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Home , Cooks River, Cup and Saucer Creek, Mirambeena Regional Park, Parramatta River, Revesby Heights

Greater catchments plan 2036

Duck River// Harbour Catchment

Harbour CBD

Leightonfield Regents Park

Cooks River Sefton Duck River

Villaworld Rookwood Croydon Park Ashbury

Bass Hill Belfield Catchment Yagoona Greenacre Hurlstone Park Canterbury Campsie

Bankstown Mt Lewis Belmore Airport Lakemba Undercliffe Wiley Park Earlwood Punchbowl Clemton Park

Liverpool Roselands Kingsgrove

Milperra

Riverwood North Narwee

Padstow Revesby

East Hills Kogarah Catchment

Revesby Heights Georges River Catchment

Georges River Centres Catchment boundaries

Cooks River catchment area

Georges River catchment area

Duck River, Parramatta River and Sydney Harbour catchment area

River and subcatchment areas within Canterbury-Bankstown

Rivers, , harbours and oceans

54 CONNECTIVE CITY 2036 LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | For exhibition not Council policy Evolution 4 Blue Web

At the heart of our vision is a city of three clean, healthy and living river The Georges River has vast areas along its river banks of original vegetation. This will continue to be highly valued systems which flow through the and protected. catchment and evoke a strong sense Sydney Park is a beautiful natural park providing something The Cooks River mangroves restore water quality and for everyone within an ecological setting, and sets a quality create marine animal . and spirit of place. precedent for interaction with water in a parkland setting.

CONNECTIVE CITY 2036 LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | For exhibition not Council policy 55 Canterbury-Bankstown’s suburban, urban and natural areas are celebrated as part of PRIORITIES three waterway systems: the Cooks, Georges and Duck . Achieve three healthy, clean and living river systems

Return rivers to their natural state and celebrate water within the City

Connect the community’s cultural, social and recreational life to rivers

Water in the City The gradual increase in hard surfaces has led to Transform the Cooks River into a healthy ecological system abnormal quantities of water rapidly reaching In an urban landscape like Canterbury- the rivers after rain, bringing pollutants and Achieve metropolitan connections along the City’s river Bankstown, water is critical to quality of life contributing to poor water quality in rivers, in systems and the Green Web and making spaces and places better to live in. the receiving waters of Sydney Harbour and Without adequate water, vegetation and trees Ensure planning for land within river catchment Botany Bay, and, ultimately, in the ocean. cannot grow, street and parks are too hot in areas considers the improvement of water summer and native animals cannot thrive. The natural environment associated with quality waterways has also been impacted with As the City grows, all water must be used clearing of bushland, saltmarsh and mangroves Reframe water infrastructure wisely as it is a valuable resource. Water can be that once offered habitat and water cleansing from grey to green utilised to celebrate open spaces and cultural processes. Fragments of natural vegetation places while making them more functional and remain and while some wildlife has adapted, attractive. Indicators much has been lost. The City is bounded by the Georges, Cooks and Urban waterways can be restored as Duck Rivers. This includes a third of the Cooks 2019 2036 ecologically functional and liveable places. This River waterway, the headwaters of the Duck requires multiple funding sources, partnerships River and significant tributaries and areas of the with key land managers and a whole-of-city Georges River. Accessible approach to value water in the landscape. waterways The impact of an urban environment on the Integrating waterwise practices in the design of n/a foreshore health of these river systems is significant. buildings, parks and streets can be addressed 50% These rivers connect to a vast network of in part through planning rules under the New creeks, wetlands, tributaries and streams. The Planning Framework. catchment areas for these river systems cover Access points Demonstrating the need for a new water to the river for the entire 110km² of the City area. In this regard, management approach, then establishing water sports and all activities that occur within the City have funding sources, are major challenges. 3 boating an impact on any one of the waterways. Like 20 other natural features they form part of cultural A water management revolution Water quality identity and community character and must be Connective City 2036 heralds a new era for rating for integrated into the City’s planning and design. aquatic flora water management in the City and is intended Poor Thriving and fauna to establish an ecological basis for open space Determining factors D-F grade A-B⁺ grade and waterways. When the Georges River area was settled, many natural river edges and parklands were retained, By 2036, the City’s streets and buildings will making it a coveted area in Greater Sydney to no longer back onto rivers and creeks but Wadable sites in waterways live and visit. However, areas around the Duck rather turn to face them, to celebrate them 0 2 and Cooks Rivers were farmed, industrialised as a primary part of the City’s identity and and urbanised more heavily. The waterways quality. The water cycle and water management suffered significant damage. Along the river and infrastructure will be a visible and valued part of Improvement in water quality creeks clearing, channelling and dredging was the urban landscape. n/a 30% undertaken to: The health of waterways will be one of the ·· Clean unusable river edges, wetlands, essential considerations in guiding planning and billabongs, creeks and streams; and development. Planning and design will consider Exceed BASIX water efficiency the river as a living system rather than a waste all new ·· Reduce flooding by encouraging fast flowing limited requirements and unobstructed water flows from suburban water channel. Impacts on water quality, buildings areas to the ocean. , or flooding in local areas and receiving waters will be considered across all land within river catchment areas. Icon made by Freepik, Scott de Jonge from www.flaticon.com

56 CONNECTIVE CITY 2036 LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | For exhibition not Council policy Connective City 2036 heralds a new era for water management in the City, which recognises and seeks to rectify past mistakes, and establishes a sound ecological basis for future management of open space and waterways.

Connective City 2036 aims for Canterbury- Public spaces along waterways will be have been concreted, they will be restored as The results of this are: is the only National Park in the eastern part of the City. Bankstown to be a water-sensitive city with multifunctional community places. The dynamic and autonomous natural spaces. ·· A significant waste of water that could be clean and healthy waterways that contribute Georges, Cooks and Duck Rivers offer Connecting with the community will be key, used in urban, suburban and natural areas; to improving the receiving waters of Kamay/ significant potential, with existing public involving catchment management groups and Botany Bay and Sydney Harbour. It takes a open space along their banks linking up to ·· Scouring of natural waterways and rivers; building awareness among the general public. whole-of-catchment approach to ensuring form a fairly continuous green corridor with ·· Lack of ecological areas around the edges of clean, healthy and living waterways. The built opportunities for new wetlands, revegetation Water cycle and water management rivers and waterways; up urban areas from the catchment to the rivers and recreational areas. infrastructure is visible in the urban landscape. ·· Increase in risks and dangerous fast will provide opportunities to treat, slow, store Connections will focus on physical links These areas of open space are the primary moving water; and or harvest water and reduce pollutants. between water, pathways and destinations. opportunities to improve water management, ·· Significant levels of urban pollutants The traditional ‘rain to drain’ pathway will be Community participation will be essential in ecological health, and reduce flooding through throughout waterways, rivers and the ocean. modernised to repair and rehabilitate river the planning, design and creation of waterways revegetation, reconstruction and interpretive flows and open channels to connect to new and Much of this water could be harvested and and places. Drawing the community back to improvements such as bush tracks and existing public open spaces. used in the landscape and within the built the waterways will reconnect residents to the educational events. environment for non-drinking purposes. river systems, and create a sense of ownership, Our commitment to increasing public access to A healthy ecosystem is an essential element connection and value. We will increase rivers and tributaries includes naturalising the Our approach will represent a major shift, from of a liveable place. The presence of high- awareness of the location of and routes to banks and making them accessible to people ‘rain to drain’ to ‘rain to grounds’. All water quality fragments of native landscapes in the waterways by greening of streets and parks of all abilities. We will employ Water Sensitive sources will be valued and we will work with riparian zones of river catchments provides Flowering trees support a wide variety of insects and birds. that lead to waterways or that are located on Urban Design, or WSUD, to highlight natural water service providers such as opportunities to rebuild a functional network tributaries and creeks. attributes of the water and expand naturalised to ensure that an integrated water servicing of ecological communities. Riparian zones, approach maximises community benefit. banks and foreshores into the urban landscape. The Landing Lights is a spectacular wetland restoration project in Reconstructed wetlands and riparian the lands adjoining bodies of water, will be Banksia, Sydney. This is now teeming with birds and other species considered as part of our catchment-based and As rivers and waterways become public spaces Making rivers swimmable again requires efforts and is a wonderful place to visit to enjoy and reconnect with the areas original ecology of the area. land management approach. They will provide and part of the natural environment, they will to reduce and delay runoff towards We have already worked with Sydney Water positive opportunities for people in urban areas contribute to urban sustainability and public river systems through appropriate water to balance flooding, urban stormwater, to connect with nature and contribute to the health and help to future-proof the City against sensitive urban design, catchment-based plans recreational space and ecology in places aesthetics of the urban environment. heat stress and heatwave events, providing and managing water from source to sea. such as , Earlwood, cooler, shadier areas. Incorporating water in the City Gough Whitlam Park, Undercliffe and Yana Community connections, waterways Badu Wetlands, Chullora. Council has also and natural areas Grey to green infrastructure Water sensitive urban design will be rehabilitated and transformed Lake Gillawarna, incorporated into suburban, high density and Ongoing engagement and greater recognition The combined catchment areas of the Cooks, Georges Hall within . industrial developments to treat water before it of the river systems will create a sense of Georges and Ducks Rivers receive around reaches the rivers. This will: While significant, these projects are largely ownership and encourage more people to double the amount of water in rainfall as the located in the Cooks River catchment and support the care and cleanliness of rivers. amount used to supply the whole of Sydney ·· Provide water for lush, green landscapes; only cover a small proportion of all the with water. The Cooks, Georges and Duck Rivers are living ·· Improve biodiversity; City’s waterway systems. They do, however, historical artefacts to which many people over However, this water is not used as it is currently ·· Improve property landscape amenity demonstrate the immense transformational generations have formed a relationship, be it considered stormwater. nature of greening water infrastructure to ·· Reduce the effects of urban heat; and one of survival or aesthetics. benefit ecological restoration, increase Stormwater requires catchment ·· Facilitate recreation. community pride and the liveability of places, We will continue to recognise the Indigenous areas to be designed to channel water out of reduce flooding, improve water quality and and ongoing human connection to water and urban areas, into streams and rivers and out to return endemic plant and animal species in work with the community to create and maintain the sea as quickly as possible. abundance. connections. Where nature and urban areas This results in hard surfaces, and have been disconnected, a holistic approach stormwater infrastructure channelling water will allow for sustainable relationships between rapidly away from urban areas and through to humans and the environment. Where rivers our waterways and eventually the ocean.

CONNECTIVE CITY 2036 LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | For exhibition not Council policy 57 Cooks River

Cooks River Plan 2036

Croydon Park Canal catchment Upper Cooks River catchment Canterbury - Hurlstone Park catchment Greenacre Canal catchment

Campsie Campsie - Canterbury Cox Creek catchment Belfield Canal catchment catchment Belmore - Campsie catchment Earlwood catchment Bankstown Cooks River

Cup and Saucer Creek catchment

Wolli Creek

Wolli Creek catchment

Wolli Creek Existing and proposed riparian Rivers and tributaries restoration and removal of sheeting, concreting Ridgelines

Existing and proposed threatened Centres plant communities/Saltmarsh Subcatchments to Cooks Existing and proposed River catchment constructed wetlands and wetlands 2m topographic contours Existing and proposed investigation locations for active uses and getting into the water; wading, viewing and boating, enjoying, celebrating

58 CONNECTIVE CITY 2036 LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | For exhibition not Council policy We anticipate that by 2036 Cooks River will be a treasured and Cooks River healthy river that enriches the heart of Sydney.

The Cooks River is Sydney’s inner city A whole-of-catchment approach river system connecting the Eastern The complex catchment environment requires Croydon Park Canal Harbour City to the South District and collective action and collaboration with catchment the Central City District through a neighbouring councils, Sydney Water and major Upper Cooks River network of waterways from Chullora landowners, so that everyone can achieve the catchment community’s vision for a healthy river valley. Canterbury - Hurlstone to Botany Bay. With over half a million Park catchment people living in the catchment it is We will work with the Cooks River Alliance Greenacre Canal to coordinate the delivery of the Cooks River catchment a significant urban waterway that provides green places for everyone. Catchment Coastal Management Plan (CMP). Around 12 per cent of the catchment Through extensive consultation, the CMP will consists of waterways and parklands. be a long-term strategy for the coordinated Campsie management of the waterway for 20 years, The Cooks River system comprises the 50 years and beyond. It details how, when Campsie - waterway itself; open space directly adjacent and by whom management actions are to be Canterbury to the waterway; and urban areas comprising Cox Creek catchment implemented, and the costs and proposed Belfield Canal industrial lands and high, medium and low catchment cost-sharing arrangements. The Alliance catchment density neighbourhoods. Several organisations The green grid is a network of green places and connecting Belmore - Campsie expects that Stage 4 – finalisation of the CMP – corridors for biodiversity, walking, and cycling. are responsible for its management. It is a Our river systems are home to a wide range of flora and fauna. catchment will be completed by December 2021. complex catchment environment. Actions Earlwood on both land and water need to prioritise the A biodiverse river valley supporting a The banks of the Cooks River and its tributaries were concreted during the 1930s and 1940s. Although small fragments of regrown vegetation remain, restoration of the entire Cooks River is catchment consideration of impacts to the Cooks River Bankstown Cooks River clean river a primary city-shaping project for Connective City 2036. system and, by 2036, the catchment should Central to the catchment is a river that is be working across the system to provide clean ecologically healthy, used by the community water into rivers. and rich in flora and fauna. The River itself will Approximately 33 per cent of the Cooks River support an abundance of plants and aquatic Cup and Saucer Creek catchment flows through the City and this animals. catchment includes lands at the very top of the catchment The wetlands along the River and tributaries at Chullora and Potts Hill, and freshwater Wolli Creek are important filters for water quality as well streams such as Greenacre Creek, Cup and as for habitat. Within Council’s lands are two Saucer Creek and Coxs Creek. offline constructed wetlands – Yana Badu at Sydney Water has the care and control of Wolli Creek Chullora and Cup and Saucer Creek. Wetlands around 80 per cent of waterway-related assets catchment can also be areas for passive recreation and in the catchment while the remainder is shared constructed wetlands can be a feature of the among local councils and the NSW Government, River’s tributaries. Stormwater drains that lead requiring all organisations and levels of to rivers can go from concrete drainage pipes government to work closely together. back to creeks and rivulets and water slowed Wolli Creek and filtered through rain gardens and other The City’s extensive parklands along the natural filter processes. main river channel and tributaries provide green biodiverse places like Tasker Park at Mangroves and saltmarshes are also important Canterbury, Parry Park at Lakemba, Croydon habitats and water filters. Mangroves currently Park, and Federation Reserve at Campsie. These reach to Canterbury and salt marsh, once are linked through the Green Grid, a network of common, only occurs in a constructed area public and private green places and connecting at Gough Whitlam Park. The River’s edge and Bardwell Creek corridors across the City for biodiversity, adjoining space can be transformed to make cycling, walking, and passive and active way for saltmarsh and mangrove. recreation. The Green Web, across public and private lands, is essential to the liveability.

CONNECTIVE CITY 2036 LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | For exhibition not Council policy 59 Providing opportunities for people to interact with water in various ways - from wading and kayaking to admiring the view - is a key outcome of this plan.

The fragments of remaining bushland include A parallel approach for the Georges the endangered ecological communities and Duck Rivers of Cooks River Clay Plain Scrub Forest and Turpentine-Ironbark Forest. These occur from With 61 per cent of the City flowing into the the top of the River at Chullora through to Georges River, and a significant number of parks Campsie and Wolli Creek. In 2036 these remnant and reserves dotted along the Georges River fragments will be contiguous with plant and foreshore, the Georges River communities across public and private lands system plays a vital role in the lives of residents, through the implementation of the Green Grid workers and visitors. The health of the River is and other controls. directly linked to the liveability of the City and a sustained, coordinated approach is needed. The Cooks River valley animals are diverse and However, with a large proportion of the City live and pass through urban habitats as well as flowing into the Georges River, the pressures on along the waterway’s more natural area. These the river system are also great. include small bush birds and many water birds, possums, flying foxes and micro bats, frogs We will work with the Georges Riverkeeper and and reptiles. To ensure future generations can key partners to implement a catchment-wide also experience wildlife so close to the City, program to better understand the scale and the quality and quantity of habitat needs to be types of pressures, as well as to implement a increased. plan to improve and sustain a healthier Georges River. This will improve open space linkages, Aboriginal ways of thinking are valued visitor experiences and waterway health. from Yana Badu to Kamay With a significant network of valuable open The River and its creeks can provide a place space along the creeks and main river channel for ongoing meaningful, mutually beneficial of the Georges River, these assets need to be and sustainable relationships with Aboriginal protected and sustained in terms of riparian people. These relationships contribute to restoration and bank stabilisation. reconciliation activities, Aboriginal leadership The Duck River starts at the top of the City and and other opportunities for Aboriginal people. flows north into the Parramatta River through The health of the River is intrinsic to Aboriginal industrial, residential and parkland areas. It reconciliation and understanding. By 2036, the is often unacknowledged due to its relatively River and its associated geographic locations smaller size and historic lack of access, but it would be recognised by Aboriginal names and faces many of the same pressures. the cultural significance of the River system well understood. We will work with the Parramatta River Catchment Group to improve awareness and Cooperative approaches guide river celebrate the Duck River, and improve its restoration health and amenity by reducing , The community’s desire for a healthy River increase visitor access and improve community valley requires long-term resilient partnerships connections to the River. that create collaboration across government, industry and the community. These partnerships would support innovative funding models that activate the practical solutions that can restore the Cooks River system and provide the community with a liveable and healthy River valley. For Yeramba Lagoon, the City will look to the State government to improve the health of the lagoon and bring activity to it.

60 CONNECTIVE CITY 2036 LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | For exhibition not Council policy EVOLUTION 4 - BLUE WEB SOUTH PRIORITY ACTIONS CBCITY 2028 DISTRICT COLLABORATION RESPONSIBILITY TIME FRAME PLAN Develop and implement whole-of-catchment plans for the Duck, Cooks and Georges River Sydney Water, DPIE, TfNSW, CBC and relevant catchments that confirm water quality objectives and integrate coastal management and Catchment Management Catchment Achieve three healthy, clean upper catchment priorities Groups (Cooks River Alliance, Management and living river systems Georges Riverkeeper, Parramatta Group, Sydney Develop and implement a sediment removal program from the City’s creeks and waterways Catchment Committees), CBC Water with other catchment Councils

Return rivers to their natural Develop and implement a CBCity Catchment and Waterways Strategic Plan that prioritises key Sydney Water, DPIE, Catchment CBC state and celebrate water actions across the City Management Committees within the City

Connect the community’s Establish and support a whole-of-catchment community of interest for the Georges, Cooks Other catchment Councils, CBC, Catchment cultural, social and and Parramatta River catchments Georges RIver environmental Management recreational life to rivers education centre. Committees

Achieve metropolitan Develop and implement active transport plans that link sections of the Cooks River, and TfNSW, neighbouring Councils CBC connections along the City’s connect sections of the Georges River with the Cooks and Duck River catchments

METROPOLITAN river systems and the Green Establish an active transport and natural corridor plan for the Sydenham to Bankstown urban CBC, DPIE, Sydney Metro, Inner TfNSW Grid renewal corridor that responds to water management at its core West Council

Establish the Campsie precinct as a pilot initiative to becoming a water sensitive city that CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, CBC, Sydney integrates best practice sustainable urban water management into place planning Cooks River Alliance, DPIE Water Improve water quality when planning urban, suburban and natural places

Reframe water infrastructure Establish best practice planning controls for water sensitive urban design as key drivers in the DPIE, Catchment Management CBC from grey to green Cooks River and Georges River Catchment Coastal Management Plans Committees, Sydney Water

Develop a naturalisation creek bank program for the Duck River sub-catchment that defines the Sydney Water, DPIE, Catchment CBC waterways as key elements of the Parramatta River catchment Management Committees

Undertake a City-wide catchment condition assessment to prioritise rehabilitation priorities Catchment Management CBC Return rivers to their natural Committees state and celebrate water within the City Develop and implement a Cooks River waterway naturalisation program. Develop and Catchment Management CBC, Sydney implement a Georges River bank stabilisation and riparian rehabilitation program to enhance Committees Water the waterway and protect open space.

Connect the community’s Deliver community and schools education programs that celebrate and teach the importance Catchment Management CBC cultural, social and of living with healthy waterways Committees recreational life to rivers

CITY SHAPING Restore Yana Badu Wetlands (formerly Chullora wetlands) and improve community access to it CBC, major landholders, Cooks Sydney Water Transform the Cooks River into River Alliance, Strathfield Council a healthy ecological system Improve the health of Yeramba Lagoon and bring activity to it.

Adopt a water sensitive city approach to precinct planning and urban design that sets CRC for Water Sensitive Cities, CBC sustainable urban water management as a core element DPIE Improve water quality when planning urban, suburban and natural places Introduce best practice water sensitive urban design planning controls for development into Sydney Water, Catchment CBC Council’s planning and strategic documents Management Committees

Delivery: By 2021 (0–2 years) By 2021 and 2024 (2–5 years) Beyond 2025 (more than 5 years) South District Plan Directions: Please refer to pages 13-15. CBCity2028 Transformations: Please refer to pages 13-15.

CONNECTIVE CITY 2036 LOCAL STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT | For exhibition not Council policy 61