Work in small groups for these activities

Activity 1: What are the issues?

Brainstorm issues that have something to do with our use of water in cities, in rural and regional Victoria, with the way we use, store and abuse our water resources.

For further ideas, visit:

• Our Water, Our Future at www.ourwater.vic.gov.au
• Department of Sustainability and Environment at www.dse.vic.gov.au and www.land.vic.gov.au
• Melbourne Water at www.melbournewater.com.au
• Murray-Darling Basin Commission at www.thelivingmurray.gov.au (a joint State-Commonwealth initiative and responsibility)

and/or read John Nicholson's book, The Mighty Murray (Allen and Unwin, 2002). See also http://www.allenandunwin.com/Teaching/mightymurray.tns.pdf

Collect newspaper articles about water-related issues and analyse these articles to identify the specific issue, causes and possible solutions.

Activity 2: What are the solutions?

Since responsible government began in 1855 and through to the present time, governments have suggested different solutions to issues related to water.

Select one or more of the water - land issues identified in Activity 1 and/or at the exhibition.

Investigate the causes of this problem and possible solutions by:

• revisiting websites such as those listed in Activity 1
• conducting an internet and school and local library search for books and information about your issue(s)
• inviting guest speakers from appropriate organisations and agencies to visit your class and discuss the issues and possible solutions. Prepare questions before the visit and send these to your guest speaker.

Use this information to decide what could be done to help solve each issue by:

• you
• your family and friends
• your school
• your local community
• local industries (primary, secondary, tertiary)
• local government
• the Government of Victoria
• a joint State-Commonwealth project.

Decide which of these are the most practical, the most effective and the most important ways to help get the message across to these concerned groups and to help solve the problem(s). Take steps to achieve your goals.

Previous activity | Back to top

• Introductory activities
• Investigating the past
• Visiting the exhibition
• Going further

• Our Water, Our Future
• Department of Sustainability and Environment
• Melbourne Water
• Murray-Darling Basin Commission
• Allen & Unwin teaching resources