Need Photo

THR

EATS

Occurrence: Bankstown, Campbelltown, Canterbury, Hurstville, Holroyd and Sutherland local government areas

Fragmentation of remnantsUrban & Industrial

Development

Weed InvasionInappropriate Recreational

Activities

Mangroves are characterised by low and closed forests on mudflat shores. The Grey Mangrove is found in the lower and mid River; the River Mangrove is found in brackish water upstream.

THR

EATS

Occurrence: Bankstown, Canterbury, Fairfield, Hurstville, Kogarah, Liverpool and Sutherland local government areas

Sea Level ChangeUrban & Industrial Development

ReclamationInappropriate Recreational

Activities

Estuarine Mangrove ForestEstuarine SaltmarshThese succulent herbs and rushes growing on tidal land are a component of Saline communities. Landfill has destroyed many areas of saltmarsh on the lower and mid Georges River. These communities occur in or just above salty tidal areas

of the river. Various communities often have distinct edges that separate one from the other, such as mangroves, saltmarsh, She Oak forest and reedlands.

Occurrence: Bankstown, Hurstville, Kogarah, Liverpool, Rockdale and Sutherland local government areas

THR

EATS Sea Level Change

Urban & Industrial Development ReclamationInappropriate Recreational

Activities

Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark ForestA component of Shale and Sandstone transition communities, this tall open forest on shale and shale-enriched sandstone soils was once common in Sydney but was targeted for timber production. Characterised by a diverse midstory, grassy ground

cover, and a canopy of small trees dominated by Turpentine, Red Mahogany, Sydney Red Gum and various Ironbark species.

Cumberland Shale Plain WoodlandA component of Shale communities, this grassy woodland is characterised by open gentle topography, high biodiversity within the ground cover layer, and low rainfall areas on deep clay soils derived from Wianamatta Shale. The canopy is dominated by

Grey Box, Red Gum, Rough Barked Apple and Narrow Leaved Ironbark. The midstory is dominated by Blackthorn and Hickory Wattle. The grassland is a diverse mix of grasses such as Kangaroo Grass and Barbed Wire Grass.

THR

EATS

Occurrence: Bankstown, Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury, Fairfield, Holroyd and Liverpool local government areas

Fragmentation of remnantsWeed Invasion

Inappropriate Fire RegimesUrban & Industrial Development

THR

EATS

A component of Riparian communities, this open eucalypt forest thrives on broad alluvial flats along Georges River and Prospect Creek. Variable communities on alluvial soils either directly influenced by waterways or which have adapted

to flood events. Characterised by an assemblage often dominated by Paperbark, Blue Box, Cabbage Gum and She Oak species as well as reedlands.

Occurrence: Bankstown, Fairfield, Holroyd, Hurstville, Liverpool and Sutherland local government areas

Sea Level ChangeUrban & Industrial Development

ReclamationInappropriate Recreational

Activities

Cumberland Riverflat Forest

THR

EATS

This tall Eucalypt forest is a component of Shale and Sandstone Transition Communities, characterised by a shrubby understory on sandstone outcrops. Dry vegetation forest which occurs where clay soils of the Wianamatta Shale meet sandy soils

of Hawkesbury Sandstone. Identifying canopy species are Grey Gum, Sydney Turpentine and Spotted Gum, although they frequently do not occur together.

Occurrence: Bankstown, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Liverpool and Sutherland local government areas

Weed InvasionUrban & Industrial Development

Inappropriate Fire RegimesInappropriate Recreational

Activities

Shale-Sandstone Ironbark Forest

Simple communities comprised of one or two species of seaweed which are submerged in saline water and across alluvial deposits of sand and mud. Seagrass meadows are easily damaged by inappropriate boating activities.

THR

EATS

Occurrence: Bankstown, Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale and Sutherland local government areas

Sea Level ChangeUrban & Industrial Development

Inappropriate Recreational Activities

Seagrass MeadowsRiverside Park,

Chipping Norton, Liverpool

Eagle Farm Reserve,

Eagle Vale, Campbelltown

The GRCCC represents Local Government in the Georges River Catchment of NSW. Member councils include Bankstown City, Campbelltown City, Fairfield City, Hurstville City, Kogarah City, Liverpool City, Rockdale City, Sutherland Shire and Wollondilly Shire Councils. The Riverkeeper Program is an initiative of GRCCC member councils with a collective responsibility for the health of the Georges River catchment. Maps supplied courtesy of the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority. The GRCCC is currently hosted by Hurstville City

Council. Copyright GRCCC Riverkeeper Program 2011 Report Card. Cover photo by C. Tippler. Printed on 100% recycled paper.

RIVERKEEPER PROGRAMREPORT CARD 2010-2010

Bankstown Council 9709 9999 Campbelltown Council 4645 4194Fairfield Council 9725 0758

Hurstville Council 9330 6222Kogarah Council 9330 9505Liverpool Council 9821 7729

Rockdale Council 9562 1663Sutherland Council 9524 5672Wollondilly Council 4677 1122

Local Council Bushcare Officer Contacts

GEORGES RIVER CATCHMENTKEY ENDANGERED ECOLOGICAL PLANT COMMUNITIES

THE GEORGES RIVER CATCHMENT

The Georges River begins its journey approximately 60km south-west of Sydney in the town of Appin. From here the river flows north towards Liverpool, through the Chipping Norton Lakes, then east until it reaches Botany Bay.

The catchment area of the Georges River covers an area of approximately 960 km2 and, with over 1.2 million people living within its boundaries, is one of the most highly urbanised catchments in Australia.

The river has a number of important tributaries including Bunbury Curran Creek, Cabramatta Creek, Prospect Creek, Williams Creek, Salt Pan Creek, Mill Creek, and the Woronora River.

PARTNERSHIPSIN ACTIONIn addition to the GRCCC’s nine member councils, the Georges Riverkeeper Program has established a wide array of partnerships which reflect stakeholders’ interest in keeping the Georges River a clean, safe and beautiful place to visit.

Program partners include:

Corrective Services NSW; Intensive Correction Order Teams

National Green Jobs Corps National Parks and Wildlife ServiceNational Parks Association Conservation Volunteers Australia

BEFORE AFTER

BEFORE AFTER

RIVERKEEPER WORKS

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GIS data layers for vegetation communities were provided by Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority.

These data layers have been nominally grouped based on underlying geology.

ABOUT THE MAP

0 3 6 9 121.5km

LegendVegetation Community

Alluvial Communities

Marine Seagrass Communities

Riparian Communities

Saline Communities

Sandstone Communities

Shale Communities

Shale/Sandstone Transition Community

LanduseOpen Space

Industrial

Residential

Other

³

BOTANY BAY

LAKE CATARACT

APPIN

EPPING

SYDNEY

BOTANY

KURNELL

RANDWICK

CRONULLA

LILYVALE

FAIRFIELD

LIVERPOOL

INGLEBURN

HEATHCOTE

COALCLIFF

AUSTINMER

PARRAMATTA

CANTERBURY

HURSTVILLE

SUTHERLAND

CAMPBELLTOWN

BULLI HEIGHTS

ROYAL NATIONAL PARK BOTANY BAY

LAKE CATARACT

APPIN

EPPING

SYDNEY

BOTANY

KURNELL

RANDWICK

CRONULLA

LILYVALE

FAIRFIELD

LIVERPOOL

INGLEBURN

HEATHCOTE

COALCLIFF

AUSTINMER

PARRAMATTA

CANTERBURY

HURSTVILLE

SUTHERLAND

CAMPBELLTOWN

BULLI HEIGHTS

ROYAL NATIONAL PARK

BOTANY BAY

LAKE CATARACT

APPIN

EPPING

SYDNEY

BOTANY

KURNELL

RANDWICK

CRONULLA

LILYVALE

FAIRFIELD

LIVERPOOL

INGLEBURN

HEATHCOTE

COALCLIFF

AUSTINMER

PARRAMATTA

CANTERBURY

HURSTVILLE

SUTHERLAND

CAMPBELLTOWN

BULLI HEIGHTS

ROYAL NATIONAL PARK

UPPER GEORGES RIVER SUBCATCHMENTBUSH REGENERATION = 1,235 M2 PLANTINGS = 0 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS = 205RUBBISH COLLECTION = 3,740 KGs COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS = 388

The Upper Georges River catchment is characterised by numerous creeks and tributaries that carry large volumes of water during rain events and seasonal flows. These creeks and tributaries drain urban and industrial areas, transporting large amounts of rubbish into the river, which accumulate along the foreshores, degrading the natural environment.

Bush Regeneration teams target the removal of African Olive, African Boxthorn and Privet in remnant Cumberland Plain Woodland.

*Open River - Upper Georges River corresponds to all remaining worksites on the main river foreshore.

MID GEORGES RIVER SUBCATCHMENTBUSH REGENERATION = 17,166 M2 PLANTINGS = 3,148 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS = 3,702RUBBISH COLLECTION = 18,389 KGs COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS = 2,664

Wind patterns and tidal influences at Chipping Norton Lakes and Salt Pan Creek contribute to the accumulation of large amounts of rubbish on a regular basis. Prospect Creek has been negatively impacted by a high degree of urbanisation. Mangroves and reedlands in the riparian areas of the Mid Georges River catchment help to filter and collect rubbish along this stretch of the river.

*Open River - Mid Georges River corresponds to all remaining worksites on the main river foreshore.

LOWER GEORGES RIVER SUBCATCHMENTBUSH REGENERATION = 1,543 M2 PLANTINGS = 0 COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS = 546 RUBBISH COLLECTION = 10,673 KGs COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS = 1,773

Rubbish is typically collected from Mangrove Forests and along open bay beaches. Lower River foreshores are often a mixture of seawalls and rocky foreshores, which prevent rubbish from accumulating on the shoreline. Rubbish in the lower river ends up at Towra Point, Quibray Bay and Woolooware Bay.

*Open River - Lower Georges River corresponds to all remaining worksites on the main river foreshore.

Bush regeneration works in the region include the targeted removal of Balloon Vine, Madeira Vine and Lantana in remnant Cumberland Riverflat Forest.

Removal of noxious and environmental weeds such as Lantana, Bitou Bush, Mother-of-Millions and Balloon Vine in riparian sandstone communities and on Botany Bay foredunes.

TOTAL CATCHMENT BUSH REGENERATIONRiverkeeper Program regeneration teams are restoring degraded, remnant bushland on foreshores, creeks and tributaries identified by councils across the catchment. Work is being undertaken along the river system to improve ecological health and species biodiversity. Riverbank vegetation provides habitat for local flora and fauna, prevents erosion and sedimentation and filters stormwater runoff, which in turn protects and improves water quality.

19,944 TOTAL M2

4,453 TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS

3,148 TOTAL PLANTINGS

LOWER GEORGES RIVER REPORT CARD 2010-11MID GEORGES RIVER REPORT CARD 2010-11UPPER GEORGES RIVER REPORT CARD 2010-11

Bunbury Curran Creek

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

2,525

234.55

Eagle Farm Reserve

Area M2

HOURS1,015

139

Kennedy Creek, Appin

Area M2

HOURS220

66

Open River - Upper Georges River *

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

1,215

1532

Prospect Creek

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

3,622

3848

Parkes Reserve, Canley ValeArea M2

HOURS349

100

Open River - Mid Georges River *

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

2,944

6439

Salt Pan Creek

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

3,524

8289

Cabramatta Creek

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

877

443

BEFORE AFTER

Yeramba Lagoon

Area M2

HOURS3,140

2,315

Clarendon RoadBoat RampArea M2

HOURS290

176

Chipping Norton Lakes

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

7,422

7649

Mirrambeena Reserve

Area M2

HOURS7,942

486

Taren Point

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

1,436

2604

Forbes Creek,EngadineArea M2

HOURS190

126

Silver Beach, Kurnell

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

2,740

3054

Cook Park, Brighton

Area M2

HOURS368

134

Woronora River

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

419

1183

Myles Dunphy Reserve

Area M2

HOURS810

256

Poulton Park ForeshoreArea M2

HOURS175

30

Lime Kiln Bay

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

317

1832

Open River - Lower Georges River *

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

1,905

50714

Botany Bay Foreshore

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

1,496

2225

Kogarah Bay

A+KGsHOURS# SITES

2,360

1763

TOTAL CATCHMENT RUBBISH COLLECTIONRiverkeeper Program rubbish collection teams provide broad-scale removal of rubbish from the river’s foreshores, creeks and tributaries. Member councils identify rubbish ‘hotspots’ on the river for inclusion in the Riverkeeper workplan. The Riverkeeper Program services the GRCCC’s member councils who have a collective responsibility for the health of the Georges River catchment.

32,802 TOTAL KGs

4,821 TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS

Mill Creek, Sandy PointArea M2

HOURS3,750

246

Rubbish comes in many forms, each causing a unique danger to aquatic habitat. Studies have shown that plastics account for over 60% of debris found within mangrove communities,

and over 90% of debris found in marine systems. Plastics cause harm when ingested by seabirds, marine mammals and fish species. Plastics can potentially introduce invasive species by allowing ‘passengers’ to adhere to drifting bags and debris.

HOW RUBBISH COLLECTSThe accumulation and occurrence of rubbish on foreshores depends on a variety of factors. Tidal influence, land form, vegetation type, weather conditions, bank steepness and condition of foreshores, and the buoyancy of rubbish all play a part in the collection of rubbish.

Plastics

Micro-rubbishMicro-rubbish is characterised by the smallest pieces of rubbish, no bigger than 15 mm, such as polystyrene, bottle tops, rubber and broken debris. Micro-rubbish is extremely harmful to aquatic animals and insects, and degrades foreshore and riverbed soils.

Most of the rubbish that makes its way through the conventional stormwater system into the river is caused by littering in urban areas.

Items of large rubbish typically found include car tyres and batteries, televisions, trolleys, furniture, mattresses, general building waste, milk crates and polystrene packaging.

Illegal Dumping

Riverside Park,Chipping NortonArea M2

HOURS220

66