Botany Bay and Catchment Alliance

Members visiting the Central Coast during the holidays might consider visiting the Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre. Some holiday programme ideas below:

 Announcing our Summer Activities for children of all ages! Bookings are essential for all activities unless otherwise stated – ph: 0438 555 619 or email: admin@ccmdc.org.au. Numbers are limited for many activities – so book early!

Activity descriptions and costs listed at the end of the email.

Dates:

Thu, 5 Jan – Rockpool Discovery – Copacabana – 11:30am-12:30pm

Sat, 7 Jan – Rockpool Discovery – Norah Head – 1:30pm-2:30pm

Sun, 8 Jan – Rockpool Discovery – Bateau Bay – 2:00pm-3:00pm

Mon, 9 Jan – Snorkelling Adventure (Beginners) – 9am-11am

Tue, 10 Jan – Rockpool Discovery – Terrigal – 3:00pm-4:00pm

Wed, 11 Jan – Rockpool Discovery – Copacabana – 3:30pm-4:30pm

Thu, 12 Jan – Little Urchins Kids Club – 11am-3pm

Thu, 12 Jan – Funky Bugs at Katandra – 10:00am-11:30am

Fri, 13 Jan – Snorkelling Adventure (some experience necessary) – 9am-11am

Sun, 15 Jan – Music by the Lagoon (Central Coast Conservatorium) – 3pm-5:30pm

Mon, 16 Jan – Snorkelling Adventure (Beginners) – 9am-11am

Mon, 16 Jan – Snorkelling Adventure (some experience necessary) – 1pm-3pm

Tue, 17 Jan – Funky Bugs at Katandra – 10:00am-11:30am

Wed, 18 Jan – Rockpool Discovery – Norah Head – 9:30am-10:30am

Thu, 19 Jan – Little Urchins Kids Club – 11am-3pm

Fri, 20 Jan – Rockpool Discovery – Bateau Bay – 12:30pm-1:30pm

Sat, 21 Jan – Rockpool Discovery – Norah Head – 1pm-2pm

Sun, 22 Jan – Rockpool Discovery – Terrigal – 2pm-3pm

Sun, 29 Jan – World Wetlands Day Breakfast at the Lagoon – 9am-10am

Sun, 5 Feb – Marine Festival in the Park – 11am-3pm

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTIONS

Rockpool Discovery

Become a marine biologist by discovery our local rock platform animals. You’ll be amazed at how special these creatures really are! Cost: $2 child / concession, $4 adult, $10 family (2A, 2C)

Snorkelling Adventure – Beginners

Qualified instructors will provide basic skill training followed by a snorkel along the Haven reef. The session will include a briefing about the ecology of the rocky reef and the marine life we will expect to see. Minimum age: 9 years. Reasonable swimming competence is essential. Cost: $35 per person (must bring own wetsuit, mask, snorkel & fins).

Snorkelling Adventure – some experience necessary

A quick refresher on basic skills then an exploration of the reefs at the Haven. Experience a sea urchin walking over your hand, see the stingrays, the blue groper and shells! Minimum age: 9 years. Reasonable swimming competence is essential. Cost: $35 per person (must bring own wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins).

Funky Bugs at Katandra

It’s time to head to the rainforest and get up close and personal with the little critters that live among us! Hunt for the amazing mini-beasts that live in Seymour Pond. Cost: gold coin donation per person.

Reefwatch Training

Are you interested in becoming a citizen scientist? Learn about scientific techniques in monitoring rock platforms – and join a team of community people willing to monitor the health of our rocky shores. Cost: Free

Little Urchins Kids Club

Book your child into our Little Urchins Kids Club. We will spend the day exploring the magical marine environment – including a tour of the Marine Discovery Centre, feeding the fish, marine and beach craft, discovery of the local rock platform and sand modelling a marine creature. Ages: from 6-10 years. Children to bring a packed lunch. Cost: $20 per child. Maximum 6 children on any one day.

Music by the Lagoon

Enjoy a late Sunday afternoon listening to a selection of Summer music by the Central Coast Conservatorium. Bring a chair / rug and a picnic to enjoy. (Refreshments also available at the CCMDC). Cost: Gold coin donation. Sponsored by Central Coast Conservatorium and Gosford City Council

World Wetlands Day Breakfast by the Lagoon

World Wetlands Day occurs on 2 February each year. join us for a talk about the importance of wetlands followed by breakfast on the verandah. Numbers limited. Cost: $20 per person.

Marine Festival in the Park

A celebration of all thing marine – come along to the park and have some fun! …. Jumping castle, face painting, stalls, food, music, information and kids activities. special price for admission to the Marine Centre – gold coin donation. No bookings necessary.

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Community Environment Network

PO Box 149

Ourimbah 2258

Ph: 4349 4756

Fax: 4349 4755

Email: cen@cen.org.au

web: www.cen.org.au

 The following figures were given on a daily basis for beaches within the Botany Bay and Georges River for the week commencing Sunday 18/12/2011. The pollution is said to be caused by stormwater overflow from various land sources. A high percentage is from sewerage outflows.

* Rainfall data has been used to predict the likelihood of bacterial contamination at swimming sites in Botany Bay and lower Georges River. When pollution is likely, swimmers may be at increased risk of contracting illness and swimming at these sites should be avoided.

Statistics from “Beachwatch” website, NSW Department of Environment and Heritage

 Cox’s Creek, is a tributary to Cooks River, draining a catchment from the suburbs of Greenacre, Mount Lewis, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Lakemba and Belfields.

Joining Cooks River to the west of Burwood Road, Belfield, the creek is enclosed in a brick and cement stormwater drain. It flows through, on it’s eastern bank, two well kept parks, where native planting stand in contrast to the industrial estate on the western bank. Reaching Cosgrove Road, the drains cross below Enfield Railway Marshalling Yards, which is being redeveloped as a regional rail centre for container transfer from Port Botany.

On the walk it was observed, after rain, there is a large amount of clay discolouration in the waterflow. Crossing to the south of the railway yards, stormwater is quite clean.

Below the railway yards the stormwater drains divide with a large drain meandering south near the Lakemba mosque, then running in a westerly direction through Parry Park towards Punchbowl. Another tributary runs in a more westerly direction, passing through Cox’s Bushland Reserve, in Moonda Ave. Greenacre. This area, once open bushland, has been redeveloped into an industrial estate and housing, having once been a telecommunications depot.

Cox’s Bushland Reserve is a unique Cooks River Castlereagh Ironbark Forest, typical of the pre-colonial country, once sweeping west to the Great Dividing Ranges on the Cumberland Plains. The reserve is wedged between houses and the Primo small goods plant, on a triangular, 1.65 hectare block.

The Reserve has been regenerated by a team of bushcare volunteers known as Friends of Cox’s Creek. The reserve is home to three endangered species.

• Downy Wattle (Acacia pubescens)
• Tadgell’s Bluebell (Wahlenbergia multicaulis)
• Green and Golden Bell Frog (Litoria aurea)

On observation, urban run-off through the creek system is reasonably clean but PET bottles and drink containers persist, but in smaller quantities.

For more information on Protecting and restoring Cooks River Castlereagh Ironbark Forest:

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/EECinfoCooksRiverCastlereaghIronbarkForest.pdf

Cox’s Creek

www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/threatenedspecies/08548tsdscooksriver.pdf

Bardwell Creek is a major catchment for Cooks River. The Creek rises in Hurstville Local Government Area, before crossing into Rockdale City Council area at Croydon Road. One arm commences near Hurstville Station and joins a second arm rising at Woodville Park. This section was drained during the early 1900s. The system flows towards Bexley Golf Course, through bricked stormwater canals draining all Hurstville CBD gutters.

A second creek system rises at Hurstville Oval, flowing through closed drains before entering Bexley Golf Coarse. Bexley Golf Course has stormwater harvesting which cleanses water of all floating rubbish, before entering a small lake. Water then pumps to a south west corner retention dam and is used for watering the course, before flowing back into the stormwater system. Bexley Golf Course pays for removing rubbish from the creek system and siltation from the lake.

Flowing onwards the creek opens into bricked canals crossing under Stoney Creek Road, towards Bexley Swimming Centre. Another drainage canal enters the system on the swimming pool’s northern side. A strong sound of flowing water from the Swimming Pool canal here, maybe an overflow from the pool.

The creek continues through native bushland and reserve maintained by Rockdale Council. On a creek bend, evidence exists that a white substance has flowed down the canal wall from a development site. The valley is walled by sandstone and native vegetation. An upper level concrete path has been established called the Prime Ministers Walk. Commencing at Bexley Road, this walk has plaques commemorating all Australian Prime Ministers from Sir Edmund Barton to Julia Gillard. A new plaque is created with election of a new prime minister and a second plaque replaces the first when the prime minister leaves office.

Adjacent to Ellerslie Road, a pedestrian bridge crosses the creek and a grate has been established to remove floating rubbish. Unfortunately the centre panel has been removed allowing rubbish to litter the creek with plastic bags and other refuse as it changes from a bricked canal to natural creek. Bricked canal section is owned by Sydney Water and the natural creek is administered by Rockdale City Council. Recent heavy rains have increased this problem. Down stream magnificent Sydney Red Gums, wattles and turpentine are seen with majestic tree ferns. Some creek path sections have been sown with native kidney grass. The creek water is clean and small fish were observed.

The track passes below busy Bexley Road at Jubilee Bridge, built during Queen Victoria’s Jubilee and opened by Hurstville Mayor, John Spoule, in 1897, an obelisk marking the occasion. At that period this portion of Rockdale Council was Bexley Ward attached to Hurstville Council.

North of Jubilee Bridge the Creek takes a turn for the worst, bushcare and water quality wise. A large drain empties into the creek to the bridge’s north and much floating rubbish covers banks, planting, trees and creek bed. Morning Glory, privet and other noxious weeds grow in profusion, smothering native trees and plants. Further on major bushcare projects have been undertaken with a whole valley bank cleared and native plantings made with degradable cover in place stopping erosion. In the centre are early colonial dwelling foundation ruins. Passing further north a lengthy traditional bushcare regeneration area was observed before entering Bardwell Valley Golf Course.

The course was created from a municipal garbage tip prior to 1969. At this point water becomes discoloured with siltation and the creek is barely visible from the bank, through undergrowth. Privet and other noxious growth abounds. Crossing from the east bank at the golf clubhouse over a bridge, be careful of low flying golf balls.

Leaving the golf course, the creek approaches Bardwell Road Bridge. The creek is better maintained, flowing into Coolibah Reserve. The Reserve is established on land, once cultivated as a local market garden. A boom is hung across the creek at this point catching floating rubbish. Crossing to the north bank, first sight is a gaggle of geese and ducks, obviously friendly and ignoring the “don’t feed” signs. They flock from the creek when humans approaching. The creek meanders through the reserve in two courses, where major restoration work has been undertaken with clean water flow and native vegetation, much different to the southern creek portion.

Bardwell Creek passes below East Hills Railway line to the south of Turrella Station, entering Wolli Creek and in turn, Cooks River and Botany Bay.

Impressive work has been undertaken by Wolli Creek Preservation Society, who provides bushcare personnel, Rockdale City Council, through its biodiversity programme and various State and Commonwealth bodies providing funding.

Major works are required to eliminate floating rubbish from urban runoff, especially from Hurstville CBD. Bushcare requires major funding and people power. But each small step helps the long term goal.

Learn more of Wolli Creek Preservation Society

www.wollicreek.org.au

Report by Charles Gream

The De Freitas Wetland is the only remaining freshwater wetland on Prospect Creek and is one of only two remaining in the Fairfield Local Government Area.

The wetland was suffering from poor water quality, weed infestation and build-up of sediment and these were addressed by a rehabilitation project led by the council’s Project Manager Darren Ikin.

The Fairfield Creeks and Wetlands Group were regularly informed of progress including overhead presentations by Mr. Ikin.

Following removal of sedimentation, banks stabilization and restoration, Fairfield council, contractors and volunteers got together last week to do some tree planting. Something like 1800 plants were planted.

The wetland has been hidden for years behind development and trees, so it is a place not well known. It is a beautiful place and as time moves on the restoration and planting will add to its beauty even more.

Learn more of Fairfield City Council 5 Creeks Project

www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/upload/bwztj47212/Facts_Figures_doc_creek.pdf.

 Cup and Saucer Creek, enters Cooks River to the east of Canterbury Road. This waterway is a concrete stormwater drain, emptying a large catchment encompassing Canterbury, Earlwood, Campsie, Clemton Park, Belmore and Roselands.

The creek was first noted in historical documents, when Governor Macquarie crossed it in December 1810, returning from Kogarah Bay and Mrs. Hannah Laycock’s farm “King’s Grove” following his vice regal visit throughout the colony.

While the creek meandered through open woodland, it later became orchards and farmland, then housing subdivisions. During the Great Depression, such waterways were bricked in as work for the dole programmes for unemployed men.

Adjacent to Benia Street, Canterbury, the stormwater drain flows over a 4 metre bricked wall, designating a change in geographical level. A photograph held in Canterbury Council Local Studies Collection shows this spot in 1901, with two young boys standing beside a raging waterfall. The photograph is dramatic reminder of the way things once were before suburbanisation. The upstream area previously contained industries with remnant noxious substances continuing to enter the water system. Observed noxious dumpings continue.

Local environmental custodians, the Cooks River Valley Association, hold monthly water testing at a newly constructed wetlands between Benia Street and Cooks River. For most people, clean water means no floating objects in the waterway, but that is only partly true. A large metal grate had been erected across the creek above tidal water level. Most floating objects are collected in this trap, removing tonnes of urban rubbish from the creek before it joins the Cooks down stream. The grate system is cleaned monthly by workmen using a grader.

Most water traveling down Cup and Saucer Creek (except in torrential rain periods), enters a crated channel, just above the 4 metre wall. This channel enters a pipeline carrying the water into a three pond wetlands. The wetlands filters the water with an outlet pipe returning cleaner water into the stormwater drain, near the creek mouth with Cooks River.

Gayle Adams and her team test the stream flow at two points:

The inlet stream: Just before the water flows into the wetlands, an access eye had been built. The eye is accessed by manually opening a plate, a sterile plastic bottle on a specially designed pole is inserted into the channel and a sample taken, which is labeled and recorded by the testing team, with observations noted.

The outlet stream: After the water has passed through the wetlands another access eye has been built. The process mentioned before is repeated with a second sterile plastic bottle, well labeled. Details are then recorded for later reference.

When each plate has been secured, a physical wetlands observation tour is made, recording water height, plant growth or damage, water cleanliness, creatures in residence, etc. On the day, two Purple Swamphens and their two chicks were observed and numerous frogs heard. Algal bloom mostly covering the second and third ponds, but this is seasonal. The Swamphens were actively digging up some of the sedges within the wetlands, feeding their chicks.

After this hard labour, the team returned to Gayle’s home, where sample testing was undertaken with stringent accuracy.

Big well done to Gayle and her team and the members of Cooks River Valley Association, who work tirelessly protecting the River and her tributaries.

Further information

Save our Trees – Cup and Saucer Creek Wetlands 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYdqqoBpLoA

http://savingourtrees.wordpress.com/tag/cup-and-saucer-creek-wetland/

Project overview

http://210.247.145.33/MajorProjects/pdf/CooksRiverCommunityNewsletterDec2009.pdf

Cooks River Valley Association

www.crva.org.au

 The following figures were given on a daily basis for beaches within the Botany Bay and Georges River for the week commencing Sunday 15/12/2011. The pollution is said to be caused by stormwater overflow from various land sources. A high percentage is from sewerage outflows.

* Rainfall data has been used to predict the likelihood of bacterial contamination at swimming sites in Botany Bay and lower Georges River. When pollution is likely, swimmers may be at increased risk of contracting illness and swimming at these sites should be avoided.

Statistics from “Beachwatch” website, NSW Department of Environment and Heritage

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.

 Scott Reserve is on Botany Bay foreshore (separated by Riverside Drive), east of Captain Cook Bridge at the mouth of Georges River. Land was once swamp and sandhills, but has been developed into housing and suburbia.

A Victorian villa stands in Napoleon Street, with a large Port Jackson Fig of ancient years gracing the reserve, obviously part of a much larger property before subdivision.

A tidal stream (Bado-Berong Creek) passes through the reserve from a northerly point (Park Road) on Sans Souci peninsula, flowing towards the Bay through areas inhabited by horse paddocks, part of the land is an expressway reserve. Evidence of oysters is shown near the steam’s mouth.

A salt marsh has been created by State Government initiative during the last ten years. The salt marsh is habitat for at least six native bird species. Eelgrass grows profusely within the stream bed. Original plans were to assist Eelgrass to propagate, growing into the Bay via the access stream. Some evidence shows this is slowly happening, with small growths within the channel under Riverside Drive, entering the Bay. Sadly the Botany Bay sand drift seems to hamper this project. Much work has been undertaken laying sandstone blocks re-enforcing the stream bank. Some mangroves are commencing to grow within the creek bed.

Rockdale City Council has a planned bush regeneration plan for the reserve. On Saturday, 10^th December, 2011, a party of twelve enthusiastic planters, worked for two hours, planting 500 locally propagated natives.

The area north of the reserve is badly degraded, with noxious weeds visible. One species is Turkey Rhubarb, a vine, with a bulbous growth and root system. To eradicate this species, the bulbous growth and root system must be entirely removed during weeding. This is a time consuming effort.

Rockdale City Council Environmental staff are congratulated on the planting programme. Bushcare volunteers deserve a big cheer for their work on this site.

Read more:

Turkey Rhubarb

www.hn.cma.nsw.gov.au/multiversions/3760/FileName/turkey.pdf

Eelgrass

www.ceoe.udel.edu/kiosk/eelgrass.html

Rockdale City Council Biodiversity Strategy

www.rockdale.nsw.gov.au/Pages/pdf/AboutCouncil/Biodiversity-Strategy.pdf

 The following figures were given on a daily basis for beaches within the Botany Bay and Georges River for the week commencing Sunday 04/12/2011.

* Rainfall data has been used to predict the likelihood of bacterial contamination of swimming sites on Botany Bay and Georges River. When pollution is likely swimmers may be at increased risk of contracting illness and swimming at these sites should be avaioded.

Statistics from “Beachwatch” website, NSW Department of Environment and Heritage