The stunning new O Fountain on Gympie Terrace may quite literally stop you in your tracks.
The striking blue artwork on the water refill station, painted by local Indigenous artist Lyndon Davis, represents the shell middens along the foreshore of Noosa River.
“Middens were formed from the discarded shells from the seafood eaten by the Kabi Kabi and were common along the banks of the Noosa River and Weyba, Doonella, Cooroibah and Cootharaba Lakes,” Mr Davis said.
“This artwork represents these large accumulations of shell material found in this area.”
It’s been a joint project between Unitywater, Noosa Council and Tourism Noosa to encourage locals and visitors to ditch single-use plastic bottles and fill up reusable water bottles with tap water.
Unitywater Manager Communications and Engagement Jana Dore said the O Fountain was the second in Noosa and joined the 18 other community water refill stations in the shire.
“Our Water on Tap program encourages people to stay hydrated and protect our local environment by avoiding single-use plastics and filling up from the tap,” she said.
“It also supports our target zero commitment to sustainability, and we’re thrilled that the O Fountain has been installed just ahead of Plastic-Free July.”
Deputy Mayor Frank Wilkie said the fountain combined the Noosa community’s respect for its environment and Indigenous history.
“In our recent Liveability Survey, residents valued the environment most highly and this O Fountain helps reduce the use of plastics that can end up in our waterways and honours the Indigenous people’s historical links to the Noosa River,” he said.
Tourism Noosa Head of Tourism Sustainability and Program Design Juanita Terry-Bloomfield said it was a wonderful addition at the popular Lions Park.
“It will certainly get people talking – the O Fountain in Hastings Street has been wonderfully received since it was installed in 2018,” she said.
“This one is absolutely beautiful and we’re proud that it represents some of the cultural heritage of this area. This is also an exciting opportunity to support our endeavours through our Plastic Free Noosa Program which aims to eliminate single-use plastics in Noosa.”
