Students’ Alcoa vision
I NNOVATIVE primary school pupils have created a model they believe could inject millions of dollars into Geelong’s tourism economy while transforming a former oil site into a producer of clean energy.
Christ the King Primary School pupils have spent months designing a tourist attraction that could transform Geelong.
Inspired by Singapore’s Supertrees, eight pupils, all members of the school’s First Lego League, have spent months researching how Point Henry could be transformed into oa a zero carbon emitting tree-filled filled paradise.
For their project, named med Gardens of Change, pupils pils had to find a solution to a tourism problem, come up with business and tourism plans, make a model and d present it to members of par- liament.
When they present their ir project to First Lego League judges in coming weeks they will also score points on their ability to engage the community through media and online. They have used maths, language and animation skills to produce the end result, which also includes a digital tour of the Gardens of Change site.
Pupil Mak Makaira Le said the challenge tested students’ abilities to solve social and ethical issues.
Teacher Aisha Kristiansen said they had researched the former Alcoa site, which will be redev redeveloped, and tried to find ways to transform it.
After researching Supertrees, part of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay nature park, they contacted experts from around the world to find out if the idea could be replicated in Geelong. They emailed the UK firm that designed the super- trees and found out how they were made and the measurements.
The students then created a prototype that could use a wind turbine to create energy.
The supertrees act as vertical gardens, generate solar power, act as air vent ducts and collect rainwater. They are fit- ted with solar power systems, moderate temperature by absorbing and dispersing heat and can also become home to birds and other wildlife.
Pupil Joshua Walpole said the project showed how the closing of Alcoa could be transformed into a positive attraction.