Stakeholders who made the event possible. Photos courtesy of Krystyna Pollard / Penrith City Council

STUDENTS and teachers from Regentville PS, Mulgoa PS, Llandilo PS, Kingswood HS and Cranebrook HS gathered at Schoolhouse Creek, Mulgoa on Thursday 23rd July with representatives from Sydney Water, Sydney Taronga Zoo, the Department of Education and Penrith City Council as part of Project Platypus.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo launched Project Platypus in 2018, a community conservation education project aimed at supporting Platypus populations in the Western region of NSW.

Project Platypus is designed to engage students in conservation and sustainable practices by focusing on threats in their local area. By focusing on a hero species – platypus – and the threats it encounters in their local area, students participate in a STEM design challenge, highlighting the plight of the platypus and producing prototype conservation solutions to educate the public and ensure the ongoing survival of this iconic species.

Activity 1: Introduction to Project Platypus – presentation by zookeepers.

Activity 2: Habitat Day – Hands-on activities and workshops by the range of organisations involved. This Activity was conducted at Schoolhouse Creek on Thursday.

Activity 3: Project Day 1 – at school project briefing and build start; Project Day 2 – at school project build, refine and test; Project Day 3 – refine and finalise projects

Activity 4: Expo Day – Projects on display, presented to stakeholders who judge the projects.

Penrith Mayor Todd Carney said it he was pleased to see students so engaged in caring for the Nepean River and its surrounds as part of Project Platypus.

“Our river has played a vital role in the lives of the communities living beside it for thousands of years,” Mayor Carney said.

“Council made a plan nearly 15 years ago to guide the future of what’s happening around the river, which saw the completion of some fantastic projects like Regatta Park. Now we’re looking to the future, and it’s great to see students coming together to understand how we can all play a part.

“This is a fantastic example of stakeholders successfully coming together to deliver a program that will help ensure this great river is looked after for generations to come.”

Project Platypus is a Taronga Western Plains Zoo initiative in partnership with the Central West Catchment Management Authority, River Smart and several other community partners.  For more information about Project Platypus visit www.taronga.org.au.