In its 13th year, the Backyard Improvement Program in an annual initiative of the Lead Alliance. The primary objective of the program is to support and encourage Mount Isa families, schools and childcare facilities to make lead-safe improvements to their yards and grow healthy produce. These objectives align with two of the Lead Alliance’s key messages – to ‘cover bare soil’ and ‘eat well’. It is anticipated that the positive changes inspired by the program will reduce the risk of elevated lead levels in children and improve the overall health of the Mount Isa community.
2024 saw a significant increase in participation, with 60 applications, including 9 from educational facilities. This was almost double the number of applications in 2023, which clearly demonstrates an enduring interest and engagement in the program. This was further evidenced by the incredible effort of the 2024 participants and their impressive yard improvements.
Four external judges were selected to assess the before-and-after photos of all the entrants. These photos highlighted the improvements made over the duration of the program. The feedback and scores awarded by the judges suggest that the 2024 program was an overwhelming success. All entrants should be incredibly proud of their hard work and the remarkable outcomes they achieved. In several categories, the competition was incredibly tight.
