local schools and community groups will share in more than $33,100, thanks to the latest round of Council’s Environmental Grants Program.
The recipients are: St Joseph's Catholic School – $3405; the Mount Isa Flexible Learning Centre – $3894; the Ngukuthati Children & Family Centre – $5000; Spinifex State College – $2980; Healy State School – $1800; Happy Valley State School – $2400; Good Shepherd Catholic Parish – $3070; St Kieran's Catholic School – $3405; Good Shepherd Catholic College – $3570; and Barkly Highway State School – $3650.
Each of the 10 grant recipients will also receive a free caddy – worth a combined total of $8750 – to help turn their food waste into garden mulch.
St Joseph’s Catholic School has started a school-wide container-recycling program, and aims to create community gardens for vegetables, herbs, and flowers, which can be used by classes or their tuckshop. They also plan to implement a composting system and worm farm.
The Mount Isa Flexible Learning Centre’s project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from organic waste, as well as monitor biodiversity and wildlife habitat use in school garden areas, engaging students in ecological monitoring. This will track the long-term ecological effects of students’ efforts. Garden produce is also used in on-campus cooking programs.
The Ngukuthati Children and Family Centre is working on establishing a bush tucker garden at their early-years facility, introducing children to Indigenous knowledge and native plants. This project aims to cultivate environmental consciousness, encourage healthy eating habits, and celebrate Australia’s cultural heritage.
Spinifex State College will incorporate specific environmental equipment into their lessons and clubs within the school environment at both the Junior and Senior campuses.
Healy State School would like to introduce a composting concept. This will involve collecting scraps and composting them, as well as education to promote composting. The P&C will also place benchtop food scrap collection caddies at the tuckshop and Prep precinct.
Happy Valley State School would like to build knowledge and promote more sustainable practices, with the support of their P&C.
The Good Shepherd Catholic Parish Mount Isa has a dedicated staff member in charge of green waste in the gardens, teaching the local multicultural community about composting practices through their Community Action for a Multicultural Society program.
St Kieran’s Catholic School’s project aims to enhance the existing composting run by their Eco Warriors group. Classrooms compost fruit scraps, which are transferred to a compost bin. The school community would like to extend composting to the playground, tuckshop, and staffroom.
Good Shepherd Catholic College will educate their students about composting and its associated benefits, while making the school a cleaner and nicer environment.
Barkly Highway State School would like to extend the children’s environmental and sustainability knowledge, as a way to reduce environmental impact.