Cooks River Urban Water Initiative
Sydney, NSW
Total funding: Total project cost is $3.323 million, with funding of $2 million from the Australian Government under the National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns and the remaining funding provided by local councils, the NSW Government and Macquarie University.
About the project
The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority is co-ordinating the Cooks River Urban Water Initiative, with work carried out by local councils and community groups. There are 14 sub-projects which fall into two elements - Wolli Creek Stormwater and Cooks River Wetlands Remediation.
Wolli Creek Stormwater Element
This element aims to improve water quality of Wolli Creek and Cooks River through the installation of stormwater quality improvement devices that reduce litter and sediment entering these waterways. This included the construction of pollution traps and bio-retention systems to filter stormwater.
Project sites:
- Turella Reserve Gross Pollution Trap
- High Cliff Road East Bioretention Basin
- Hannam Street Stormwater treatment
- Orpington Street Sedimentation Basin
- Johnston Street Bioretention
- High Cliff Road West Gross Pollution Trap
- S J Harrison Reserve Gross Pollutant Trap and sand filter
Cooks River Wetlands Remediation Element
This element involves the design and construction of wetland areas in both freshwater and estuarine reaches. Existing wetlands were supplemented with restoration works such as re-vegetation and weeding.
Project sites:
- Cup & Saucer Creek Wetland
- Turella Creek Saltmarsh and creek restoration
- Yarroweee Road Wetland
- Coolabah Reserve Wetland
- Eve Street Saltmarsh Wetland
- Steel Park Saltmarsh Wetland
Project benefits
This project will:
- improve water quality in the Wolli Creek and Cooks River which will benefit aquatic life in these waterways, and
- increase the wetland habitat available on the Cooks River.
Progress
The project commenced on 3 December 2008 and was completed in January 2012
Links
- Cooks River renewal project secures $2 million funding – media release 3 October 2008
- Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority
National Water Security Plan for Cities and Towns projects are funded by the Australian Government's Water for the Future initiative.