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. The CMP will include 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.
The Cooks River Alliance set up stalls at the Muddy River Festival and Cooks River Classic, supported by representatives from Inner West Council, where we spoke with attendees about this program! We engaged with the community about what the CMP is, how the CMP will guide how we protect and improve the river and coastline over the coming decade, and will set out a clear plan for when projects will happen, how they’ll be funded, and who will deliver them. We had conversations about what the community valued with regards to the river, what they would like to see improved over the next 10 years, and what needs to be prioritised. The community was also informed that the Draft CMP will go to public exhibition later in 2026.
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