CMP FAQ’s

The Cooks River Catchment Coastal Management Program (CMP) is a strategic plan prepared under the NSW Coastal Management Act 2016. It provides a framework for coordinated action across multiple councils and agencies to improve the ecological health, recreational amenity, and resilience of the Cooks River over the next 10–100 years.

The CMP is led by the Cooks River Alliance (CRA), in partnership with six councils:

• Bayside
• Canterbury Bankstown
• Inner West
• Strathfield
• City of Sydney
• Burwood

Sydney Water and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) are also key partners.

Other important stakeholders who are being consulted include:

• City of Canterbury Bankstown Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group
• City of Sydney
• Cooks River Valley Association
• NSW DPI Fisheries
• Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council
• La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council
• Gandagarra Local Aboriginal Land Council
• National Parks and Wildlife Service
• NSW Ports
• Port Authority of NSW
• Randwick Council
• Sydney Airport
• Transport for NSW
• Wolli Creek Preservation Society

Developing a Coastal Management Program (CMP) follows a structured five-stage process as outlined in the NSW Coastal Management Manual. Each stage builds on the previous one to ensure a comprehensive and evidence-based plan for managing coastal and estuarine environments.

Stage 1 – Scoping Study

• Establishes the CMP’s purpose, objectives, and boundaries.
• Identifies key values, threats, and knowledge gaps.
• Determines governance arrangements and stakeholder groups.
• For the Cooks River CMP, this was completed in 2020 and set the foundation for future stages.
• [Visit the Project Library to access the Stage 1 Scoping Study Report]

Stage 2 – Risk and Vulnerability Assessment

• Technical studies were conducted to investigate and assess coastal hazards, ecological conditions, and community values as identified in the stage 1 scoping study.
• Key studies include:
  • Waterway Condition & Foreshore Safety Assessment (Alluvium, 2023)
  • Biodiversity Assessment (Applied Ecology, 2024)
  • Coastal Hazards Inundation Assessment (Rhelm, 2024)
  • Water Quality Analysis (Stantec, 2023)
  • Cooks River Report Card Establishment Plan (CRA, 2022)
• [Visit the Project Library to access the Stage 2 Studies]

Stage 3 – Options Identification and Evaluation

• Identifies potential management actions to address risks and enhance values.
• Evaluates options using multi-criteria analysis, cost-benefit assessments, and stakeholder input.
• This is the current stage for the Cooks River CMP.

Stage 4 – CMP Finalisation

• Drafts the CMP document, including prioritised actions, implementation plans, and monitoring frameworks.
• Undertakes public exhibition and stakeholder review.
• Final CMP is submitted for certification by the NSW Government.

Stage 5 – Implementation, Monitoring and Review

• Councils and agencies implement the CMP actions.
• Progress is monitored and reported.

CMPs are reviewed and updated periodically to remain effective and responsive to change.

The CMP is currently in Stages 3 and 4:

• Stage 3: Identifying and evaluating management options based on a detailed risk assessment.
• Stage 4: Finalising the CMP, including public exhibition, stakeholder engagement, and preparation of a certified plan.

The CMP addresses a wide range of risks, including:

• Tidal and coastal inundation (e.g., backwater and overbank flooding)
• Foreshore erosion and asset failure
• Water quality degradation
• Loss of biodiversity and habitat fragmentation
• Climate change impacts (e.g., sea level rise, storm intensity)
• Governance fragmentation
• Cultural heritage degradation
• Public safety hazards (e.g., deteriorating sheet piling)

These risks were identified through technical studies and stakeholder workshops.

A detailed risk assessment was conducted using the ISO 31000 framework*. It incorporated:

• First-pass risk findings from the Stage 1 Scoping Study
• Technical studies from Stage 2 (e.g., erosion mapping, biodiversity surveys, inundation modelling)
• Stakeholder input from workshops and community engagement.
• Visit the Project Library to access the Detailed Risk Assessment Report

*ISO 31000 is a framework developed by International Organizations for Standardization (ISO) that outlines principles and guidelines for effective risk management, applicable to any organization regardless of size or sector.

The CMP sets both the long term direction for coastal management, as well as specific management actions for the next 10 years. To inform this planning, risks were considered across four timeframes:

• Present day
• 20 years (2045)
• 50 years (2075)
• 100 years (2125)

This ensures long-term resilience and adaptability to climate change.

The CMP is aligned with nine value themes from the Cooks River Report Card Program:

• Clean Water – Healthy waterways that support aquatic life and reduce pollution and litter.
• Biodiversity – Thriving plant and animal communities along the river and its catchment.
• Naturalness – Green, natural riverbanks and open spaces that enhance the river’s character.
• Heritage and Culture – Recognition and celebration of Aboriginal heritage and the river’s rich cultural history.
• Amenity and Recreation – Accessible green spaces and waterways that support recreation and improve community wellbeing.
• Education and Science – Opportunities for learning, research, and community engagement about the river.
• Flood Resilience – Planning and actions that help the community prepare for and recover from flooding driven by coastal processes such as storm surge and tidal inundation with sea level rise.
• Trade and Commerce – Economic benefits from a healthy river, including local businesses and tourism.
• Land Value – A river that adds value to where people live and enhances neighbourhood appeal.

Actions will be aligned with these themes, ensuring they are addressed by the CMP.

The CMP includes dedicated engagement with First Nations stakeholders, including:

• Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council
• Gamay Rangers and La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council
• Gandagarra Local Aboriginal Land Council

Conversations and workshops with these groups are planned to ensure the CMP appropriately supports cultural values and custodianship and that effective partnerships with councils are meaningfully integrated into the CMP.

Actions will be categorised into five strategic approaches:

• Alert: Monitoring and research
• Avoid Risk: Land use planning
• Active Intervention: Asset protection and restoration
• Planning for Change: Exploring adaptation and relocation
• Emergency Response: Immediate hazard mitigation

CMPs apply to four types of coastal management areas as defined in the Resilience and Hazards SEPP:

• Coastal Wetlands and Littoral Rainforests – sensitive ecosystems needing protection.
• Coastal Vulnerability Areas – places at risk from hazards like erosion or flooding.
• Coastal Environment Areas – natural features like estuaries, lakes, and headlands.
• Coastal Use Areas – places where people live, work, and enjoy the coast.

Yes and no. The CMP is required to address action within the coastal zone, as defined by the Resilience and Hazards SEPP. Therefore, while the CMP focuses on the coastal zone, actions in the broader catchment will be included where they demonstrate clear benefits to the coastal zone and alignment with CMP objectives.

Community engagement is a core part of the CMP. Opportunities include:

• Following updates from the Cooks River Alliance
• Contributing to the Cooks River CMP Community Feedback Hub, an interactive mapping tool that can be used to share your feedback.
• Email the project team at CMP@cooksriver.org.au
• Visit the Your Input page for more details.