EcoPorts grants a blooming success

The annual grants program received more than 15 applications from schools across NQBP’s port communities, in Hay Point, Mackay, Bowen and Weipa.

NQBP Acting CEO Rochelle Macdonald said the EcoPorts grants helped teach local students about sustainability and environmental principles.

“Applications this year ranged from recycling initiatives, gardening projects and studies to help reduce water wastage,” Dr Macdonald said.

“The NQBP EcoPorts grants create awareness, understanding and appreciation for the environment.

“NQBP is proud to support grassroots initiatives that engage young people in our port communities.”

One successful initiative at Gumlu State School will see the students design and monitor a garden using digital technology to inform when to water crops to help reduce water wastage.

Principal Thomas Harrington said they planned to film each step of the project to share their learnings online.

“The students are excited to see how digital technology could help them and their families save money and water,” Mr Harrington said.

“We want other schools to be able to learn from what we are doing.”

Dr Macdonald said it was encouraging to see schools applying to continue with projects they had previously used an EcoPorts grant towards.

“At Mackay Christian College, students will expand on their Precious Plastics project to build a compressor for their production line. This project benefitted from an EcoPorts grant last year too,” she said.

Dr Macdonald congratulated all the successful recipients of the 2018 round of EcoPorts grants.

“NQBP takes pride in growing the knowledge and understanding of young people in our port communities through our EcoPorts grants program,” she said.

Successful schools 2018

• Alligator Creek State School: Purchase or making of a 'can cage' for collection of aluminium cans for recycling.
• Sarina State High School: Implement a paper and cardboards, recycling system for the school.
• Western Cape College, Weipa: Create gardens between two blocks of classrooms to help learn what is sustainable in Weipa.
• Merinda State School: Establish a worm farm for each class to support sustainable practices and utilise processed fertilisers.
• Gumlu State School: Design and monitor a garden using digital technology which will inform when to water crops.
• Glenella State School: Increase the number of garden beds being currently used for the Student Council and Garden Club.
• Mackay Christian College:  The grant will assist in building the next step in the Precious Plastic project production line, a compressor.
• MacKillop Catholic Primary School: The development of a communal garden to grow herbs and vegetables which would be provided to the tuck shop for use in the weekly menu.
• Northview State School: Expansion of the school’s vegetable gardens.
• St Mary's Catholic Primary School: Implementation of a gardening program for students which would cover food, flowers, tropical fruits, herbs and native plants.

ENDS

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation contact:
Kirsty Mugridge | Media and Community Engagement Advisor
07 4969 0772 | kmugridge@nqbp.com.au