Call for artists as Highlands joins in war on waste

Stockland and Hume City Council are calling for expressions of interest from local artists keen to join in a global movement that is fighting the war on waste by providing water refill fountains which double as works of art.

O initiative fountains are beautifully designed sculptures that provide filtered water to encourage the use of reusable bottles, with Stockland planning to install an O fountain into the new Sustainable Park under construction at Highlands in Craigieburn.

The O fountain is also designed to encourage conversation and community engagement while providing a platform for artists to showcase their work.

James Westh, Project Director at Stockland, said the Highlands O fountain would be the first O initiative refill station to be installed in a Stockland community in Australia.

“We’re proud to be joining forces with the O initiative and Hume City Council on this exciting project which is a perfect synergy for our new Sustainable Park and reflects Stockland’s commitment to creating sustainable, healthy communities,” Mr Westh said.

“The concept of the O fountain is to encourage residents and visitors to use refillable water bottles or pop-up dog bowls when they are out and about to help reduce disposable bottled water consumption that is contributing to landfill and pollution in our oceans and waterways.

“The beauty of this project is that it involves the whole community through the process of artist selection for the piece, and will be a lasting monument to the values of our community.”

Artwork for the O fountain at Highlands must align with the core values of Stockland, Hume City Council and the O initiative and reference the overarching themes of health, community, environment and/or conservation.

Details on how to submit an expression of interest can be found on the Highlands website at www.stockland.com.au/highlands.

Expressions of interest close on 28 February and shortlisted artists will be announced on 1 March, with the community to be asked to vote on their favourite design from the shortlisted artists.

The winner will be announced on 16 March and the O fountain will be unveiled at the official opening of Sustainable Park on Sustainable Drive, which is expected to take place in April.

The O initiative initiates partnerships between the public and private sectors and the community, with an aim to reduce plastic waste from bottled water and create the largest open air gallery in the world.

Sustainable Park is an exciting new 1.5 hectare environmentally-focussed parkland currently under construction at Highlands featuring a playground built with recycled materials.

The playground includes a range of innovative features such as The Nest, a spiral staircase tower with cladding made from sticks collected within Highlands, carved logs, tree sculptures, animals made from timber and musical instruments.

With more than 150 hectares of Highlands dedicated to open spaces and parkland, Highlands has set a state benchmark for healthy and active communities.

For more details on Highlands, go to www.stockland.com.au/highlands, visit the Highlands Sales and Information Centre at 1 North Shore Drive, Craigieburn, or call 13 LAND (13 5263). You can also follow the community on Facebook at  www.facebook.com/highlandscraigieburn.

For more information on the O initiative, go to www.theoinitiative.com. You can also follow the community on Facebook at www.facebook.com/oinitiative