During early March, Botany Bay catchment experienced a one in thirty year down pour. It had been so long since the last major event, our present generation had forgotten the consequences.

Cooks River was badly affected, with the downpour arriving at high tide in Botany Bay. There was no ware for the water to go but build up in the lower reaches until tidal change. Suburbs along the river experiences major flooding. Parks and river frontages went under swirling brown water. The PET bottle cemetery behind Canterbury Racecourse, was propelled further east, a new cleanup opportunity for the hard working volunteers Mudcrabs.

In Wolli Creek backup from this major catchment saw Turrella Reserve below water and flood waters lapping the pedestrian walking bridge at the end of Henderson Street, the weir under metres of water. New environmental works within the Reserve became an underwater garden. Further up the creek Bardwell Park railway station platform became an island platform at which only rowing boats could pick up passengers. The East Hills-Airport railway line was closed until waters receded. Bexley Road bridge was also below water.

Along Botany Bay the foreshore took on a strange dark colouring as siltation and sewerage streamed into the pristine waterway, often a revered swimming spot.

Georges River Weir at Liverpool station was under a foaming mass of brown water. The Chipping Norton lakes became a brown sink for all kinds of floating refuse.

In Fairfield Local Government Area, Cabramatta Creek and it’s tributaries burst their banks with a floatilla of PET bottles and shopping trolleys visible from the railway overpass. The creek system was worthy of the gondoliers of Venice.

Hurstville Local Government area saw the worst environmental accident when Sydney Water’s sewer aqueduct overflowed, swamping Dairy Creek and the Lime Kiln Bay wetlands, with an environmental flow passing along Lime Kiln Bay, into Georges River and closing Oatley Park Baths in Jew Fish Bay for over three weeks.

A Hurstville City Council report states, “It is understood that at approximately 5.00pm on Friday 9, March 2012, a resident of this area observed overflow from a Sydney Water aqueduct, discharging diluted sewage into Lime Kiln Creek. At the time it was estimated that the discharge rate was at least 30 litres per second and was most likely due to the stormwater flows into the waste water system to the Malabar Sewerage Treatment Plant reaching capacity due to heavy rain on the preceding day. It is also understood that both the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Sydney Water were notified and advised of the incident and that according to the Licensing Guidelines for Sewage Treatment Systems it clearly states that onus in investigating and managing sewer overflows rests with the EPA and the authority that holds the license, in this case – Sydney Water. The responsibility of clean up, notification of residents and rectification works is clearly the responsibility of Sydney Water – a fact they have acknowledged.

Based on information provided to Council, Sydney Water (who were notified of the incident at 5.38pm on Friday 9, March 2012) had an investigation team on site by 7.15pm that evening, with remediation works commencing early the next day.

On the afternoon of Wednesday 14 March, 2012, Council Officers met with officers of Sydney Water who advised that as a result of their investigations, the event had significantly impacted on the area and that approximately 8 tonne of sediment and waste had been discharged into the wetlands – affecting the sedimentation ponds, micro-pond, and the reedbed and mangroves down to Oatley Baths and Lime Kiln Bay. Sydney Water have advised that the ponds will be completely drained and dredged to remove contaminants before allowing fresh water back into them. They have also advised that water testing will be conducted daily, and that the baths will not be re-opened until it is safe to swim. It is further estimated that these works will take up to a month to complete. Council has also written to the EPA and recommended that they negotiate specific Pollution Reduction Programs with Sydney Water in order to address any future issues or incidents in association with this infrastructure with a view to preparing and implementing a plan of management that will hopefully prevent and at the very least minimise wet-weather overflows from this system.” [Hurstville City Council 04/04/2012 QWN007-12 SEWAGE OVERFLOW INTO LIME KILN BAY WETLANDS]

All beaches in Botany Bay were closed as were Oatley Park, Como, Oatley Bay and Carss Park Baths following thease events

During water testing in Cox’s Creek, Greenacre, natural creek in a suburban environment, large quantities of floating debris was observed in the creek bed, reeds and trees following the extra-ordinary downpour. Sewerage readings were high, but the colony of Green and gold bell frogs were making a lot of music.

It is high time Sydney Water, New South Wales Government, Commonwealth Government and local councils within Botany Bay catchment, came to grips with public and private sewerage issues. For a public body such as Sydney Water, to allow unchecked sewer flows on the scale at Dairy Creek is unforgivable. The issue is not an accident nor a new issue. The aqueduct was recently relined,  supposedly to remove the problem.

Below are some video clips and news articles from regional papers and a link to pics from Fairfield Council area.

Wolli Creek Flood

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWNhfXITpm8

Bardwell Park Station

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPeh9DApyk

Cooks River Flood

Georges River Flood

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpaKzdfEjXGxs

Newspaper articles

www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/general/stench-invades-oatley-neighbourhood/2489491.aspx

www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/news/local/news/general/minor-flood-warning-for -the-georges-river/2481606.aspx

Facebook: Chan Gream

Following Orica Kooragang Island chemical spill incidents, much action has taken place reviewing public safety issues. The NSW government has amended the Protection of the Environment Act, reinstating Environmental Protection Authority independence and requiring, with hefty fines, “Immediate” reporting of incidents.

One issue not openly addressed was publicly available “Emergency Plans”. During an Orica Community Consultation Meeting, members requested a run through of the “Emergency Plan” should an incident occur at the Orica Plant in Denison Street. While adequate information was given by the company, “within their fenceline”, concern was expressed, the Botany and wider community were in the dark when it came to the more general issues beyond the fenceline with state emergency services. A recent Botany incident saw residents standing around on a cold winter evening, waiting for instruction when a factory incident occurred.

During the December Community Consultation meeting, Police Officer, Shaun Rae, gave a presentation, relating the new all authority co-operative Emergency Plan for Botany Bay Local Area Command, administered from Mascot Police centre.

The Plan relates to Port Botany, All Botany Industrial complexes and the general community. Local Command have developed a state of the arts, computer generated Emergency Response. The preparation process identified a number of critical issues, like need for more accessible water points for emergency services on major routes. These matters are being addressed immediately by authorities concerned.

The plan takes in exit routes, evacuation centres, demographics, even who owns each pipe under roads, allowing police immediate redress to the appropriate person responsible.

Should an incident occur, Mascot Police processes the Emergency Plan to all Police vehicles on installed computer screens with emergency command organizing all emergency services. Should the computer system go down, Emergency Plan hard copies are available for all emergency service personnel. The Police Service is working on every form of technology to inform community members of what is expected during an emergency, including texting, facebook, twitter as well as the more traditional door knocking.

This Emergency Plan is a NSW first, reflecting a new approach generated by Botany Bay Local Area Command. BBaCA congratulates Shaun Rae and the developmental team for a great outcome.

This walk follows the Bay to Bay walk and cycleway from Flemington Station to Canterbury Station. The Bay to Bay walk and Cycle track runs from Homebush Bay to Botany Bay, mostly following Cooks River to it’s mouth.

Cooks River rises near Rookwood Cemetery, in Strathfield Municipality. The first appreciable water is seen in wetlands adjacent to Freshwater Park, much work having been undertaken with wetlands reconstruction. Cooks River flows through natural river bed in this section with sandstone retaining walls built, protecting river banks from erosion. Wadding birds are established in this area, close to a Golf Course.

Crossing under Cave Street bridge, the scene changes dramatically when the river course flowing through wide concrete stormwater drains. Just below the bridge a pollution boom stands damaged in the river bed.

The stormwater drain is clean except for green growth, making a ribbon pattern in the centre channel. Near Palmer Avenue and Verona Street three large sewer pipes cross the canal and soon after two large stormwater pipes enter the watercourse. The green weed stops growing just past this point. To the right of the river is Centenary Drive, with large soundwalls and an industrial area, to the left the suburb of Strathfield. Adjacent to this point the first water borne PET bottle and aluminium can were observed.

The track crosses below Liverpool Road and ambles through parks, riverbanks maintained with tree planting, native grasses and mulching. A this point Dichondra also known as Kidney grass has been planted. It is named Kidney grass because of the shape of the leaves. Dichondra is an attractive groundcover used as a substitute for traditional lawn grass, forming a living mulch that inhibits weeds and reduces evaporation. It will grow readily in most climates and in fertile free draining soil. Thus the council has gained a low maintenance parkland covering.

The first major tributary enters from the right as a concrete stormwater canal. Cox’s Creek flows from an area adjacent to Enfield Marshalling Yards. At this point the stormwater canal base changes from a flat surface to a groove within which the water flows. The canal is quite wide and has signage noting a flood prone area.

Crossing under Punchbowl Road/Georges River Road Bridge, the track leaves Strathfield Council area and entering Burwood Council and on the right bank Canterbury City Council. A cycle trail has been established on Canterbury Council side as well as the Bay to Bay track on Burwood Council side. Near the Bridge a historic marker informs those interested, the name “Punchbowl” Road was established as the area was bowl shaped terrain, producing large amounts of fruit and food during early colonial times. A map shows the early grants and roads. Taking the track on Canterbury side, avoids trekking through suburbia as many properties are built to the riverbank on Burwood Council side. Canterbury Council does not use Kidney grass on their parks and must pay a large maintenance bill for lawn mowing.

Crossing back to Burwood at Second Ave Campsie, the head of tidal flow is reached. Another stormwater drain enters the river from Campsie and the only shopping trolley is notes in the river. Eight ducks swim happily by with leaves the only form of pollution. Crossing Burwood Road, some pollution is noted from PET bottles. Burwood Council seems to have a long grass policy in their parks.

West of Brighton Ave Bridge, mangroves have established to Canterbury Railway Bridge. A creek (stormwater drain) flows into the river at this point from Burwood. The drain had large amounts of leaves floating down stream.

From here to Canterbury Road, must be the unloved PET bottle graveyard. The riverbanks are piled with them, having been trapped by tidal flow amongst mangroves. This scene is copied on both river banks sides and a disgrace to modern civilization. Why anyone pays money, purchasing tap water in PET bottles is beyond imagination. PET bottles travel many kilometres through gutters, pipes and stormwater canals, gracing the river with their presence.

The Cooks River’s ugliest portion is behind Canterbury Racecourse, where mounds of PET bottles reside. Nearing journey’s end, the massive Canterbury three arched railway brick viaduct is reached. A good sized fish leaps from the river and splashed below surface again. This later area is within the City of Canterbury. Much work in undertaken keeping parks and gardens well kempt but little is achieved along River banks. Floating rubbish fowls the River, reducing visitors image of the area and polluting the River and later Botany Bay.

The walk took about 2½ hours and is possible to break into smaller sections. With the lower Cooks River section mentioned earlier, it covers some 8 kilometres, Bay to Bay.

In a follow up article, Kate Carr presents the case for Sydney Water

Despair for Cooks River laden with filfth

17 Nov, 2011 07:00 AM

The following article is reprinted from the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, forthe information of members living beyond the paper’scirculation area. Thanks to Kate Carr for her excellent article.

Filth flowing freely in Cooks River

BY KATE CARR

27 Oct, 2011 04:00 AM

A REPORT on the Cooks River which found high levels of raw sewage and traces of pharmaceuticals in its waters came as no shock to those who live nearby.

The report, by researchers at the University of NSW, found waste water was constantly flowing into the river through broken and leaking sewers.

Peter Stevens from Wolli Creek Preservation Society said the tragedy was that it was well known the river was being polluted by the sewerage system.

‘‘The issues are known,’’ Mr Stevens said. ‘‘But it has just been a matter of the state government not getting to fixing it.’’

Mr Stevens said community groups had done their best to improve the river’s health but had been let down by the government.

‘‘The community has put in heaps and heaps of time improving the surrounds of the river and testing the water but there are some things the community can’t do, like fixing the sewerage system,’’ he said.

The Leader asked NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker whether the government planned to fix the sewerage system but did not receive a response before going to press.

A spokeswoman for Ms Parker pointed to a now defunct program rolled out by the previous Labor government, the Cooks River Sustainability Initiative, and $2 million granted in 2008 by the federal government under former PM Kevin Rudd, as examples of state government efforts to improve the river, but did not outline new funding or plans.

‘‘The NSW government recognises the important role of the Cooks River Alliance — a group that involves eight local councils — to continue the environmental management and preservation of the Cooks River,’’ the spokeswoman said.

South West Enviro Centre vice-president Gary Blaschke has lived near the river for 50 years and manages a wetland system upstream at Chullora.

He said $6 million in funding was needed to clean up the river.

‘‘Up until now there has just been tokenistic stuff done,’’ Mr Blaschke said.

‘‘[The river] has been used and abused by every government that’s been around and it’s been neglected by every government.’’

He said the river needed a series of offline wetlands to filter and purify water.

Full article: www.theleader.com.au/news/local/news/environment/filth-flowing-freely-in-cooks-river/2337215.aspx

Editor: BBaCA is making contact with the University of New South Wales to clarify the report and seek further action from government.