The Lead Alliance in partnership with the North West Hospital and Health Service, are hosting the eighth annual Backyard Improvement Program to reduce the amount of bare soil areas in backyards and therefore reduce lead levels in children.

Lead Alliance project officer Daniella Hinton said the program provided residents with essential information on lead safe practices, whilst also stimulating lifestyle behaviours that reduced the risk of elevated blood lead levels in children.

"Some changes residents can make are growing grass, creating a vegetable garden or a beautiful new garden bed, anything that reduces the amount of bare soil areas in the yard," Ms Hinton said.

"The only eligibility criteria is that the family must have at least one child residing with them aged 10 or younger. We will require the entry form to be completed and submitted along with "before" images of the area which will be improved. After some months, we will contact the families and request for "after" images.

"Mount Isa residents have from now until 5.00pm June 26, to enter the program. Once entries have closed, all entrants will have until the end of September, to make improvements to their yards."

Ms Hinton said the competition had seen some vast improvements over the years, from growing grass, to themed play areas for children.

"It's not only improvements to yards, but improvements to the overall health and wellbeing of individual people that we have seen over the years due to this program," she said.

"Last year, a family had obtained blood lead level testing for their children at the commencement of the competition. The reading indicated a blood lead level of six for one of their children, which was a key motivator to work on covering the bare soil areas in their backyard.

"At the end of the program, the family notified the Lead Alliance of their child's blood lead level which has since halved! The family attribute the Lead Alliance and entering the program towards the improvement of their child's health."

Ms Hinton said while there is no healthy lead level, The Lead Alliance encouraged residents to monitor their blood lead levels by regularly getting tested and undertaking lead safe practices like hand washing, eating healthy and wet wiping and moping.

"The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHRMC) recommends that if a person has a blood lead level greater than 5 micrograms per decilitre the source of exposure should be investigated and reduced," she said.

The winners of the competition will be announced during the first week of October.

The most improved backyard would take our the first place prize of a Adels Grove Family Holiday Package including four nights including accommodation, breakfast, dinner and tours.

Second place will receive a 500 give voucher for Mount Isa Home and Garden Centre, third place will receive a $250 Bunnings voucher and fourth place will receive a $50 voucher for Mount Isa Home and Garden Center.

To enter, please contact the Lead Alliance on 1800 457 547 to receive an entry form.

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