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Streets to rivers project - stage 2

Grant number: 2165 Grant funding: $117,540 Local government area/s: Marrickville Council Location/s: Subcatchments of the Cooks River catchment Project partners: Marrickville Council

The Cooks River catchment, of 102 km², has a population of 400,000 including 20,000 businesses. The river provides a recreational corridor from Botany Bay to Homebush Bay. It has significant remnant vegetation, is a potential wildlife corridor and has recreational and heritage values.

The river is one of the most polluted urban rivers in Australia. Both Marrickville and Canterbury councils receive numerous complaints regarding litter, particularly after rain.

This is the second stage of the project (see stage 1).

Objectives

The project was devised to inform residents, business owners, workers and visitors to the subcatchments of:

1. the impact of pollution on the Cooks River
2. how they could help prevent pollution.

Description

This program built on past programs and policies, developed new strategies and focused on maintaining ongoing, improved stormwater pollution outcomes.

This project consolidated the outcomes achieved in the Streets to rivers project - stage 1 and sought to develop strategies so residents would:

• develop a sense of catchment identity
• know where the nearest street drains go
• know what should and should not go in the drain and where and how to dispose of waste properly
• understand the impact of various pollution types on the river catchment.

Methodology and tools

This community education project built on the achievements of the Streets to rivers project - stage 1.

Community outreach was facilitated through street and festival events - Our Place by the River, Marrickville Festival, Newtown Festival and Australia Day Festival - a seniors' walk and other activities. Bilingual educators, a street performer and numerous volunteers were important to the success of the outreach program.

The school program was also continued through this stage of the project.

Drain stencilling was undertaken in targeted areas.

A media strategy targeted local and community media outlets to keep the stormwater pollution message active and to alert local residents to events and achievements.

Finally, the program involved continued work with council staff, in particular the street cleaning team.

The following were developed or organised:

• a community mural
• a park display for children
• volunteer training
• a river weaving activity for children
• signage, including sediment control messages
• drain stencils with a pelican logo and the wording: 'Cooks River starts here'.
• Leaflets and brochures built on the messages and intention of materials from stage 1.

Project outcomes

• Students at three schools received stormwater messages and information through their involvement in the project.
• Over 400 people received stormwater messages and information via street events.
• Stormwater messages and information reached 40 senior citizens (largely NESB speakers) through the seniors' walk.
• Marrickville and Dulwich Hill kerbs were stenciled with the stormwater message, 'Cooks River starts here' (117 stencils).

The neighbourhood scale of the project helped create a  positive response to the program.The mural painting and drain stencilling created a positive presence for the program.

Project resources and further information

Contact Marrickville Council on (02) 9335 2222.

See related case study: Streets to rivers project - stage 1

See related case study: Streets to rivers project - stage 3

See related case study: Ethnic communities stormwater education project

Stage 2 grant details