7 April 2021
Touch-free drinking fountains will be installed in 12 towns across northern Victoria as part of a Goulburn Valley Water program delivering community access to fresh drinking water.
The new sensor activation hydration stations – the first to be rolled out in GVW’s area - are touch free, meaning people can fill up safely and easily.
GVW has partnered with local councils and community organisations to install the hydration stations in high-use public spaces.
Applications for stations have been given the green light for the following locations, and we will be working with councils and community groups to install the hydration stations in coming months.
- Katandra West Recreation Reserve
- Congupna Recreation Reserve
- George Graham Park, Wunghnu
- Yarroweyah Recreation Reserve
- Brian Pinnuck Lions Memorial Park, Strathmerton
- Picola Heritage Park, Picola
- Katunga Recreation Reserve
- Longwood Pub Paddock Park
- Buxton Recreation Reserve
- Walter Moore Reserve, Eildon
- Kyabram District Health Service, 35 Birdwood Avenue Stanhope
- Girgarre Recreation Reserve.
GVW Managing Director Steve Capewell said providing access to free and high quality drinking water was a priority for GVW, to help contribute to liveability and recreation in each town.
“We know how important having access to water in community spaces is, so we’re investing in adding extra locations to our roll out this year so more towns have the stations sooner,” Dr Capewell said.
“Using these hydration stations also helps us reduce single use plastic by encouraging people to bring their own reusable bottle to fill up while they out and about. More than 373 million plastic bottles go to landfill every year across Australia, so these stations create an easy way for us to make more environmentally friendly water refill choices.”
As part of GVW’s 2018-23 Price Plan, a permanent hydration station will be installed in every town with a drinking water supply by the end of the plan – with the aim to install about eight per year.
An expression of interest process will open mid-year for installations in 2021-22.
A list of permanent hydration station locations is available here.