December 4, 2020
Students from four local schools have impressed upon the South Burnett Regional Council the importance of sustainability and recycling.
Two students from each school were invited to address the councillors during a short break in Wednesday’s standing committee meeting.
Acting Mayor Gavin Jones welcomed the deputation.
“The school communities across the South Burnett have worked hard in recent years to ensure students can put in place some of what they have been taught in the classroom,” Cr Jones said.
“Sustainability is a cross-curriculum priority and central tenet of school life.
“Our school students are passionate about taking care of the local environment and doing what they can to preserve it for future generations.
“Their enthusiasm for living more sustainably is infectious.”
The students spoke to the councillors about the initiatives they were taking at their schools to protect the environment and live sustainably.
These included recycling, collecting for Containers For Change, planting school gardens, keeping worm farms and composting.
Councillors were also given some advice: “Things we would like to see the Council do for Kingaroy are educating people about recycling and locations around the area you can recycle, and ban single-use products … start with cafes!”
Kathryn Stevens, a parent from St John’s Lutheran School, summed up the presentation by reminding the listeners this was the generation that would have to deal with the environment in years to come.
“I think we have a real responsibility as a community to listen to their voices and I hope that today has just started that discussion between the younger members of our community and the decision-makers,” she said.
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