The Cooks River Coastal Management Program (Cooks River CMP) is a strategic plan developed in partnership between local and state government agencies. It provides a coordinated approach for managing and enhancing the Cooks River system for the benefit of the environment, the economy, and the community.
Coastal Management Programs set the long-term vision and strategy for managing of our coastal environments including our estuaries, lagoons, beaches and their associated catchments. Each CMP includes a 10-year program of works for stakeholders to implement. Once certified by the Minister, CMPs enable access to funding through the NSW Government’s Coastal and Estuary Grant Program.
Under the Coastal Management Act 2016 (CM Act) councils are required to prepare a Coastal Management Program (CMP) which sets out a long-term strategy for coordinated management of the coast, with a focus on achieving the objects and objectives of the CM Act.
CMPs identify coastal management issues in the area, the actions required to address these issues, and how and when those actions will be implemented. They detail costs and proposed cost-sharing arrangements and other viable funding mechanisms.
The CM Act (and other relevant legislation) establishes specific roles and responsibilities for relevant Ministers, the NSW Coastal Council, public authorities and local councils, as well as providing opportunities for communities to participate when preparing and implementing a CMP.
You can find out more detailed information about Catchment Management Programs here.
The Cooks River is a 23km urban estuary stretching from Yagoona to Kamay (Botany Bay). Freshwater from the river’s upper reaches mixes with saltwater from Kamay, with the tide extending as far as Punchbowl Road, Greenacre.
The NSW Coastal Management Act 2016, identifies the following four coastal areas as the most vulnerable and in need of protection: Coastal Environment Area; Coastal Use Area; Coastal Wetlands and Littoral Rainforest; and Coastal Vulnerability Area.
The Cooks River Catchment CMP is an opportunity to review these zones and where appropriate extend the boundaries of protection. Click the links below to see the coastal zones as they are currently mapped within the Cooks River Catchment.
–Cooks River Catchment Environment Area
–Cooks River Catchment Coastal Use Area
–Cooks River Catchment Coastal Wetlands
As part of Stage 1, a Scoping Study was completed in 2020 which identified the long term vision for the CMP – Scoping Study.
We have completed Stage 2 and are now working on Stage 3. Stage 2 of the CMP that identified risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities in the Cooks River catchment. Since the Scoping Study was finalised, hazards have been refined and will continue to be refined as part of the later stages of the CMP.
What happened in Stage 2?
To help identify, analyse and evaluate the risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities, during Stage 2 we completed:
1. Condition Assessment of Waterway Assets
2. Cooks River Report Card Establishment Plan
3. Biodiversity Assessment
4. Coastal Hazard Assessment
The outcomes and recommendations from these reports will inform Stage 3.
Supporting Organisations
The Cooks River Alliance is leading CMP development with support from the following stakeholders
Waterways in the Cooks River CMP study area
