Health Waterways Program

The management of waterways not only includes the management of flooding, it also involves the management of stream health. This includes addressing biodiversity, habitat, channel form and issues such as erosion, weed infestation, sedimentation and other factors that result in a decline in waterways health.

Waterways Prioritisation

Council has undertaken a Waterways Prioritisation Assessment to determine which creeks are most important to maintain and rehabilitate first. Based on this assessment, a Waterways Maintenance and Rehabilitation Masterplan (WMRM) is prepared for one creek each year. To date the following WMRMs have been prepared:

• Toongabbie Creek (see Environmental Publications)
• Vineyard Creek (see Environmental Publications)
• Quarry Branch Creek

A WMRM is currently being prepared for Ponds-Subiaco Creek with one for Duck River to follow.

Waterways Maintenance and Rehabilitation

Parramatta City Council prepares Waterways Maintenance and Rehabilitation Masterplans (WMRM) in order to develop a coordinated and agreed maintenance and rehabilitation program for the waterways in Parramatta. The WMRMs aim to maintain the ecological integrity of the systems while increasing access and recognising the need to manage flooding and heritage issues.

Numerous actions are identified in the WMRMs which require works such as erosion control, bank stabilisation, weed removal, revegetation, bush regeneration and community education. Some projects undertaken to date include:

• Toongabbie Creek— Goliath Avenue and Edison Parade, Winston Hills. Construction of erosion protection to seven stormwater outlets
• Toongabbie Creek at Sue Savage Reserve, Toongabbie. Riparian revegetation
• Vineyard Creek – Wesley Street, Oatlands and Rock Farm Avenue, Telopea. Construction of erosion protection to four stormwater outlet
• Vineyard Creek at Wyuna Place and Tulong Avenue, Oatlands. Riparian revegetation
• Quarry Branch Creek at Impeesa Reserve. Drainage line rehabilitation (photos 3)
• Quarry Branch Creek – Targeted riparian weed removal at John Curtin Reserve/Moxham Park

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Caption: Waterway rehabilitation Vineyard Creek at Tulong Avenue, Oatlands

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Caption: Stormwater drainage line rehabilitation at Impeesa Reserve, Winston Hills

Waterways maintenance and rehabilitation works are also undertaken on Parramatta’s smaller waterways and on those for which WMRMs have not yet been done. Some projects undertaken to date include:

• Ponds Creek at Rumsey Crescent, Dundas. Riparian revegetation
• Ponds Creek — Fitzgerald Forest, Carlingford
• Subiaco Creek—Moffatts Dr, Dundas Valley
• Terrys Creek—Mobbs Lane, Epping
• Duck River—Randolph St, South Granville

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Caption: Caption: Rumsey Crescent riparian revegetation

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Caption: Instream habitat and water quality at Fitzgerald Forest, Carlingford