To help out, the Lead Alliance established the Backyard Improvement Program competition to stimulate Mount Isa families to create lead-safe and water wise gardens and backyards.

The competition encourages Mount Isa residents to improve bare soil gardens and play areas, reducing the risk of elevated blood lead levels in children.

The winner of this year's award for reducing the most bare soil areas in a garden accessible to children is local resident Simone Langtree.

Ms Langtree accepted the award at the Mount Isa Home and Garden Centre on Monday November 4 and she said lead was definitely a concern having four little children in a mining town.

"To be able to see grass and not dust is reassuring to know I have reduced the lead levels in my yard," Ms Langtree said.

"I now have a nice area for the kids to play and a garden to enjoy and have coffee."

Ms Langtree said the process started in March.

"The main goal was to get some grass but then we slowly added things over time and now we have lots of vegetables," she said.

"An idea would pop into my head and I would try and make it possible with what I had in the garden."

Ms Langtree will soon be off on an all-inclusive trip to Adels Grove for four nights as part of her prize.

Some participants also dropped their child's blood lead levels from 6 to 3 through the project.

Competition results:

First Prize, Simone Langtree and Family

Second Prize, Brendon Chapman and Family

Third Prize, Jasmin Felmingham and Family

Highly Commended, Tyla Nicolosi and Family

READ ALSO: Kalkatungu Governing Council to address youth crime in Mount Isa

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