By Matthew Sims
A group of Hobsons Bay students have tackled a number of potential environmental issues, including flooding in Hobsons Bay, the effect of temperature changes on pH and the salinity of tap, creek and ocean water as part of this year’s Future Leaders in Sustainability program.
Year 9 and 10 students from Bayside Secondary College, Laverton P-12 College and Williamstown High School took part in the program, which is a collaboration between the Hobsons Bay council and CSIRO.
Hobsons Bay deputy mayor Diana Grima presented participants with awards for their work at a ceremony on Wednesday, August 17.
“This program is all about encouraging leadership in environmental sustainability by giving students real-world challenges set in their own community,” she said.
“It’s crucial that we encourage the next generation of leaders to really engage in local issues, particularly to do with the environment and sustainability, because they are the ones that will really feel the long-term effects of climate change.”
Laverton P-12 College Year 9 science teacher Ujay Ofoedu said the program encouraged the students to drive positive and sustainable changes in their local area.
“Today’s leaders are the environmental change agents for the future generation,” she said.
“Our students know that the longevity of our planet is in their hands, so they’re doing their bit for our local environment.”
Ms Ofedu said the students recommended a number of solutions to environmental issues within Hobsons Bay.
“They’ve come up with ideas such as planting more trees, making compost for our college gardens, reducing plastic usage, reducing pollution by placing more recycling bins around the college, promoting the use of bio-degradable materials in the college canteen, stopping litter near the creek and parklands and making the area more user-friendly,” she said.
Hobsons Bay has put the students’ projects on display in the foyer of the Altona Civic Centre until September 16.
