A mobile water refill station has been making the rounds at events across Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast and Noosa, dispensing free drinking water to crowds and tallying up the equivalent of 70,000 reusable bottle fills over the past year. Unitywater’s Drink Tap van has turned up everywhere from beachside holiday hotspots to local sporting matches, including recent stops in Redcliffe.
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The van was parked at Kayo Stadium for the Dolphins’ pre-season showdown on 12 February. It’s scheduled to return for the Redcliffe Dolphins versus Sea Eagles match on 2 April, one of 47 community and sporting events the service has attended over the past 12 months.
The 70,000-bottle milestone represents water dispensed at various community gatherings, from sports fixtures to summer holiday events. The service allows people to avoid purchasing single-use plastic bottles of water at public events.
Joshua Zugajev, Unitywater’s Executive Manager Strategic Engagement, said the initiative extends the delivery of clean drinking water beyond homes and businesses and into the community.
“It’s been fantastic to see the community welcoming our drink tap van to so many local events, where they can fill up for free and avoid purchasing single-use plastic bottles of water,” Mr Zugajev said.
According to Mr Zugajev, single-use plastics contribute to the seven million tonnes of rubbish entering oceans annually, with Healthy Land and Water figures showing 80 per cent of this waste is plastic.
“By making water more readily available in the community we are supporting people to use their reusable water bottles every day to help reduce the number of single-use plastic bottles that often end up in landfill or our natural environment and waterways,” he said.
Beyond Redcliffe, the van spent several weeks at Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club during the summer school holidays. Mr Zugajev cited the example of Tony, a Victorian visitor who used the service daily during his family’s camping trip to stay hydrated while at the beach and Hastings Street.
The 70,000-bottle figure suggests uptake of the service at the events it has attended. For sporting events at venues like Kayo Stadium, the van offers an option for spectators looking to avoid purchasing bottled water.
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Community groups and event organisers can request the van’s attendance through Unitywater’s website.
Published 17-February-2026
