The winners of the ACT Government’s DrainART competition, in which students in years 5 to 12 drew, painted, or created digital art about protecting ACT waterways, were announced today.

The Minister’s Prize went to Amaroo School Year 5 student Ji Won Hwang, for a striking design demonstrating the impacts of leaf pollution. It won first prize in the Leaves and grass clippings category.

“My artwork shows how leaves and grass clippings that we leave unattended, pollute the drains, destroying the ecosystem,” Ji Won said. “Just by cleaning near the drains, we can prevent algae in ponds, lakes and rivers and save animals and plants that are in crisis.”

• Going down the drain: Art competition for ACT students (7 March)

Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said: “Ji Won’s artwork is a great reminder of the impacts our actions can have on local species and that we all have a role to play in keeping pollution out of stormwater.”

The other prize-winners were:

• Bonuli Perera (Amaroo School): 1^st Prize, Soil erosion category and 2^nd prize, Leaves and grass clippings category, Years 5 and 6
• Patrick Cooper (Amaroo School): 3^rd Prize, Leaves and grass clippings category, Years 5 and 6
• Hooria Imran (Amaroo School): Merit award, Leaves and grass clippings category, Years 5 and 6
• Lucas Paton (Amaroo School): 1^st Prize, General category, Years 5 and 6
• Aarna Bodar (Amaroo School): 2^nd Prize, General category, Years 5 and 6
• Tenuki Waldeniya (Forrest Primary School): 3^rd Prize, General category, Years 5 and 6
• Adrina Tan (Canberra High School): 1^st Prize, Leaves and grass clippings category, Years 7 to 10
• Chloe Pham (Burgmann Anglican School): 1^st Prize, Fertilisers category, Years 7 to 10
• Sonia Sharif (Burgmann Anglican School): 1^st Prize, General category, Years 7 to 10
• Raghib Barkat (Burgmann Anglican School): 2^nd Prize, General category, Years 7 to 10
• Frankie Buchanan (Mount Stromlo High School): 3^rd Prize, General category, Years 7 to 10
• Tyla Gwynne (Merici College): 1^st Prize, Leaves and grass clippings category, Years 11 and 12
• Tessa Bond (Merici College): 1^st Prize, Fertilisers category, Years 7 to 10
• Finlay Dawson (Merici College): 1^st Prize, General category, Years 11 and 12

Mr Rattenbury congratulated the ACT school students on their prize-winning artworks that raise awareness of stormwater pollution and the importance of keeping our waterways healthy. He said the students created eye-catching designs while sharing information about simple actions that can protect ACT waterways.

“All the students have created artworks in their own unique style, but with one single message: our actions at home and in the street affect the health of our waterways,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“Healthy waterways are critical for the health and wellbeing of all Canberrans, the ACT environment, and those living downstream of us. Leaves, grass clippings, and garden fertilisers can all lead to nutrient pollution when washed into our waterways, causing harmful blue-green algae blooms.

“Some of these designs will be used in public installations around the ACT, so keep an eye out for a colourful drain near you.”

The DrainART competition is an initiative of the ACT Healthy Waterways Program. For more information on how the ACT Government is tackling pollution in our lakes, rivers and ponds, visit the ACT Healthy Waterways Program webpage.

To view this year’s winning artworks, visit the ACT Government webpage.