28 November 2024
Two popular parks and a recreation reserve have become the latest community sites to benefit from the continuing expansion of Goulburn Valley Water’s Be Smart Choose Tap permanent hydration station program.
Goulburn Valley Water has partnered with Mitchell, Murrindindi, and Mansfield shires to provide Seymour Lions Park, Leckie Park at Alexandra, and Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve with permanent hydration stations.
As part of the 2018-23 Price Plan, Goulburn Valley Water made a commitment to provide every one of its towns with a drinking water supply with its own hydration station. Six years on and there are now 72 hydration stations located in Goulburn Valley Water towns.
Goulburn Valley Water Managing Director Dr Steve Capewell said public parks and recreation reserves were often hubs for physical activity in their communities and the availability of water while exercising or competing for their clubs was a necessary element for residents.
“Ensuring our hydration stations are located in areas where they will be most beneficial is an important part of the partnerships we have with local councils.
“This latest round of installations does just that, with not only football, cricket, tennis, netball, lawn bowls, and other sportspeople beneficiaries, but also people just out for a walk or to exercise their dog.
“It would be great to think that, like the commitment we made several years ago to have hydration stations in every town with a drinking water supply, we could continue to work with shires to have the re-fill sites based at other parks and recreation reserves in the southern region,” Dr Capewell said.
Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall said the installation of a drinking station at this site was in response to a Health & Wellbeing report that identified priority areas of active living and healthy eating.
“Providing easy access to drinking water in recreational areas and throughout the shire is essential for the health and wellbeing of our community,” Mayor Dougall said.
“By listening to community feedback, we were able to identify key locations for the drinking stations. Our partnership with GVW has ensured this project was delivered effectively while keeping costs low for our ratepayers.”
The riverside drinking fountain is the eighth to be installed in the Mitchell shire, with another four at recreation reserves in the towns of Seymour, Broadford, Pyalong and Wandong/Heathcote.
Bonnie Doon Football Netball Club’s new station is located alongside the netball courts. Last season the club won its first A grade netball premiership in the Ovens and King league.
At Alexandra, the new station is located along the U.T. Creek Pathway that connects the Great Victorian Rail Trail, Leckie Park and the upgraded play equipment, skate park and pump track at Rotary Park. It has become increasingly popular with families and tourists as a picnic and refresh site.
Alongside the permanent hydration station program there is also a number of portable water provision units available under the sponsorship program for outdoor community events.
For more information about the Be Smart Choose Tap sponsorship program and details of where to find existing hydration stations visit Choose Tap | Goulburn Valley Water.