2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT

www.cooksriver.org.au Contents

Acknowledgement 2

Message from the Chair 3

The Catchment 4

We Are All People 5

New governance structure 6

The Cooks Rivers People’s Plan 8

Cooks River Catchment Coastal Management Program 9

Culture and Country 10

Litter in the Catchment 11

Catchment education 12 Acknowledgement Message from the Chair

I am pleased to bring you our 2017-18 Annual Report.

The Cooks River Alliance is a partnership of four councils - , City of Canterbury Bankstown, Council and Strathfield Council – that covers 78% of the Cooks River catchment.

Planning and partnerships were the key focus of the past 12 months. A new governance structure was developed and implemented, which will enable land managers and the wider community to work together on issues that require a whole of catchment approach.

The Alliance also began a review of all the work undertaken to date on the environmental management of the river as well as identifying the areas in need of urgent attention, as part of a Scoping Study for the Cooks River Catchment Coastal Management Program.

The finalised Scoping Study is expected soon and will outline the actions required for the future development and protection of the Cooks River.

In the context of ongoing change within all levels of government, the Alliance has continued to highlight the immense value of a coordinated and collaborative approach to river and catchment management. The Cooks River Alliance respectfully acknowledges the Wangal, and Gameygal, the Traditional Custodians By working closely with local councils, the Alliance coordinated two successful NSW EPA litter prevention grants, of the Cooks River catchment, and also acknowledges other Aboriginal people who have made the river their totalling $210,000, which focused on Coxs Creek, a Cooks River tributary, and its bordering industrial areas. home. The Alliance pays respect to Elders past, present and future. Collaborative efforts with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, the City of Canterbury Bankstown For over a thousand generations, the Cooks River catchment has been home to Aboriginal people who have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group and Water produced dividends and resulted in the fostered cultural and spiritual connections to the river as it evolved over many millennia. official renaming of Chullora Wetland to Yana Badu Wetland, in honour of the river’s Aboriginal history. The Cooks River Alliance recognises that it is vital to maintain strong partnerships with Aboriginal people and A new three-year strategic plan has also been developed to provide a clear statement of actions that will go a long organisations across the catchment. way to rehabilitating the Cooks River and its catchment.

An enormous amount of work has already gone into rehabilitating the Cooks River, but there is still much more to do. I look forward to the year ahead.

WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this publication contains the images of deceased people. Cr Darcy Byrne, Mayor Chair Cooks River Alliance

2 Cooks River Alliance Annual Report 2017-2018 3 The Catchment We Are All Cooks River People: Realising Community Waterway Visions

This project was funded by a four-year $1.97 million grant from the Australian government as well as member council contributions to the Alliance, and member council in-kind funding. It was successfully completed in August 2017. The program of works was embedded into the Alliance Action Plan 2014-2017 and a final report, People. Place.Connections, details the program’s achievements. Through this program over $3,000,000 has been invested into improving the health of the catchment, including more than $1,000,000 in contributions by councils. The key highlights are summarised below:

CULTURE & COUNTRY ON-GROUND WORKS

Published one Aboriginal history book Constructed seven rain gardens The Cooks River begins as a series of small watercourses near Graf Park in Bankstown and flows 23km in a generally Water quality monitoring easterly direction to enter just south of Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport. It runs through some of the Recorded and results for two rain gardens most heavily urbanised and industrialised areas in . exhibited 12 oral histories The river’s catchment covers about 100km2. The care and control of the river is a complicated issue as responsibility Employed 35 Aboriginal contractors is shared between nine local councils, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Sydney Water, the NSW Completion of three-year Government and industry. Hosted Culture & Country Day for 200 attendees intensive on-ground restoration The Cooks River catchment provides many benefits which contribute to the community’s well-being and quality of Renaming 1 wetlands site at Landing Lights Wetland life, including wetlands and bushland that provide vital habitat, as well as many parks and facilities. All people living in the catchment, regardless of their proximity to the river, can make a difference to its health and quality. COLLABORATION & COMMUNITY INFORMATION & CAPACITY ENGAGEMENT COMMUNICATION BUILDING

Published three Delivered 30+ Ecological Health professional Report Cards development opportunities to more Wrote 10 than 370 attendees Coordinated three major community submissions to events for 3,200 participants federal and state government

Collected 10,000+ bags of rubbish and Launched one new weeds and spread 4,290 sqm of mulch website

Engaged 300+ school students in water Produced nine sensitive urban design activities short films in seven languages about Reached 1450+ culturally and Attended 46 meetings and activities community connections to water and linguistically diverse community with Aboriginal advisory committees stormwater pollution members about stormwater pollution and stakeholders

4 Cooks River Alliance Annual Report 2017-2018 5 New governance structure

Over this reporting period the and is the preferred mechanism The business case also (see Figure 1) was approved in The Catchment Congress In this structure the role of governance structure of the by state and federal government recommended a new vision and November by the 2017 Board. provides information, advice the Secretariat is to support Alliance was reviewed and then for funding. It has provided ‘value governance structure with an and recommendations to the participating organisations to work revised. The impact of Council for money’ to member councils, expanded membership. After The Management Committee Management Committee. together and to lead on river and amalgamations and the finalisation achieving collectively what was not stakeholder, community, and state provides strategic direction and Members of the Congress can be catchment wide strategies. of the Alliance Action Plan in 2017 possible to achieve individually. It government consultation, a new makes decisions on Alliance representatives from all levels of were contributing factors. has generated internal value within structure was agreed that provided activities. The Committee consists government, public authorities The first Management Committee councils through capacity building, opportunity for all land managers of nominated Councillors from and community organisations, and met with newly elected Councillors A business case was completed in has secured $2.1m in project across the catchment to participate Councils that have made an where appropriate, industry and in April 2018, then again in May. August that concluded: funding and rolled out significant in the Alliance and to combine agreed financial contribution business. The Alliance would like to sincerely on-ground works, and supported efforts on issues that require a to the Alliance. In 2018 these thank its 2017 Board and 2018 ‘The Cooks River Alliance has are Bayside Council, City of Theme teams are subcommittees Management Committee members delivered double cash investment increased value and understanding whole of catchment approach. of Indigenous heritage.’ The new governance structure Canterbury Bankstown, Inner West of the Congress formed around for their contributions. In particular, since it was established in 2011, Council and Strathfield Council. specific issues and projects. we thank our community board The Management Committee Teams make recommendations to members for their years of service may invite other organisations the Congress around policy and since 2015. 2017 Board Members 2018 Management Committee onto the Committee either as a actions. Membership can consist of Councillors Cr. Andrew Tsounis, Bayside Council financial or non-financial voting multidisciplinary staff from across The Alliance would also like to thank its host councils. In January Cr. Andrew Soulos, Strathfield Council Cr. Clare Raffan, City of Canterbury Bankstown member. An Executive Committee the catchment, stakeholders from of senior Council staff provides relevant community organisations 2018 the City of Canterbury Cr. Andrew Tsounis, Rockdale City Council Cr. Colin Hesse, Inner West Council administrative direction to the and industry. Bankstown began hosting the Alliance Secretariat taking over Cr. Daniel Bott, Strathfield Council Cr. Darcy Byrne, Mayor Inner West Council Secretariat and advice to the Management Committee. from Strathfield Council who had Cr. Jess Miller, Cr. Khal Asfour, Mayor City of Canterbury Bankstown hosted for the previous five years.

Cr. Jess Scully, City of Sydney Cr. Maryanne Duggan, Strathfield Council Executive Cooks River Alliance Cr. Raj Datta, Strathfield Council Cr. Nella Hall, Strathfield Council Committee Management Committee Post-amalgamation administrator nominees Chris Woods, Inner West Council David Dekel, Bayside Council James Carey, City of Canterbury Bankstown Catchment Congress Community representatives Brian Shaw

Justine Langford Secretariat Mark Kibby Theme Team Theme Team Theme Team Figure 1 – Cooks River Alliance governance structure

6 Cooks River Alliance Annual Report 2017-2018 7 The Cooks River People’s Plan Cooks River Catchment Coastal Management Program

A new strategic plan was Under the new strategic plan, The Alliance established a Cooks River Catchment Advisory developed with the final approval Eight goals to 2021 across Goal 6 is for the Alliance to ensure Cooks River Catchment Advisory Group members by the Management Committee three strategic focus areas there is an agreed approach to Group that had the first meeting in August 2018. The Cooks River the management of the river in May. The group has 20 • Cooks River Alliance People’s Plan 2018-2021 builds on and catchment. The Alliance stakeholders including Aboriginal • Bayside Council the long terms outcomes in the An Alliance of valued partnerships is coordinating a Cooks River representatives, state government • City of Canterbury Bankstown previous Alliance Management Plan Catchment Coastal Management agencies and public authorities, 1. The Cooks River Alliance partnership of land and • Inner West Council with annual actions and measures Program. community groups, and industry. water managers and community is ongoing. • Strathfield Council for the Alliance secretariat. The This group has provided significant In November 2017 the City of Plan also invites organisations to 2. The Alliance has supported ongoing research data and direction to the Scoping • Botany Bay and Catchment Canterbury Bankstown, on behalf of participate through the Catchment into river and catchment health. Study. Alliance Congress and Theme Team the Alliance, received funding from • Burwood Council the NSW Office of Environment This project is supported by the Working Groups. The Plan has • City of Canterbury Bankstown and Heritage to commence the NSW Government’s Coastal and eight goals across three focus areas Advocacy for the health of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Scoping Study for the Cooks River Estuary Management Program. river, catchment and habitats Islander Reference Group Catchment Coastal Management 3. Advocacy for sufficient esourcesr to improve river Program. • City of Sydney and catchment health has been successful. • Cooks River Valley Association The Scoping Study is the first • Fisheries NSW 4. Planning policies and practices are supporting stage in a four-year process that improvements in river and catchment health. will provide an overall program • Metro Local Aboriginal Land for the Cooks River catchment Council 5. Catchment and river health is better understood, to implement the requirements • National Parks and Wildlife measured and communicated. of the Coastal Management Act Service 6. There is an agreed approach to the management 2016. Among other deliverables, • NSW Ports the Scoping Study identifies the of the river and catchment. • Port Authority of NSW vision, management objectives and risks to the coastal areas and • Randwick Council Communities taking action makes recommendations for Stage • Roads and Maritime Services Two studies. The Scoping Study is 7. Meaningful, mutually beneficial and sustainable • expected to be completed in early relationships are established with Aboriginal • Sydney Water 2019. people and organisations in the catchment. • Preservation Society 8. The Alliance is achieving the catchment communities’ aspirations for the river.

8 Cooks River Alliance Annual Report 2017-2018 9 Culture and Country Litter in the catchment

Yana Badu Wetland The Cooks River Aboriginal Oral five different newspapers including Coxs Creek Litter Prevention were conducted and an evaluation NSW Corrective Services a front page feature and two radio framework developed that will The river’s Aboriginal connections History Exhibition Project partnership interviews. The Redfern exhibition’s inform the effectiveness of the were acknowledged and The Cooks River Aboriginal Facebook event page was seen The Alliance successfully business engagement model. The The Intensive Correction Order celebrated throughout the year. Oral History Exhibition by artist by more than 34,000 people with coordinated two Round 4 NSW Alliance also coordinated litter (ICO) program is a welcome The Alliance worked closely Asher Milgate was exhibited at 1,100 people engaging with the EPA Council Litter Prevention training for council rangers and contribution to maintenance of with Sydney Water to assist the the Bankstown Arts Centre in page. The Alliance would like to Grant applications with the project staff. Additional industrial reserves and parks across our Metropolitan Local Aboriginal November and at Redfern’s 107 express thanks to all oral history City of Canterbury Bankstown areas at Chullora and Lakemba member council areas. The rubbish Land Council and the City of Projects Gallery in early July. participants: the late Uncle Lester and Strathfield Council worth a have also been audited to gain a collection, mulch spreading and Canterbury Bankstown Aboriginal The exhibition paired natural Bostock, Uncle Allen Madden, combined total of $210,000. The better understanding of litter in weeding work by ICO participants and Torres Strait Islander soundscapes of the Cooks River Aunty Ann Weldon, Aunty Jenny Lakemba and Strathfield South industrial areas. The projects are in reserves and parks would not Reference Group to rename with photographic portraits and Thomsen, Uncle Ray Davidson, industrial areas within the Cox’s a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle otherwise be regularly undertaken, Chullora Wetland to Yana Badu oral histories of 12 Aboriginal Deborah Lennis, Jason Wing, Creek catchment are the focus of More initiative funded from the greatly enhancing and improving Wetland, meaning walking beside people with a lived experience and Jenny Newman, Michael Ingrey, this project which seeks to reduce NSW waste levy and will be recreation spaces. In total, more water. The Geographical Names connection to the river. Nardi Simpson, Nathan Moran and litter in the area by 40%. Businesses completed by early 2019. than 1,500 bags of rubbish and Board of NSW reported a record Suzanne Ingram. have been invited to lead litter 500 bags of weeds were collected number of positive community The exhibitions were well attended management outside their and 50 square metres of mulch was submissions on the proposal. The with 107 Projects reporting twice premises. Anti-littering signage spread this year. This represents Alliance is now working with the number of regular visitors. will be placed in the industrial 6,540 participant and supervisor Sydney Water to commission an Alliance promotional activities zones and council staff will have an hours at a value of more than Aboriginal artwork at Yana Badu generated media coverage across increased presence. Litter audits $215,000. and to increase site access.

10 Cooks River Alliance Annual Report 2017-2018 11 Catchment education

Catchment education Get the Site Right environmental problems, making it less safe for people to use. The Cooks River catchment model Get the Site Right is a joint was demonstrated at 12 events taskforce between the Parramatta The Cooks River catchment model and schools this year reaching an River Catchment Group, Cooks was on display at the Sydney Home audience of more than 2,000. River Alliance, Georges River Show demonstrating the impact of Combined Councils Committee, sediment run-off in waterways. The The Cooks River Rescue program Sydney Coastal Councils Group, Alliance also coordinated council was also trialled by the Council, NSW staff training for participating Canterbury Bankstown working Environment Protection Authority Sydney Councils and and funded with a local Girl Guides group. The (EPA), and Department of Planning the development of a project program promotes specific actions and Environment, and more than evaluation framework to assist in that individuals, households and 20 Sydney councils. We worked data collection. Media activities organisations can take to help together to target developers generated coverage in the local improve the health of the river. The and enforce best practice on paper in the form of a news article program will be a bigger focus for commercial and residential building and letters to the editor. the Alliance in the year ahead in sites, as well as major infrastructure line with priorities identified in the projects, to protect waterways The campaign received a Highly new strategic plan. and surrounding environments. If Commended in the Excellence for sediment such as soil, sand, dirt Education or Policy category at the and mud are not properly managed 2018 NSW Stormwater Awards. on building sites they can directly pollute rivers and cause severe

12 Cooks River Alliance Annual Report 2017-2018 13 United action for a healthy Cooks River and catchment

Contact cooksriver.org.au 02 9707 5724 [email protected]