Waterwise makes a splash at National Water Awards

Water Corporation's Head of Water Quality, Rachael Miller, Head of Brand and Customer Strategy Anna Pearce and Lijun Mo, Head of Future Water Solutions at the National Water Awards.

• Waterwise Perth Action Plan wins the Organisational Excellence Award at the National Water Awards
• Water Corporation's Waterwise Schools Education Program wins the Customer Experience Award
• The Awards recognise outstanding achievements in driving a sustainable water future

Western Australia's Waterwise has made a big splash at the National Water Awards, with the Waterwise Perth Action Plan winning the Organisational Excellence Award and the Waterwise Schools Program winning the Customer Excellence Award at a gala ceremony in Melbourne.

The Australian Water Awards recognise outstanding achievements of organisations, individuals and students. They are an opportunity for the water community to showcase innovation, leadership and the way we are addressing the challenges of driving a sustainable water future.

Led by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Water Corporation, eight State Government agencies collectively delivered 38 actions through the Waterwise Perth Action Plan.

The Plan represented the first time key Government agencies across the areas of water, environment, development, planning, community, transport, finance, and sport and recreation came together to work towards achieving a shared vision of Perth (Boorloo) as a leading waterwise city by 2030.

Following the success of the initial Plan, implementation of the Kep Katitjin – Gabi Kaadadjan Waterwise Perth Action Plan 2 is underway. Consecutive Plans to date have saved over 12 billion litres of water through improved waterwise practices and actions.

Western Australia chalked up a second win on the night, with the Water Corporation's Waterwise Schools Education Program winning the Customer Experience Award.

In WA, waterwise education begins at school. For more than 25 years, the Waterwise Schools Education Program has helped shape waterwise behaviours and attitude in students of all ages.

In 2022-23, 42,345 students engaged with the program and by 2030 it aims to take the waterwise message to 50,000 WA school students each year.

Western Australia's South West is one of the world's regions most affected by climate change, with just 20 per cent of the 1975 water levels running into our dams each year. At the same time, we are seeing hotter days and more of them, as well as more extreme weather events.

Comments attributed to Water Minister Simone McGurk:

"This is a fantastic achievement, and it is due recognition for DWER and Water Corporation as the lead agencies, as well as the other agencies who have participated in the Waterwise Perth Action Plan and the Waterwise Schools Program.

"For those other agencies, water is not their core business and yet they have channelled their efforts to create important waterwise outcomes for our communities through the Waterwise Perth Action Plan. 

"This work is an excellent example of cross-government collaborative approach to address water security and climate challenges. It has created significant progress toward delivering this long-term vision and ensuring Perth (Boorloo) maintains highly liveable communities in the face of climate and development pressures. 

"The Waterwise Schools Education Program helps to develop a waterwise generation, sharing skills and understanding to support our children as active decision makers for a sustainable future. The national recognition of this program is testament to its important role in our community."