Georges Riverkeeper highlights and achievements FY 2023/24

Litter, particularly plastic products that make their way into the Georges River Catchment affect biodiversity, degrade water-quality and have a negative impact on the aesthetics of our precious waterways. Georges Riverkeeper works tirelessly to reduce the impact of litter. In 2023/24 we helped to remove 93 tonnes of litter and rubbish from the Georges River catchment. That equates to over 6,000 large bags of litter removed. 

Co-ordinated through Georges Riverkeeper’s Catchment Actions Program, litter collection teams from Corrective Services NSW spent a combined 21,000 hours helping to cleanup litter in parks, beaches, creeks, river foreshores and industrial areas. In 2023/24 thanks to the support of our Member Councils, the program continues to expand with the addition of 19 new litter collection sites.

The waterways and riparian areas of the Georges River Catchment support an amazing array of biodiversity that exists alongside our urban areas. However, pressures from the urban environment can have a destructive effect on biodiversity and requires careful management. Georges Riverkeeper collaborates with Member Councils and stakeholders to help protect the biodiversity of the catchment.

Riparian areas which link and support terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity are some of the most threatened natural areas in the catchment. In the ongoing partnership with Fairfield City Council and NSW Corrective Services, this year we helped to improve the condition of seven endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland and River Forest sites along Fairfield’s creeks. 

Participants contributed 812 hours to removing invasive weeds which has enabled native plants to flourish. Georges Riverkeeper also applied for $906,000 in funding through the Federal Government's Urban Rivers and Catchments Program. If successful, the project will restore four high priority riparian areas within the catchment.

Working closely with Member Council biosecurity officers, we remain vigilant against priority weed proliferation in the catchment, conducting nine comprehensive inspections along waterways throughout the year. We also contributed to a post flood working group that aimed to limit the spread of aquatic weeds.

This year, Georges Riverkeeper has been working collaboratively with Georges River Council to install a nesting pole and platform for a pair of Ospreys. The Ospreys, a threatened species, have recently nested on a crane at a riverside construction site in Lugarno. 

The installation of a nesting platform will provide a safe, alternate nesting site for the birds. In 2023/24, planning documents were prepared and approvals were sort. Further down the river, our commitment to the long-term shorebird monitoring project with the Australian Waders Studies Group and Local Land Services continues, with Georges Riverkeeper assisting with monthly monitoring of the threatened birds.

In 2023/24 Georges Riverkeeper collected data to inform our biennial River Health Report Card which will be released in 2024/25. Thirty-four freshwater sites were monitored in Spring and Autumn with information on physical water quality, macroinvertebrates and riparian conditions recorded. 

The sites vary from highly modified concrete channels in urban areas to near pristine headwaters in Dharrawal National Park. Using our vessel, estuary sampling also occurred from November to March at 17 sites. The water quality data will be added to Georges Riverkeeper's extensive dataset for the catchment.

This year, our records assisted Sydney Marine Institute which is undertaking modelling of the Botany Bay ecosystem and Sydney Water which is updating environmental modelling for the Malabar
sewage treatment network.

In addition to our scheduled river health reporting, in 2023/24 we responded to various pollution incidents including reports of oil releases, mangrove dieback, polystyrene releases, and grease trap waste in waterways. We liaise with community members, councils and other authorities to ensure that the health of the river is prioritised.

The research Georges Riverkeeper facilitates aims to deepen our understanding of how urbanisation impacts the Georges River and contribute to the development of effective waterway management practices. 

This year, we continued our support of a Macquarie University PhD student, who completed a project investigating carbon decomposition rates in both natural and restored saltmarshes. The study found that decomposition rates were comparable between remnant and restored saltmarshes, offering valuable insights into the restoration process. 

We also participated in networking events, such as the Macquarie University Natural Sciences Partnership Event, to build connections with potential research partners and further our collaborative efforts.

Additionally, Georges Riverkeeper partnered with Sutherland Shire Council to conduct environmental DNA (eDNA) research in the Woronora catchment, targeting key species. We sampled four areas of suitable habitat to detect traces of the elusive platypus and the Macquarie Perch, both of which have been identified in the freshwater reaches of the Georges River. This research is crucial for informing conservation strategies and understanding the presence and distribution of these species in our waterways.

A Georges River Estuary Coastal Management Program (GR CMP) needs to be prepared in accordance with the Coastal Management Act 2016 and the requirements of the NSW Coastal Management Manual. The GR CMP aims to enhance the ecological health, social amenities, and resilience of the Georges River Estuary. Although Georges Riverkeeper is not eligible for the NSW Coastal and Estuary Grants Program funding, the organisation is Project Managing this program on behalf of Member Councils.
 

Liverpool City Council, as Georges Riverkeeper’s next host, will lead the grant application for Georges Riverkeeper’s Member Councils. In February 2024, as Georges Riverkeeper faced staff shortages, Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) was engaged to assist by updating the scope of the program and preparing project management documentation for the grant application. CMP development is a 5 stage process and we are progressing towards undertaking stages 2 to 4.

This Program oversees daily operations, staff and financial management, governance, and lobbying efforts. Key advocacy actions in 2023/24 included opposing the NSW Government’s cost-shifting proposal for local councils to fund Beachwatch, providing feedback on the EPA NSW Plastics ‘Next Steps’ Report, and advocating for stricter regulation of problematic plastics. Georges Riverkeeper also made recommendations during the NSW Koala Strategy Review, pushing for stronger protections and measures to reduce koala road fatalities in the southwest. Additionally, a review of the Synthetic Turf in Public Open Space Guidelines was submitted, emphasizing the need to prevent waterway impacts from synthetic materials. The organisation also contributed to a joint submission on the draft DPE Erosion and Sediment Control guidelines.

As Sutherland Shire Council’s term as Host Council ends in 2024, Georges Riverkeeper explored future hosting options. The Committee accepted Liverpool City Council’s offer to host for the next four years, with plans to eventually transition to a ‘no-host’ model for greater long-term stability.

To ensure compliance with the Associations Incorporated Act, Georges Riverkeeper joined the Associations Forum, which reviewed the organisation’s Constitution, finding no urgent issues but making recommendations to enhance clarity. Additionally, in response to changes to the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, Georges Riverkeeper began investigations for charity status to maintain income tax exemptions. Lastly, the renewal of key assets, including two utility 4x4 vehicles, was completed.