Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas hasjoined eager students from Malmsbury Primary School to announce the expansion of Victoria’s first online waterway education tool.

The River Detectives program began at the North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in 2015 and brings the State Government’s successful Waterwatch Program into the classroom via an interactive website.

It has also been adopted by scouts and community groups to include them in monitoring their local waterways and the impacts of climate change, stormwater runoff and river regulation.

The program will now be extended and trialled in three more CMA regions – Wimmera, North East and Corangamite. Melbourne Water is also trialling the program with 12 targeted schools. So far, almost 100 schools have registered to be part of the program, with up to 5000 students expected to become River Detectives this year.

The program includes providing schools with a kit, an interactive portal to record their data (citizen science), resources to support the delivery of activities and professional learning sessions for teachers to develop their skills.

It allows students from across the state to test habitat, water quality and macroinvertebrate information from local waterways and record their data via the website. The website also includes resources and support to help teachers deliver the program.

River Detectives directly aligns with the Victorian Government’s Water for Victoria plan as it nurtures community partnerships and promotes citizen science initiatives that address local waterway priorities. The program is funded by the Victorian Government as part of a $222 million investment over the next four years to improve catchment and waterway health.

The Victorian Government understands that healthy waterways support liveable communities and recreation opportunities, so we’re getting on with the job of delivering Water for Victoria – an investment in water security, jobs, and a healthy environment for all Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas

“The River Detectives program is an excellent example of connecting rivers, landscapes and people, particularly our younger generation.”

“I am excited to see the almost 5000 students heading out to monitor their local waterway and record valuable data about its health.”

Quotes attributable to North Central CMA Chief Executive Officer Brad Drust

“River Detectives is such a valuable program that allows schools across the state to head to their local waterway, engage with their local environment and learn skills in testing water quality which they report through an interactive portal.”