When it comes to catchment management, it’s important to have a map to know where you’re going.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with Jake Coppinger of UrbanSpectra to create the first interactive Cooks River Catchment Map!

What will the map do?

Drawing on examples like the Los Angeles River Revitalization program, the Cooks River Master Plan will revolve around a user-friendly, interactive map, designed to maximise the visibility, accessibility and connectivity to the Master Plan for the public and decision makers. This easy-to-use catchment map will effectively create a 24/7 planning and reporting mechanism. The map will be housed at ourbackyardriver.com.au, alongside a dashboard that will display the status of projects taking place in the catchment.

Who is the map for?

The General Public

• First and foremost, this map is for the general public. It should be legible and accessible to anyone with a basic level of map and local area knowledge. 
• This includes community groups and advocates

Local councils, government agencies and public utilities

• The map will be designed as a useful tool for the agencies responsible for catchment management, including planners, engineers, project managers, etc. 

Elected Officials

• The map will act as an accountability mechanism for state government representatives within the catchment. 
• Elected officials will be able to use the map to identify projects for funding, based on their level of priority. 

The map will create a simple, user-friendly tool to the community and decision makers at every level, to rapidly identify projects and to improve the Cooks River Catchment. Using visual data, updated in real time, we’ll be able to see the catchment’s past, present and beyond.

Like all good maps, the catchment map will help us to find out how we transform our backyard river into the greatest urban river in Australia.

What’s next?

The map will go live in December! In the meantime, check out Jake’s work at https://urbanspectra.com and explore Our Backyard River!