Taronga Zoo marks National Water Week with exhibition in ‘Backyard to Bush’ education precinct

Taronga Zoo has marked National Water Week (19th – 25th October 2020) with an exhibition in the revamped Sustainability House - located in the ‘Backyard to Bush’ education precinct - to promote liveable communities to school students. 

The Sustainability House is sponsored by Sydney Water with Taronga Zoo Director, Cameron Kerr noting that the relationship with Sydney Water was a great environmental partnership because healthy waterways are vital to Australian wildlife such as the platypus and waterbirds.

NSW Minister for Finance and Services, Andrew Constance joined Cameron Kerr and students from Castlecrag and Terrey Hills to celebrate the newly redeveloped exhibition in the Zoo’s ‘Backyard to Bush’ education precinct.

Kerr highlighted “The Sustainability House is an excellent way to show children and families how they can help provide a sustainable future for people and wildlife using resources like water responsibly.”

Minister Constance advised “the Sustainability House has received an amazing facelift, and we’re excited to unveil it during this year’s National Water Week, which is all about celebrating liveable communities.

“The Sustainability House is a fantastic educational tool for students to engage with and learn about the small things they can do to ensure Sydney is a liveable city.

“By 2030, Sydney is expected to grow by 1.4 million people and have 550,000 new homes, so we need to make sure these people have a clean supply of water and a healthy environment to live in.” “Providing children with an interactive learning experience where they find out things like not to put oil or food scraps down a drain are simple but important facts that will help improve the waterways of our city.

”The Sustainability House is sponsored by Sydney Water and the recent redevelopment shows a number of new wall murals that depict a healthy water cycle, effects of climate change, encourage drinking tap and not bottled water and a list of things that should and should not go down a drain.

“It’s really important that the next generation enjoy learning about ways to create a healthier and more sustainable environment.”

“It’s vital that we keep investing in the future and the way that the Sustainability House teaches young people about protecting our waterways and conserving our drinking water supplies is definitely a long term investment in the education of the next generation."

Image of Taronga Zoo's Backyard to Bush education precinct