Bundy on Tap History Timeline
Mar 2008
Local businessman, Huw Kingston, thinks up the idea of the Bundanoon village going bottled water free.
As opposition to the larger issue of bottled water, which has become more apparent via the proposed Norlex water extraction plant
He drafts an early article to sound out viability of concept
1 Mar 2009
The eventual article, entitled A Town With No Bottle? by Huw Kingston, is published in the Jordan's Crossing Gazette
Edition 56, March 2009 issue (page 11). The JCG, Bundanoon's own local news magazine, has a quarterly print run of 1,800 copies.
23 Apr 2009
A community-based, volunteer working group forms, to make Huw's concept a reality
14 May 2009
At another meeting the working group takes the name Bundy on Tap (BOT). Meets roughly fortnightly thereafter
15 May 2009
Contact made with Jon Dee (of the Do Something! environment group), who'd previously helped a town go Plastic Bag Free
18 May 2009
Front Page story in Southern Highlands News, the main local newspaper, (readership of over 8,000 people).
Story picked up and ran by ABC Illawarra Radio for news and 'Drive' slots.
3 Jun 2009
Jon Dee of Do Something! visits Bundanoon
Speaks on bottled water free benefits to the community and environment, at a special meeting of Bundy on Tap working group.
Local businesses also invited to attend, several of whom do.
5 Jun 2009
Eager media outlets, like ABC Triple J radio and WIN TV Wollongong, requested to curb enthusiasm until proposal is more advanced
9 Jun 2009
Jon Dee advises that Street Furniture Australia have offered 'in-principal' support to supply three water stations.
Culligan Water also expected to assist with filtration units
Work is under way on a Bundy On Tap logo, by graphic designer on the BOT working group
Proposal that Bundy On Tap become a sub-committee of Bundanoon Community Association (BCA)
Proposal to engage with Wingecarribee Shore Council to support installation of water stations
18 Jun 2009
Bundanoon Highland Gathering (Brigadoon) Committee offer their in-principal' support
23 Jun 2009
Street Furniture Australia and Culligan Water are confirmed as co-sponsors of three water stations
Two for town streets and one for primary school with approx value of $18,000
(on proviso that Bundanoon goes bottled free by neither selling nor giving away bottled water at any town retail outlets and events.
Bottles of Australia (BoA) make a special offer to provide bottles at bulk purchase price.
Bundy On Tap is now a sub-committee of Bundanoon Community Association (BCA)
Bundanoon business meeting. BOT Proposal endorsed by 18 of 19 attendees
Peter Stewart From Bundanoon Newsagency endorsed as spokesperson for businesses
29 Jun 2009
An introductory community letter is prepared by BOT volunteers. Subsequently printed and letterboxed to Bundanoon households
8 Jul 2009
The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper runs a front page story about the town meeting that night in Bundanoon.
The meeting where villagers will vote if they want to create Australia's First Bottled Water Free Town.
Also carried by Melbourne Age. Phone interviews follow on ABC Sydney, Melbourne, Illawarra and Canberra.
Then ABC Radio AM nationwide, after which came Radio 3AW Melbourne, ABC Darwin and 4BC Brisbane.
Soon becomes a national and international media firestorm.
Three television new crews fly to Bundanoon to file stories for the evening news.
More than 200 interviews worldwide are given over the next three days.
In wake of Bundanoon story, NSW Premier, Nathan Rees, announces NSW government departments will go bottled water free.
With the later caveat that this will occur when their existing contracts with bottled water vendors expire
356 people attend an open community meeting at Bundanoon Memorial Hall.
The most attended town meeting that many residents can recall.
Presentations by Huw Kingston, Jon Dee and Peter Stewart,
The community are asked if they are in favour of the endeavour to make Bundanoon Australia's First Bottled Water Free Town.
355 residents agree. One resident disagrees. It is agree the proposed project will proceed
13 July 2009
The business name Bundy On Tap is registered to the Bundanoon Community Association (BCA)
24 Jul 2009
Bundy on Tap website (www.bundyontap.com.au) goes live.
Site contains much of the background of the Bundy On Tap campaign.
Designed by Bundy on Tap volunteer, and hosted by Ilisys (a MYOB company) as part of their community outreach program.
BOT meet with Bart Yeo, Community Economic Development Manager with Department of Industry & Investment NSW
Meeting regards suitability of the BOT project for support from the department for a regional development grant
29 Jul 2009
Bundy on Tap presentation to Wingecarribee Shire Council (WSC)
12 Aug 2009
Bundy On Tap committee members meet with Wingecarribee Shire Council, regarding water station installation
Camelbak's Better Bottle selected as official Bundy on Tap Premium Bottle.
Camelbak's sponsorship of Bundy of Tap is worth $58,000 in retail terms.
Decision made after evaluating other proposals, including those from Nalgene and Sigg.
16 Aug 2009
Bottles of Australia (BoA) confirmed as supplier of Bundy on Tap Budget Bottle.
17 Aug 2009
Bundanoon is confirmed as Green Towns Finalist for News.com.au Green Awards 2009
Traffic Management Plan submitted to Wingecarribee Shire Council for main street road closure on launch day (26 Sep 09)
31 Aug 2009
Bundy on Tap is a successful applicant for a $20,000 regional development grant from Industry & Investment NSW
07 Sep 2009
Huw Kingston selected as Green Hero Award as part of News.com.au Green Awards 2009
08 Sep 2009
Culligan Water install in-store filtered water station for those Bundanoon retailers who took up the offer
Artwork for Bundy on Tap launch day Letterbox Flyer and Poster finalised by BOT Committee volunteer
10 Sep 2009
All retailers of bottled water in Bundanoon have signed the voluntary statement of intent
Huw Kingston is listed as one of top 25 international community service Responsible Pioneers in Time magazine
26 Sep 2009
Bundy On Tap officially launches in Bundanoon, on a day that had the trio of Rain, Hail and Shine
An all singing and dancing event (supplied by both local choir and primary school respectively).
A piper leads village on Water Walk to officially unveil three water stations at primary school, post office and main street.
Sponsors and participating retailers are acknowledged with specially engraved glass water bottles.
Local Rural Fire Service (RFS) is donated a large quantity of BOT budget bottles.
Bundanoon hosts Australian Premier Screening of the acclaimed movie length documentary, Tapped.
20 Oct 2009
Information Flyer detailing the progress of the Bundy on Tap project to-date is finalised
18 Nov 2009
Jon Dee, co-founder of Do Something!, Bundy On Tap's media partner, is named 2010 NSW Australian of the Year
15 Dec 2009
Shoalhaven Council (NSW) votes (PDF) to trial the installation of public water fountains in Kangaroo Valley & Milton
13 Apr 2010
The European Institute of Cultural Routes awards Bundy On Tap and Huw Kingston top prize in The Environment selection
17 Apr 2010
Brigadoon, one of the largest Highland Gathering festivals in the world, goes Bottled Water Free in Bundanoon
06 Jul 2010
Bundanoon village holds a community party to celebrate the achievements of the past year, since the community vote
02 Sep 2010
On Home and Away, Channel 7's TV drama, Summer Bay votes to become Bottle Water Free, after lobbying from schoolkids
27 Oct 2010
Wingecarribee Shire Council enacts Bottled Water Free Policy, offering a "Bottled Water Free" service across all of it's functions"
15 Nov 2010
Win a 2010 Tidy Towns Award (PDF) for Waste Management & Litter Reduction. Come second in overall in our population category
30 Nov 2010
Official launch of the Powerhouse Museum revamped EcoLogic permanent exhibit, which now includes the Bundy on Tap story
Jan 2011
Sandra Menteith, BOT Project Coordinator, nominee as Wingecarribee Shire Council Citizen of The Year, for sustainability work
26 Jan 2011
Wingecarribee Council use their new events-based portable water refill station for the Australia Day festival in Berrima
26 Mar 2011
Several Sydney YHA Youth Hostels stopped selling bottled water. Instead, guests can buy a refillable bottle for just $3
5 Jun 2011
Bundy on Tap co-wins the prestigious Australian Conservation Foundation's Peter Rawlinson Conservation Award
8 Sep 2011
Sandra Menteith, Bundy on Tap Project Coordinator, is guest presenter at International Conference of Eco Ideas, Manly , Sydney
21 Apr 2011
Award winning Brigadoon, one of the largest Highland Gathering festivals in the world, is Bottled Water Free for third year running
25 Apr 2012
BOT founder, Huw Kingston, attends Concord, USA, as town meets on a retail bottled water phase out proposal - Article 32.
NB: This timeline is a work-in-progress. Not all events are listed. More Bundy On Tap campaign milestones will be added later.