Filling up ... Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall and council parks team leader Wendy Bainbridge at the Tregenna St drinking fountain.
Filling up ... Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall and council parks team leader Wendy Bainbridge at the Tregenna St drinking fountain.
Whanganui District Council is one of three local councils to take action to increase access to drinking water in the community.
Whanganui, along with the Rangitikei and Ruapehu district councils, has teamed up with the Whanganui District Health Board, Sport Whanganui and Healthy Families Whanganui Rangitīkei Ruapehu from TeOranganui to extend the water-only schools initiative beyond the school gates and into the community.
Three water fountains are being installed in Whanganui as part of the initiative, along with two planned for Ruapehu and three for Rangitikei.
Already installed are fountains at the Tregenna St fishing platform and Kai Iwi Beach Domain at Mowhanau, while another is planned for the bike park at Springvale Park. All fountains have a bottle-filling tap as well as a drinking fountain.
The joint approach to increasing access to water in sport and recreation spaces was supported by funding from the Four Regions Trust.
Four Regions Trust chairwoman Dot McKinnon says, "We are very supportive of the move to improve the health and wellbeing of our community in a sustainable way by ensuring that access to water isn't a barrier to making a healthy choice."
As well as $5000 funding from the Four Regions Trust, Whanganui District Council allocated $10,000 in its 2017/18 Annual Plan to increase public drinking fountains in the community.
Mayor Hamish McDouall says the council appreciates the funding from the Four Regions Trust and all organisations who supported the funding application.
"Providing more drinking fountains around the district and in our premier parks will help to create healthier drinking choices and result in better health for our community.
"The $10,000 allocation will extend the number of fountains in high usage areas, ensuring our community and visitors have access to free, safe drinking water."
Council parks team leader Wendy Bainbridge says it was great to work with neighbouring local councils on this joint project.
"We expect the fountains will be well-used as people are out and about enjoying Whanganui's beautiful parks and reserves and recreational facilities."
It is hoped the initiative will encourage people to "help themselves, fill and go", reducing the impact from rubbish and waste. Other Whanganui fountains are located at Cooks Gardens, Peat Park, Springvale Park, Kowhai Park, Castlecliff Domain, Queen's Park, Wembley Park and Virginia Lake.
