Cooks River Community Values Survey

Background

The Cooks River Alliance and its member organisations are committed to improving the health of the Cooks River Catchment and local waterways. The Alliance wants to know what you value to plan well for works and services along the Cooks River and Botany Bay areas, their wetlands and smaller creeks and drains that flow into them. To understand these values, the Alliance has released a survey to ensure community expectations are guiding our key projects and planning. This survey part of the Cooks River Catchment Coastal Management Program (CMP).

We want you to tell us about:

the waterway places you value and what you value there.
the things to change and improve in and around the waterways.
the most important things for future catchment management.

In 2019, the Cooks River Alliance partners, Sydney Water and the City of Sydney, with catchment community groups, completed the CMP’s Stage 1 Scoping Study.

In Stage 2, we are doing various studies including this survey to ensure that we have the right information to deliver actions that support people, places and the environment in the Cooks River Catchment and Botany.

Win a prize!

Do this survey to go in the draw for one of five $100 vouchers.

How to have your say

You are invited to have your say by completing the survey here: cb.city/cooks-river-survey. If you have questions or want to learn more about the project, please contact the project officers listed on this page.

Name: Thomas Sinclair

Phone: 9707 5723

info@cooksriver.org.au

Waterways in the Cooks River CMP study area

FAQ

Why are we doing this survey?

We want to understand the relationship between people and waterways in the Cooks River catchment and Botany area better.

Where are we talking about?

All of the waterways, creeks, wetlands and ponds within the Cooks River catchment and Botany area.

How will we use your answers?

– The Cooks River Alliance and its partners will consider your answers to guide the Cooks River Catchment Coastal Management Program.
– Individual councils will consider your answers for their own catchment and waterway planning.

What has the community told us already?

In 2019, the Cooks River Alliance completed the Cooks River Coastal Management Program (CMP) Stage 1 Scoping Study. The study involved consultation with community members and stakeholders to identify a 2030 vision for the river.
As part of developing the CMP, the Alliance has also consolidated past community consultation undertaken by individual councils on Cooks River related projects and the broader environment. Through these various engagements we know that people:
– enjoy being in the Cooks River’s natural areas with wild native animals and plants;
– enjoy a variety of sports and recreation along the river including kayaking, walking and cycling;
– want the river to be clean, accessible and healthy for swimming and recreation in the future; and
want to stop pollution, rubbish, and improve water quality.

How does the Cooks River Alliance plan to engage with the community on this project?

We are seeking comments online, at community events, at workshops, at the river and key sites, and through partners and community organisations.

What will the final CMP look like in 2024?

The Cooks River Catchment CMP will include:
-A list of issues facing the Cooks River catchment
-Actions to be implemented to enhance the values of the Cooks River
-An assessment of actions for technical feasibility, economic viability and community acceptability
-Responsibilities of different Councils, State Government agencies and other stakeholders for implementing agreed actions
-A business plan with costs and priorities for implementing each management action
-A coastal zone emergency action sub-plan, for dealing with coastal hazards

Underpinning the CMP is a strong community vision for “A loved and healthy Cooks River valley and its catchment enriching the heart of Sydney”. This vision encompasses four key themes:
-A biodiverse river valley supporting a clean river
-Aboriginal ways of thinking are valued from Yana Badu to Kama
-Every community accessing and enjoying the river
-Holistic cooperative approaches are guiding river restoration
Read how the Cooks River community developed this vision.