The grant has gone towards a rainwater tank and drip-feed irrigation system to sustain the school garden in an environmentally friendly way.

Hunter Water’s environment and sustainability manager Angus Seberry said the grants were to support local organisations in their efforts to improve water sustainability.

“These are grassroots projects delivered by community organisations which need that extra bit of financial support to get things running,” he said.

“By improving students’ understanding of the need for water conservation and implementing sustainable projects, these grants deliver immediate and long term community benefits.”

Dungog High School principal Maureen Jarvis said the garden would provide a number of syllabus links as well as provide students with pride of place.

“This bush tucker garden will be used for a range of curriculum areas, such as science and human

society and its environment,” she said.

“Just as significant however is the sense of pride and ownership the students will gain from creating and tending to this garden.

“The funding from Hunter Water helps to make this a sustainable project that will ensure our water bill isn’t affected by the watering of the garden.”