Project summaries - 2008 Urban Sustainability - urban waterways grants
| 2008 Urban Sustainability - urban waterways grants |
|---|
| Organisation | Project title | Amount $ |
|---|
| Campbelltown City Council | Urban sustainability - sustainable environment management plan (EMP) for Campbelltown Golf Course | 250,000 |
| Fairfield City Council and Partners | Improving Prospect Creek's riparian corridor for water quality and habitat | 550,766 |
| Lake Macquarie City Council and Partner | Improving Lake Macquarie through integrated lake and catchment activities | 2,000,000 |
| Leichhardt Municipal Council and Partners | Iron Cove water quality improvement project | 1,617,100 |
| North Sydney Council | Sustainable and integrated management of a highly urbanised area that includes much-loved creeks | 250,000 |
| Penrith City Council | Werrington Creek rehabilitation and community engagement project | 250,000 |
| Rockdale City Council and Partners | Lower Georges River sustainability initiative | 1,999,506 |
| Wollondilly Shire Council | Urban waterway management framework for Wollondilly LGA | 250,000 |
| Woollahra Municipal Council | The Cooper Park Creek sustainable water project | 250,000 |
| WSROC and Partners | Water in the landscape - regional community engagement for water management | 1,235,650 |
| 10 Projects | TOTAL | $8,653,022 |
The headwaters of Bow Bowing Creek, a tributary of the Georges River, experience sustainability challenges associated with the positioning of the 63 hectare Campbelltown Golf Course. This urban waterway site, whose catchment drains a substantial area of the Campbelltown urban environment, is faced with a number of urban sustainability and water quality challenges. The project aims to identify and prioritise key drivers of environmental degradation at the site, which will be addressed in a sustainable EMP which will describe environmental actions to address these challenges. This will position Campbelltown Golf Course as a showcase in the promotion and implementation of sustainable golf course management. The downstream impacts generated from current management practices on the site are well recognised by Council and course staff. In addressing sustainability and water use challenges within this urban environment, there are opportunities for more coordinated management of the Upper Georges River (UGR) Catchment through management and on-ground synergies between this and existing catchment initiatives and projects.
Fairfield City Council
Partners: Bankstown City Council, Holroyd City Council
Improving Prospect Creek's Riparian Corridor for Water Quality and Habitat
Grant: $550,766
Prospect Creek provides an important riparian corridor for habitat, water quality, Indigenous and cultural heritage and passive recreation. Prospect Creek is the only remaining natural creek in the Holroyd LGA and contains remnant vegetation from the endangered ecological community, River-flat Eucalypt Forest as well as habitat for threatened species such as the Green and Golden Bell Frog and the Grey-headed Flying-Fox. The creek contains important linkages between a number of remnant patches defined by DECC as core and support to core such as Prospect Reservoir, Greystanes Creek, and Chipping Norton Lakes. However, due to urban encroachment the creek is under threat from stormwater run-off, weed invasion and rubbish dumping. This project will create and implement a restoration plan across public and private boundaries to increase habitat, improve water quality, and promote community pride, awareness and involvement in Prospect Creek, especially with respect to the Indigenous spiritual and cultural significance of the creek.
Lake Macquarie is the largest coastal lake in NSW under considerable stress from a population of 190,000, power stations and coal mines. The Lake was identified as being in the early stages of eutrophication in 1983. This project aims to improve lake water quality by addressing the degraded catchment and the influences of human activities. This project will build on the successes of the Lake Macquarie improvement project and ensure successful transition of catchment improvements to the two respective councils. This project will include restoration works within the catchment as well as changing human behaviour and practices both with council staff and the broader community.
The project aims to restore the estuarine function of Iron Cove to allow the existing seagrass and saltmarshes to expand. This will provide habitat for creatures such as sea horses and pipe fish within the upper reaches of Sydney Harbour. Low flows from the Dobroyd and Hawthorn Canals will be diverted via two stormwater infiltration basins (SIBs) to remove pollutants. These watercourses are the main sources of stormwater pollution into Iron Cove. Research has shown that SIBs are particularly effective at removing diffuse pollutants such as heavy metals, organochlorine compounds and poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In addition, project outcomes will be promoted and community awareness of stormwater quality and biodiversity issues raised. A research element will also investigate the most effective medium for use in the SIBs. Outcomes will be promoted through Sydney University’s outreach and community education programs.
North Sydney Council
Sustainable and integrated management of a highly urbanised area that includes much-loved creeks
Grant: $250,000
In the highly urbanised North Sydney LGA, bushland reserves are the most valued council assets, according to a recent community survey. Largely situated along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour, they are iconic, internationally recognised tourist spots with unique views of Sydney City framed in a bushland setting. The paradox of this broad community value for bushland is seen in the ongoing degradation that is caused by concentrated recreational use and development effects; the value of harbour foreshore properties with tree-less views and Council’s efforts to improve the areas significant biodiversity values/ecological sustainability. Community engagement, through a particular focus on children’s attitudes and values will aid in clarifying the value of bushland biodiversity to the community and it’s relationship to resisting the impacts of climate change for future generations. The effectiveness of this approach will be enhanced through the development of an internal cross-departmental sustainable management working group and new policy implementation.
This project will enable intensive restoration works along Werrington Creek. Bank stabilisation, regeneration and revegetation will connect and extend areas of restoration already commenced in this sub-catchment. The project will build on and provide continuity of management, filling the remaining gap in intensive management that exists in the project area between Burton Street and John Oxley Avenue. When combined with previous projects this will result in an area of restored riparian zone extending 3 kilometres from Victoria Street to the confluence of South Creek. A strong focus will be placed on the continued involvement and cooperation of the local community. The project will deliver a rain harvesting system for the Penrith Valley Regional Sports Centre which will considerably reduce potable water demand and have added benefits for the management of stormwater by reducing peak flows. A gross pollutant trap located near the Sports Centre will considerably reduce the volumes of litter and sediment entering the creek.
Rockdale City Council
Partners: Kogarah Municipal Council, Hurstville City Council, Sutherland Shire Council
Lower Georges River sustainability initiative
Grant: $1,999,506
The project involves producing a lower Georges River strategic plan and carrying out all the studies for its preparation. The plan aims to ensure the sustainable management of the lower Georges River and enable more efficient and successful strategic planning of the entire Georges River. The project will adopt the processes used in the upper and lower Georges River to develop sustainability plans. Environmental sustainability outcomes of the initiative will be increased community education and action, the restoration of riparian vegetation and habitats, protection of environmentally sensitive areas, the reduction in erosion and sedimentation and the implementation of sustainable catchment planning, and improved waste and stormwater management practices, including water sensitive urban design. The project will also improve recreational experiences on the river, establish new volunteer community groups and promote a sense of community ownership and care in relation to the river.
This project will result in the development of an urban water management framework for Wollondilly Shire that will prioritise the order of rehabilitation works for our urban waterways. The project will complete rehabilitation activities at those locations given the highest priority in the framework. To complement the rehabilitation works, Council will undertake an education campaign to improve the community’s awareness of the importance of urban waterways and what householders can do to improve the health of these waterways so they are protected for future generations.
The Cooper Park Creek sustainable water project will improve water quality in Cooper Park Creek and activate and educate the community through the restoration of the natural creek system. Cooper Park Creek is the only significant natural creek system in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. The project will improve urban stormwater management and urban runoff to achieve sustainable water quality and conservation outcomes within the Cooper Park Creek catchment area. The project will engage with households, the local community, local business on Bellevue Road, local school children at Bellevue Hill Primary School, and local Bushcare groups to improve the quality of the local urban environment.
The project will widen the engagement of the general population to address regional water issues, from the current focus on household water use to the potential impacts of water supply constraints on environmental values, regional amenity and land uses. The project will use community cultural development strategies to engage the community, linking with existing water awareness campaigns and a new regional consultation and advocacy structure. As a result of improvement of individual understanding and attitudes towards various water options (such as recycling), the capacity for the community and its representatives to advocate for better water solutions, will be enhanced. The regional focus and public debate will influence local government and other stakeholders to develop consistent and integrated urban water management strategies. The effectiveness of the regional consultation and advocacy structure will be evaluated by WSROC and appropriately maintained after the life of the project.
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Page last updated: 27 February 2011
