The NSW Department of Climate Change Energy Environment and Water (DCCEEW) recently released the results of their Broadscale Microplastic Assessment (BMA). The results revealed that the Cooks River Catchment has the highest microplastic pollution of the 120 waterways included in the study.
Key findings
- The Cooks River Catchment (including Muddy Creek) had the highest levels of microplastic contamination out of the 120 waterways sampled
- Microplastics were detected in all 120 waterways, with concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 34.80 particles per cubic metre.
- Highest contamination was found in urban waterways in the Hawkesbury–Sydney region, including Cooks River, Dee Why Lagoon, and Upper Parramatta River.
- Lowest contamination was found in minimally disturbed catchments on the state’s north and south coast – Myall Lake, Nadgee Lake, Middle Lagoon, Myall Broadwater and Wallaga Lake.
Smaller particles (<1 mm) dominate, and items like packaging foam and pellets point to traceable sources and therefore are considered priority items.
Report & Data
- Read the report card: Broadscale microplastic assessment in NSW estuaries 2021-24 (PDF 12MB)
- Read the technical report: Broadscale microplastic assessment in NSW estuaries (PDF 24.7MB)
- Explore the data on SEED: Broadscale microplastic assessment dashboard
The BMA is Australia’s first large-scale study of microplastic contamination, covering 120 coastal waterways in NSW. The study was a joint effort between DCCEEW and the NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For more detailed results and information on programs to address microplastic pollution, visit the NSW EPA website HERE.
Microplastics & Synthetic Turf
Recent scientific reviews and community monitoring have highlighted the growing environmental risks associated with synthetic turf installations, particularly the release of microplastics and rubber crumb infill into stormwater systems. The NSW Chief Scientist’s independent review into synthetic turf in public spaces found significant knowledge gaps and identified potential environmental and human health risks, including microplastic pollution, chemical leaching, and stormwater contamination from synthetic surfaces (1).
Further, research by the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) has documented sustained inputs of synthetic grass fragments and rubber crumb into waterways across NSW, including Sydney. Their studies show that synthetic turf fields are a major source of microplastic pollution, with particles escaping into stormwater and ultimately reaching rivers and coastal environments (2)
In December 2025, The Cooks River Alliance provided a letter to City of Sydney, whose LGA is wihin the Cooks River Catchment but is not a member of the Alliance, asking Council to review the proposal to install synthetic turf fields at a new sporting complex near Alexandra Canal (3). At Council’s December meeting, raised a motion to review the Council’s synthetic turf policy (4). Council noted that:
- synthetic turf sporting fields should only be considered on a case-by-case basis, following comprehensive social and environmental impact assessments in line with legislative requirements and with contemporary research and best-practice;
- synthetic turf sports fields attract high temperatures in the summer, creating unsafe conditions for users and contribute to the urban heat island effect;
- there is broad consensus on the environmental risk associated with synthetic sports fields exposed to waterways, particularly during flooding events. Experts indicate hundreds of kilograms of microplastic fibres may be lost from each field, each year;
- modern, well-designed and highly maintained natural turf sports fields are proving capable of delivering the benefits of synthetic turf fields, without the social and environmental impacts
On 22 April, Bayside Council (a member of the Cooks River Alliance) voted to install 4 additional synthetic fields (5). Councillors Heidi Lee Douglas and Janin Bredehoeft raised a notice of motion at the meeting, asking Council to factor in the social and environmental costs of installing new synthetic fields.
Microplastics samples from waterways in Bayside LGA. Image: Heidi Lee Douglas
References:
- 1 NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer. (2022). Independent Review into the design, use and impacts of synthetic turf in public open spaces. Final Report. Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer. 2 AUSMP (2023). Mounting Evidence for Problematic Synthetic Turf Rubber
- AUSMP (2023). Mounting Evidence for Problematic Synthetic Turf Rubber Crumb.
- Cooks River Alliance (2025). Request for Review of Synthetic Sports Field Proposal at Alexandra Canal. Letter to Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
- City of Sydney. (2025) Synthetic Turf Policy Review. Notice of Motion.
- Bayside Council. (22 April 2026) Ordinary Council Meeting Agenda.