Most people know Sydney as a harbour city. But beyond the Harbour lies another Sydney. A city of creeks, rivers, wetlands and floodplains that connect neighbourhoods, communities and ecosystems across Western Sydney.
These Creeks Connect Us is a new film that follows a journey by kayak along Prospect Creek to the Georges River, exploring the hidden connections between our streets, waterways and communities.
Along the way, the film uncovers the environmental challenges facing urban waterways, including litter, stormwater pollution, flooding, habitat loss and declining water quality. It also explains simple actions we can all take to help.
Sydney is a waterway city
Most people never see where their water goes.
The rain that falls on our roofs and streets flows into drains, creeks and rivers before eventually reaching the sea.
Every roof, driveway and street is connected to a creek.
Every creek connects to a river.
Every river connects to the sea.
Understanding those connections is the first step towards healthier waterways.
What waterway are you connected to?
Every drink from the tap began as rain. And every drop of rain that falls on your roof begins a journey through the landscape. Follow the rain from your roof and see which creek it reaches.
Ask yourself:
- Which creek flows through my neighbourhood?
- Where does the rain from my roof go?
- What happens to water after it disappears down a drain?
- Which river is my local creek connected to?
- Where does that river meet the sea?
The answers may be closer than you think.
Why healthy waterways matter
Healthy waterways support wildlife, cool our suburbs, improve water quality and create places for people to connect with nature.
But many urban waterways are under pressure from litter, stormwater pollution, erosion, habitat loss and the impacts of urban development.
The good news is that waterways are resilient.
When communities reduce pollution and care for the land around them, creeks and rivers can recover.
What you can do
Small actions add up.
- Keep stormwater clean: Only rain should go down the street drains.
- Reduce litter: Prevent rubbish from reaching creeks and rivers.
- Cut down on plastic: Choose reusable alternatives where possible.
- Join a clean-up: Help remove litter before it enters waterways.
- Learn about your local creek: Walk it. Ride beside it. Visit it after rain. Notice how it changes through the seasons.
- Become more fluent in water: The more we understand where water comes from and where it goes, the better equipped we are to care for it.
A shared responsibility
Water connects every suburb, every community and every ecosystem.
The choices we make upstream affect what happens downstream.
By noticing, understanding and caring for our local waterways, we can all help create a healthier future for the creeks and rivers that connect us.
This river connects us. It is a gift. And caring for it is really caring for ourselves.
FILM SCREENING
Georges Riverkeeper invites you to the premiere screening of These Creeks Connect Us:
- Date: Wednesday 29 July 2026
- Time: 6.30pm to 7.30pm
- Venue: Whitlam Library, Cabramatta
There’s a lot to enjoy in our waterways, and a lot they can tell us. We hope you'll join us to hear their story.
Acknowledgements
These Creeks Connect Us was produced by Georges Riverkeeper with support from the Sydney Water Community Grants Program and Fairfield City Council.
Thank you to the community members, scientists, Traditional Custodians and local organisations who shared their stories, knowledge and expertise.
