NSW Government funding to build resilience for the Georges River Estuary
Georges Riverkeeper welcomes the announcement of $665,000 in funding from the NSW Government’s Coastal and Estuary Grants Program to support the development of Stages 2-4 of a Georges River Estuary Coastal Management Program (CMP).
The Program will provide a clearer roadmap for improving the ecological health, social amenity and resilience of the waterway in the face of a changing climate.
It includes innovative solutions for addressing pollution, erosion, inundation and degraded seawalls across the estuary foreshore, tributaries, and southern and western foreshores of Botany Bay.
The program will focus on developing priority actions to guide future on-the-ground works along with a new coordinated approach for managing the coastal and estuarine environment across large areas of Southern Sydney.
Once the draft is completed, the community will have an opportunity to have their say which will help shape the final version of the Coastal Management Program.
The Georges River Estuary CMP is being prepared in partnership with Sydney Water and the following councils: Bayside, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Sutherland Shire.
Liverpool City Council successfully secured the funding with Georges Riverkeeper providing support in developing the grant application and coordinating efforts for the project partners.
Georges Riverkeeper Program Manager Nell Graham said:
“This funding marks a major step forward for one of Sydney’s most significant and loved waterways. With seven councils and Sydney Water working collaboratively, we’re able to ensure efforts are aligned and effective in restoring and protecting the estuary. This is vital work, especially in the face of rising pressures from population growth, urbanisation and climate change.”
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Director Greater Sydney Conservation, Louisa Clark, said:
“The Georges River is the second longest river in Greater Sydney, and communities across south Sydney care deeply about the health of their local waterways which form part of this 960 square kilometre catchment.
“This funding will help ensure the seven councils who share stewardship of the Georges River with Sydney Water can develop a coordinated management approach that will address impacts on the river’s health that have accumulated over decades.”
The Coastal and Estuary Grants Program provides financial support to local councils on a $2-to-$1 basis, enabling long-term improvements for our coastal and estuarine environments.
