In August 2026, we met with Jo Haylen (Member for Summer Hill), Sophie Cotsis MP (Member for Canterbury) and Jason Yat-sen Li (Member for Strathfield), to inspect sections of steel sheet piling along the banks of the river.
The degrading steel lines the banks along around 4km of the tidal reaches of the Cooks River. Over time, the steel has begun to rust and and crumble, creating an increasingly dangerous public health hazard, deterrent to biodiversity and an eyesore.
Along with the Cooks River Valley Association and Alliance members, City of Canterbury Bankstown and Inner West Council, we have been advocating for 15 years the NSW Government to take responsibility for and remove the sheet steel piling. A 2022 Foreshore Safety Assessment identified several sections of high risk to public health.
The primary obstacle preventing remediation or removal, is its current status as an ‘orphan asset.’ This means no single government agency has yet to claim responsibility.
Opportunity for Action
One primary goal of the forthcoming Cooks River Coastal Management Program (due in 2027) is to identify the appropriate asset owner. Through the Coastal Management Program, the Alliance will continue to work alongside the NSW Government and other partners to establish clear ownership and governance arrangements for this important safety and environmental asset.
A naturalised riverbank would provide opportunities for biodiversity (fish, frogs, turtles) and recreational paddling. The removal of sheet steel piling could indicate that our backyard river is no longer treated as a drain. This issue has been put in the ‘too hard basket’ for too long. The river and the community deserve better.
