News and Campaigns
News Details - Landcare Australia Ltd
18-02-2008
HELP US HELP THE EARTH
OLYMPIC LEGEND URGES AUSSIES TO UNITE TO SAVE WATER
A new initiative launched today by Landcare Australia and Banrock Station aims to save hundreds of thousands of mega litres of water nationwide – by simply asking Australian households to reduce their water use by 10%.
Olympic swimming legend Michael Klim has thrown his support behind the Help Us Help the Earth campaign, and is urging Australians to do their part through a few simple actions around the household. 
“One leaking tap can waste a staggering 35 buckets of water a day – enough to fill a family size pool during the year!” Michael says. “And having a shower for one minute less saves another bucket of water – it’s not hard to see that simple actions around the home and garden can make a huge difference.”
The Help Us Help the Earth campaign highlights that if Aussies reduce household water use by just 10% this will lead to a staggering 210,000 mega litres of water savings every year – enough to fill 105,000 Olympic sized swimming pools.
New Roy Morgan research being released as part of the campaign shows:
- 15 million Australians have no idea how much water they use in their home
- Over 75% of Australians are concerned or very concerned about the country’s declining water levels
- However, a staggering 1.3 million Australians have taken no steps at all to save water in their home
- 4 million Australians say the main reason they haven’t taken steps to reduce their water consumption is because it’s too expensive, with a further 1.5 million saying they are too busy to implement water saving measures
Landcare and Banrock Station are asking all Australians to join the challenge through a new interactive website www.helpushelptheearth.com.au, which shows many simple and inexpensive tips to reduce household water usage. The website records your usual water consumption, and shows how small changes add up to huge water savings in your home and garden.
Some of the easy tips on the site for saving water include:
- turning the tap off when brushing your teeth
- installing a water efficient shower head
- making sure you run dishwashers with full loads
- if your garden needs watering, do it early in the morning to avoid evaporation
- using a broom to clean paths and driveways rather than hosing with water
- establishing a water saving program with your work colleagues and encouraging all staff to get involved
Through the website, visitors are also able to submit their water saving ideas into an online pool – creating an invaluable forum for future water saving. The best ideas will go in a draw to win a Banrock Station gift pack, including a clothing pack and glassware.
While
Long time Landcare partner, Banrock Station, is supporting the campaign, donating proceeds of wine sales to ensure the water savings are translated back into our drought-stricken rivers.
Every Australian has the opportunity to increase their water efficiency and contribute to
Banrock Station has partnered with Landcare for more than 10 years, with part proceeds of every wine purchased funding more than 60 critical conservation projects in
Environmental Scientist and Banrock Station manager Tony Sharley said he was delighted to continue the Landcare partnership through this new project.
Tony Sharley said “Help Us Help the Earth is a fantastic initiative directed at protecting the earth’s most valuable natural asset - water. We can’t wait to see what can be achieved with the public’s help and I’m confident we’ll reach our target of 10% savings.”
Michael Klim says attitudes are already changing but we need to go much further because of the growing pressure on
Michael said “Help Us Help the Earth’ is all about undertaking simple daily actions throughout the home, the backyard and in the workplace. Landcare and Banrock Station want to see water savings because this will help rejuvenate our major river systems around the nation.”
“Action is the key and we just have to do more to protect our precious water resources. Ultimately, this campaign will free vast amounts of water for environmental flows and other important uses and we believe it has the potential to make a world of difference.”
Landcare
“As you are reducing your water consumption you’re taking action, making a difference and you save money so your back pocket wins and so does the environment. We need water because there’s such pressure on our river systems and many of our rivers are literally drying up.”
www.helpushelptheearth.com
Tel: 0419 304 755
