City goes platinum at Waterwise Awards

The City of Stirling has received the highest possible accolade from Water Corporation and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation taking out the Platinum Waterwise Council of the Year award as part of the Waterwise Council Program.

The award recognised the City’s efforts to reduce water consumption and improve efficiency while encouraging ratepayers to choose native plants during a series of pop-up garden workshops.

Mayor Mark Irwin said the City was proud to continue to lead the sector in waterwise innovations and initiatives, and receiving the Platinum status was a testament to the hard work of the staff and community.

“Our new long-term strategic plan sets out a vision to become a sustainable City with a local focus, and being water-wise is a major component of the City’s approach to environmental sustainability,” he said.

“Under our Waterwise Council Action Plan 2021-2026, we are leading the sector in sustainable water use through innovation, aligning to the State Government’s plan to protect our precious groundwater resources as our climate changes.

Among the initiatives recognised in the Platinum status was the City’s Sustainable Verge Awards program. The awards recognise residents who contribute to the City’s efforts to create sustainable verge gardens.

Special mention was also made of the City's efforts to reduce groundwater consumption at Grindleford Reserve in Balcatta through hydro-zoning technology.

The technology was featured in October 2022 when the State Government announced their Kep Katitjin - Gabi Kaadadjan - Waterwise Action Plan 2 in the heart of the City of Stirling.

In presenting the awards this month, Western Australian Water Minister Simone McGurk said in the face of climate change and declining rainfall, it has never been more important to build climate resistant communities.

"Make no mistake, these programs can and do make a real difference. Take for example the Waterwise Aquatic Centre Program, which has saved a whopping 1.58 billion litres of water since 2008 – that's around 700 Olympic swimming pools of water,” she said.

"On behalf of the WA Government, I'd like to congratulate each waterwise endorsed council and aquatic centre for their commitment to water efficiency."