On tap for success. New water fountains installed at IKON Park

Good things are flowing at IKON Park, the headquarters of the Carlton Football Club, with two new water fountains installed as part of an ongoing initiative to encourage the community to ditch plastic and choose tap water. 

Delivered through the Choose Tap initiative, in partnership with Greater Western Water, these water fountains have arrived just in time for the AFLW season and will help visitors stay hydrated while making it easy to refill their drink bottles. 

The artwork adorning the new water fountains was created by Shelley Ware, a Yankunytjatjara, Kokatha and Wirangu woman, educator, media presenter and Chair of Carlton Football Club's First Nations Cultural Committee. 

Shelley is passionate about creating opportunities to share First Nations culture through storytelling, education and public art, making this collaboration a meaningful way to celebrate both Country and community. 

"It is a real honour to have my artwork featured on these water fountains at IKON Park," Shelley said. "The design celebrates the importance of water, Country and community connection. It features Bunjil, the Wedge-tailed Eagle, the Creator Spirit of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, who watches over and guides us today.” 

“The Wedge-tailed Eagle is also my totem, making this artwork deeply personal. Flowing through the design is the river that gives us life, alongside meeting places and travel lines that recognise the thousands of generations of Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people who have gathered on this Country to share stories, knowledge and culture.” 

“It is a reminder that Country continues to nurture and sustain all who come here, and that something as simple as choosing tap water is a way of respecting and caring for the Country we all share." 

GWW’s General Manager of Strategy and Partnerships, Kessia Thomson, said that with so many people carrying reusable water bottles, water fountains provided convenient access to fresh drinking water. 

“On top of this, there are so many benefits to choosing tap water. It saves money, reduces landfill and helps protect our waterways,” she said. 

“Melbourne’s water is among the best in the world and we’re proud to continue working with councils and organisations to install water fountains at popular locations across our service region.”

Each year Greater Western Water partners with local councils and organisations to install Choose Tap drinking fountains across our service area, improving access to high-quality drinking water. 

These fountains join a growing list of Choose Tap locations across the region, including recent additions at popular parks and walking tracks in Hillside, Diggers Rest, Strathmore and Romsey. 

To find a Choose Tap fountain near you, view the Tap Finder map. For more information, visit Choose Tap. 

Media enquiries 
0417 459 575 
media@gww.com.au