Plastic Free CQ launches Water Refill Network across Capricorn Coast and Rockhampton communities
Posted on February 14th, 2023
It just got a whole heap easier to keep hydrated when you visit Rockhampton Regional Council and Livingstone Shire Council thanks to a map of local water refill locations where you can refill your personal water bottle.
Just in time for summer, the Water Map is an initiative of the Plastic Free CQ Program run by the Boomerang Alliance, Australia’s peak not-for-profit waste organisation.
The network shows where water refill stations for BYO reusable water bottles are located, and includes participating local businesses and Council refill points. There are 90 locations across Rockhampton and 136 across Livingstone where you can access a drinking fountain, above-ground tap, dog water bowl, showers with taps, and local businesses who have set up water refill stations to eliminate the need for single-use water in their daily dealings.
Queensland recently banned certain single-use plastic items, such as straws, cutlery, plates, bowls, polystyrene (foam) cups, and containers. Future items for bans are being considered, but single-use plastic water bottles are far from ever being banned.
‘It’s one of the most problematic items of single-use plastic’ said Jo Stoyel, Coordinator of Plastic Free CQ.
They are littered often, and even when recycled, they can only be recycled a few times before the plastic is too degraded. Plus, it takes more water to make the bottle than the actual amount of water inside the bottle!’
‘By providing infrastructure to refill your own reusable water bottle, we can effectively eliminate the need for these bottles at all.’
Many businesses have already joined Plastic Free CQ, and the program works with them to eliminate key single-use plastic items in favor of reducing and using reusable or compostable alternatives.
Now, the program is calling for more local businesses to help save the Southern Great Barrier Reef by joining the water network. A water refill station may be filtered or sparkling water on tap, a cooler, or even just tap water. Businesses can charge a small fee for refills on tap, and many choose to also free refills to do their bit to improve the accessibility of water.
You can access the water bottle refill network for recreational areas in and around Rockhampton and Livingstone Shires now at www.plasticfreecq.org/watermap and remember to take your bottle with you next time you’re out and about, knowing this small action is helping to save our reef.
Businesses can join the program and refill network at www.plasticfreecq.org
