Mount Isa residents have reduced the risk of high lead levels, by participating in the Lead Alliance Backyard Improvement Program.
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The Backyard Improvement Program is an annual event run by the Lead Alliance to encourage Mount isa residents to reduce the amount of bare soil areas that are accessible to children in their backyards.
Lead Alliance Project Officer Daniella Hinton said this year the competition received its highest number of entries.
"We received 76 compared to 30 families who entered last year," Ms Hinton said.
"I think the biggest factor for us is that many of families were required to stay home during lockdown and self isolate, so people were looking at productive, family orientated projects that they could do at home.
"So I think that was a big contributing factor to why we had such an increase in numbers this year."
First place was awarded to Emma Schneider & Family, who won a family holiday to Adels Grove. Second place was awarded to Lucy Barry & Family who won a $500 voucher to the Mount Isa Home and Gardens Centre. Third place was claimed by Kirsty Nolan & Family who won a $250 Bunnings voucher and highly commended was won by Kasey Ketchup & Family who received a $50 voucher to Mount Isa Home and Gardens Centre.
Ms Hinton said families had four and a half months to create improvements in their yards.
"Upon entering everyone was supplied with a starter kit with basic essentials to help them get started," she said.
"They also had to supply a 'before' photo showing the area of which they wanted to improve and a short message about what they were hoping to do.
"Towards the end of the program they had to supply an 'after' photo with their changes, which we then collated. The top 10 families were submitted through and judged by Mount Isa Lead Reference Group and community representation."
Ms Hinton said the Lead Alliance was committed to continuously working with the local community for a healthier lifestyle.
"We are aware that lead is present here in Mount Isa and as long as the community are still willing and actively want to create healthier lifestyles for themselves and their families, we will continue to offer this program," she said.
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