A free family‐friendly community event will be held this weekend to celebrate the way water benefits our
lives.
The collaboration between Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens, Macquarie Point Development Corporation,
TasWater, Angus Stewart, Horticultural and Landscape Supplies, WaterUps and Nayri Niara at LongHouse is
designed to highlight the role we all play in protecting the long‐term sustainability of this vital life source.
As part of the event, gardening guru and former ABC Gardening Australia presenter Angus Stewart will run a
workshop to show attendees how to build wicking garden beds for commercial and home use.
“In addition to the workshop, there will be a bunch of interactive activities and water saving tips, fun for the
whole family,” Stewart said.
A forum featuring experts in agriculture, science and indigenous knowledge will discuss the importance of
water on earth, on land and in the garden.
Participants can also hear from the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens about xerophytic (highly drought
tolerant) plants for a water efficient garden.
TasWater Senior Water Scientist Stephen Westgate said he hopes the event will encourage a conversation
about the importance and value of water.
“Our household water is not limitless, it’s a valuable part of our home and family life, but also our livelihood,
our cultural practices, our wellbeing and our local environment,” Westgate said.
“By celebrating all the different ways water benefits our lives, we can value water properly and safeguard it
effectively for everyone.”
Coinciding with World Water Day, the ‘Water Source’ event will be held on Saturday 20 March between 9am‐
3pm at the Edible Precinct, Macquarie Point (entry from Evans Street), Hobart.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase, and TasWater’s water filling station will be on‐site for drink
bottle refills.
For more information on the event and to register for some workshops due to COVID‐19 restrictions, please
see here.
Event timetable
9:00am – Healing Power of Water – 1hr workshop showcasing traditional indigenous uses for water and botanicals to aid healing and health
(11am – 3pm) Food stall run by Nayri Niara X Future Feeders
11:30am – Forum Panel Discussion – Below the Surface – 45min discussion from differing perspectives around the importance of water
1:00pm – Angus Stewart: Wicking Beds and How To build your own demonstration – 1-1.5hr workshop showing the water conservation benefits of wicking garden beds and showing practical examples on how to use within your own garden. Please register by emailing [email protected] as places are limited
3:00pm – Event closure
All day – TasWater workshops – Make your own garden in a jar, learn about the water cycle
All day – Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens workshops – Xerophyte plants/gardens and Benefits of Mulch
All day – LongHouse Childrens’ Mural Workshop – Floor chalk design and creation
All day – WaterUps display and stall for discussion
All day – Hot drinks (coffee!), and botanical sodas (with flavours derived from on-site flora)
Featured image above: gardening guru and former ABC Gardening Australia presenter Angus Stewart at the Edible Precinct, Mac Point, with delicious produce grown in the wicking garden bed.
Event collaboration partners (L to R): TasWater’s Stephen Westgate, Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens Leesa Butler, gardening guru Angus Stewart and Darcy Pritchard from HALS.
