Yarrabah members secure action over polluted drinking water
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 129 No 6, 23 August 2024, page 11.
The collaborative efforts of members, the local accommodation committee, and the QTU have successfully ensured that concerns about poor water quality in Yarrabah were addressed.
In 2023, teachers at Yarrabah State School were alerted by the Department of Infrastructure and Operations that there were unsafe levels of lead in the water, which included drinking water at the school and in teacher housing. The water was discoloured, metallic to the taste and unfit for use.
Teachers in Yarrabah held a sub-branch meeting and moved a motion to campaign for better housing conditions, including water treatment.
When QTU Far North Queensland Organiser Sammy Blocksidge visited the school, members shared images and stories of discoloured water in their houses. Sammy immediately contacted the department on behalf of Yarrabah teachers, to express the Union’s concerns and request immediate action. Yarrabah Union Reps, with Sammy’s assistance, advocated for filtration systems to be installed in all teacher housing.
A response was swift, and the department agreed that it would seek advice from the council on water testing results. As well as this, there was immediate action to remediate, installation of filter units, conduction of broad-spectrum water tests, and regular servicing, along with an assurance that internal water services would be replaced.
The department also provided bottled water for teachers in the interim, ensuring Yarrabah members were provided with clean drinking water.
Throughout the campaign period, Sammy stayed in contact with Yarrabah Union Reps, ensuring that the local accommodation officer (LAO) and residents were kept up to date. Yarrabah teachers were able to see the outcome of organised action and felt that the QTU was in their corner.
As of June 2024, the water had been found to be safe, filtration systems had been installed, and the department had committed to ongoing testing.
Yarrabah teachers are grateful for the advocacy of Sammy, our Organiser, and recognise the power of coming together for a common purpose.
The Yarrabah QTU members’ dedicated campaigning led to the successful installation of water filters in all Department of Education and government employee housing within Yarrabah. This achievement highlights the power of unity and advocacy in creating healthier living conditions for our school community.