Local council urges government action to naturalise the Cooks River

by CHRISTINE LAI

Local council members are pushing for urgent action to address ongoing stormwater issues and naturalise the Cooks River, as concerns mount over its deteriorating health and ecological balance.

During Inner West Council’s most recent meeting, Labor Councillor Mark Drury put forward a motion focusing on tackling persistent stormwater concerns and promoting the naturalisation of the Cooks River.

The motion called for urgent action from the NSW Government to commit resources to improve the health of the river and received unanimous support from council members.

The motion included two key points:

• That Council writes to the NSW Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe, as well as State Members of Parliament for Heffron, Rockdale, Summer Hill, Canterbury and Strathfield, to urge the NSW Government to commit resources to naturalise the Cooks River and mitigate ongoing stormwater issues.
• That Council writes to the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water seeking advice as to the release of funding for Council’s Camdenville Wetlands project which is within the Cooks River catchment and will improve biodiversity, urban runoff and stormwater in the catchment.

This is in line with the initiative proposed by the Cooks River Valley Association (CRVA), which advocates for government support to naturalise the river and tackle stormwater issues.

Stormwater Challenges and Wetlands’ Role in Cooks River Restoration

City Hub spoke to Councillor Drury to discuss the current stormwater challenges facing the Cooks River and how its naturalisation could offer solutions to these pressing issues.

“Stormwater is the major new and ongoing source of contaminants for the Cooks River and anything we can do to slow it down as it goes into the river is brilliant”, Cr Drury said.

In response to inquiries about the Camdenville Wetlands project and its role within the broader scope of naturalising the Cooks River, Cr Drury emphasised the vital function of wetlands in mitigating pollution and enhancing water quality.

Referred to as the Peter Bulger Wetlands, these natural habitats play a crucial role in slowing down the flow of water entering the river, allowing for natural filtration processes to occur.

Cr Drury highlighted the successful acquisition of funds from the Commonwealth for the wetlands project.

“The Inner West and Cooks River Alliance need a state government agency to take responsibility for the banks. Naturalising is the best thing we could do for the ecosystem, and we need to move to the situation where all Sydney waterways are routinely tested”, Cr Drury said.

Urgent Funding Needed to Address Cooks River’s Environmental Challenges

The Cooks River faces pressing challenges, such as deteriorating steel sheet piling along its banks, the proliferation of invasive species, and the detrimental effects of urban runoff on its natural watercourse. Industrial pollutants have tainted its waters, while concrete and steel structures have replaced natural vegetation.

While local councils collaborate with the Cooks River Alliance to tackle these issues, support from the state level is imperative, given the river’s status as a crown waterway.

In July 2023, Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and Minister Burke announced funding for projects in the Cooks River, including the Camdenville Wetlands project. However, Council is yet to receive the grant funding from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water.

Continued funding will be essential for councils along the Cooks River to effectively mitigate stormwater and biodiversity issues.

“In addition to natural filtration and slowing the flow of stormwater/turbidity, the major advantage of naturalisation is that it provides greatly increased opportunities for biodiversity and habitat by providing increased areas for foreshore vegetation”, Cr Drury said.

Cr Drury called for urgent government action to safeguard and restore the Cooks River, viewing it as the next significant step in the Inner West Council’s strategy to being more “closely aligned with Indigenous land management practices by removing artificial embankments”.