News

The health and wellbeing of our community is of utmost importance and Georges Riverkeeper is closely monitoring the advice and adhering to the directives of public health agencies to help stem the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community.

To address any concerns you may have regarding Coronavirus and recreational use of the Georges River, please refer to the latest information and advice provided by NSW Health:

Scarborough Ponds and Tonbridge Creek in Kogarah, which are essential fish nurseries for the Georges River in Sydney, have recently been made even more habitable thanks to the efforts of 67 volunteers cleaning up approximately 100 kilograms of pollution from the waterway during Georges Riverkeeper’s Paddle Against Plastic 2023 on Saturday 4 March.

The Georges Riverkeeper Committee met on 16 February 2023, to receive an update from the Georges Riverkeeper team about actions undertaken as part of the current programs and grant projects, as well as hearing from the Treasurer with financial reports. In addition, presentations from the following were delivered:

As construction costs remain at record levels*, builders and developers are urged to check and maintain erosion and sediment controls on building and construction sites to avoid incurring costly fines.

The call for greater compliance comes following the recent Get the Site Right inspection Blitz Week in which $596,064 in fines were issued – the highest amount since the campaign began in 2016.

Mayor Nick Katris and Councillor Peter Mahoney recently visited Connells Point Public School students as they started their quest to reduce litter in Georges River to zero.

The local school was one of six primary schools along the river to be involved in the ‘Zero Litter in Georges River’ program developed by Georges Riverkeeper with funding from the Australian Government.

The litter prevention strategy that Georges Riverkeeper is working on with assistance from our consultant, Member Councils, some community groups and the NSW EPA is progressing well. We have completed the sections on ‘where’ and ‘how’ litter prevention can be implemented and have recently discussed with the Project Reference Group some draft priority actions to come out of strategy and a business case for litter prevention.

A group of six primary schools in Como, Minto, Wattle Grove, Bossley Park, Connells Point and Padstow Park are taking part in the Zero Litter in Georges River program which provides environmental education, aligned to the NSW curriculum, about stormwater pollution, and encourages students to look for solutions to reduce litter flowing to the Georges River.

Teamwork makes the dream work! 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 to our newly elected Georges Riverkeeper Executive Group who have been appointed to the following positions: 

•    Georges Riverkeeper Chairperson, Cr. George Barcha (Fairfield City Council) 
•    Georges Riverkeeper Vice Chairperson, Cr. Paul Sedrak (Bayside Council)
•    Georges Riverkeeper Second Vice Chairperson, Cr. Stephen Nikolovski (Sutherland Shire Council)
•    Georges Riverkeeper Treasurer, Cr. Peter Mahoney (Georges River Council).

Fairfield City Council Mayor Frank Carbone and Cr Kevin Lam met with students from Bossley Park Public School to look at their colourful new artworks painted on footpaths near local stormwater drains.

The awesome designs were inspired by the students’ work for the ‘Zero Litter to Georges River’ program.

They encourage you to stop, think and avoid litter and pollution going down the drain and ending up in our waterways and then the river.