A NEW installation has council and health advocates bubbling with excitement.
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Acting mayor Helen Tickle unveiled the first of Peel St’s new drink stations on Wednesday.
Locals can get a look, and a taste, at the first station near the Bourke St intersection.
People can grab a quick drink from the bubbler or refill their water bottles at the stations, where there are also bowls for pets.
“We’re discouraging the use of plastic bottles where we can and encouraging the use of multi-purpose bottles which we can refill a number of times,” Cr Tickle said.
“Also encouraging people to simply have a drink of water.”
Council sustainability coordinator Tracey Carr said the project is as much a litter reduction initiative as it is a community well-being project.
“The project aims to discourage use of single use drink bottles by making it easy for residents and visitors to access quality drinking water within the Tamworth CBD,” Ms Carr said.
“By reducing the amount of litter that single use drink bottles can attribute too, we are keeping our parks and CBD cleaner.
The next stations will be unveiled near intersections on Brisbane and White Sts, as well as in the Fitzroy St upgrade.
There are also plans for a drinking station near the walkway along the Peel River.
The water stations cost approximately $5000 each.
Local Heart Foundation spokesperson, Penny Milson, said the stations were a step in the right direction.
“Here in Tamworth, we are a hotspot for obesity and we know that replacing sugary drinks with water is a wonderful and effective way to reduce the risk of weight gain,” she said.
“Anything in the environment that supports people to eat well, the Heart Foundation fully supports.”