Parramatta River and its associated creeks has been a significant landmark since early Aboriginal inhabitance, through the early periods of European settlement, to the present day.
Our waterways are home to a wide variety of plants and animals and have been a major source of recreation for residents and visitors to our area.
However, consequences of human activity such as development, industry, pollution, recreation, stormwater runoff, sewer overflows, flooding, boating and simple things we do every day such as driving the car or walking the dog, all have an impact on the health of our waterways. In order to prevent these impacts we all need to play a part in the long term management of our waterways.
To address the complex and interrelated issues associated with managing waterways, Council has developed a waterways strategy entitled Rivers of Opportunity, which sets out where we want to be in the future and the action required over the coming years. The strategy is consistent with Parramatta’s strategic plan—Dreaming Parramatta—in setting targets for the next 20 years.
The principle objective for managing our waterways is to ensure that they are sustainable. That is, they are managed in a way that:
A clean City; a place where children are safe to explore their creeks; a place where we can safely swim, row a boat or just relax and enjoy the scenery; a place where we can eat fish caught in the many inlets and streams; a place where the many unique plants and animals can safely coexist; a place which we can be pleased to hand on to our future generations; a place where we want to live, visit and proudly say that Parramatta is our home.
Council’s Environmental Improvement Program includes four main ‘streams’:
AIMS TO: improve water quality through actions such as the construction of pollution control devices, source controls (e.g. education and enforcement), and the review and improvement of strategic and statutory plans.
AIMS TO: ensure the impacts of flooding on the community are minimised. This includes capital works, planning controls and community education.
AIMS TO: enhance and rehabilitate the waterways corridor by implementing actions such as bank stabilisation, revegetation and improvement to fish habitat.
AIMS TO: reduce, reuse and conserve water.
Part of the funding for this program is paid for from a Special Rate levy which Council applies to all residential properties in Parramatta outside the City Centre. The Special Rate came in to force in 2000 and is in place for ten years at which time it will be reviewed.
Residents comment on the cleanliness of the waterways; people begin to use the creeks as a place of relaxation and enjoyment; visitors come to appreciate the beauty of the Parramatta River; weeds are effectively managed and birds and other wildlife are seen along the banks; there is evidence that native fish are returning to the river; people participate and engage in the issues, solutions and have a connection and ownership of our waterways.
A catchment is an area of land bounded by natural features such as hills, from which all stormwater flows to a common low point such as a creek, lake or river.
Parramatta city and its suburbs cover an area of 61km2 at the foot of the Hills district, 24kmfrom Sydney. These hills, and the valley below, make up part of the catchment of the Parramatta River.
The creeks of the Upper Parramatta Catchment (including Coopers, Quarry Branch, Finlaysons, Greystanes, Pendle Hill and Toongabbie Creeks), Duck River Catchment and the Lower Parramatta River Catchment (including Vineyard, Subiaco, Clay Cliff and Brickfield Creeks) all eventually flow into Parramatta River.
The only catchment area in Parramatta that doesn’t flow into Parramatta River is the Lane Cove Catchment, which comprises Terrys Creek and Devlins Creek. These creeks make their way to Lane Cove River.
Caption: Sydney Harbour catchments (source Sydney Metro Catchment Management Authority http://www.sydney.cma.nsw.gov.au)
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