News

With the COVID 19 situation escalating in Sydney, Georges Riverkeeper decided to hold the 24 June General Meeting online, rather than have Fairfield City Council host the meeting on location.

It was well attended by 27 people, including Councillors Adrian Wong, Michael Banasik, Rey Manoto, and Warren Tegg and staff from member councils as well as community representatives.

The Executive Group will be submitting a letter to the Honourable Shelley Hancock pushing for a catchment approach to the Coastal Management Program (CMP) with suggested changes in the legislation as the Coastal Management Act 2016 is up for review this year. We are also requesting that organisations, like Georges Riverkeeper, can apply for funding if they are driving the creation of the CMP or if they are responsible for conducting actions within a certified CMP.

Kalynda Georgiades is our new Project Support Officer/Administrator. She completed a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at UTS in 2017 and has since gained experience in administration in the medical field. 

Passionate about our environment and community-led projects, she has volunteered with various organisations such as the Cooks River Mudcrabs and Australian Conservation Foundation. This has furthered her interest in protecting the health and biodiversity and conservation of Sydney’s waterways and flora.

Georges Riverkeeper has a full complement of staff! The Executive Group welcomed Kalynda Georgiades at our Executive Group meeting, as Georges Riverkeeper’s Administration and Project Support Officer. Georges Riverkeeper help a very successful Paddle Against Plastic event last month in partnership with City of Canterbury Bankstown and the River Canoe Club, with representatives from Conservation Volunteers Australia and Oatley Flora and Fauna also supporting the event. We secured a lot of media coverage which was great.

The Georges Riverkeeper General Meeting was kindly hosted by Liverpool City Council at the Casula Powerhouse. Our guest speaker, Roshan presented on Liverpool City Council’s Water Quality Management Framework, which sets the direction on all water related elements to achieve best management practice.

Builders and home renovators are being urged to stop run-off from their building sites polluting waterways and green spaces that Sydneysiders increasingly rely on for recreation and enjoyment.

A survey conducted by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) in 20201 showed that 45 per cent of respondents spent more time in public spaces since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey also found that 71 per cent of respondents appreciated local parks more.

Georges Riverkeeper wishes to thank the 86 community volunteers who removed an estimated 267 kilograms of rubbish during the recent Georges River Paddle Against Plastic event on Saturday 17 April.

Georges Riverkeeper Chairman, Councillor Adrian Wong said, “Congratulations and thank you to the community volunteers from across Sydney who gave up their time and came out in kayaks and on foot to rid the river of rubbish.”

Georges Riverkeeper has submitted feedback to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) on their new draft priority areas as part of the Coastal Management reforms that are happening in NSW at the moment.

Would you like to lend a helping hand to keep our ocean and waterways clean? Literally.

Join Conservation Volunteers Australia at Plane Spotting Beach, Mascot, on April 11, 2021, for their #SeaToSource Day of Action. By joining us for a day of beach clean-ups, you’ll be contributing to a lifetime of change for our oceans. Plus, you’ll be joining a nationwide community of people choosing to be part of the solution.