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Sydney wastes most of its rainwater and pouring this valuable resource down the drain must stop, says Georges Riverkeeper on its 40th anniversary.

Even during drought, billions of litres of stormwater rush off the concrete streets each year, flowing into storm drains and emptying, untreated, into our creeks, rivers and oceans.

Not only is it a waste of water, but it carries pollution and contaminants, such as pesticides, asphalt, road chemicals, grease, oil, and human and animal waste, that are harmful to people, wildlife and our waterways.

Georges Riverkeeper, one of Australia’s longest running catchment management organisations is celebrating its 40th anniversary of protecting and enhancing the Georges River waterways in south Sydney.

Georges Riverkeeper has initiated the transition of the Georges River Estuary Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) to a Coastal Management Program (CMP), as required by the NSW Government’s new Coastal Management Framework.

Tonbridge Creek at Ramsgate is, after Towra Point Aquatic Reserve, the second most important fish nursery in the river.

With the help of Georges Riverkeeper and Bayside Council, Conservation Volunteers Australia volunteers have been revegetating Tonbridge Creek with over 7,500 Sporobolus virginicus seedlings.

Sporobolus is a key source of habitat and food, supporting a wide range of species, like algae, snails, crabs and fish.

Hundreds of building sites across Sydney and the Central Coast will be inspected on 15 October as part of a blitz to protect local waterways from run-off.

The campaign targets erosion and sediment control on building and construction sites and highlights the impact of sediment laden runoff on our waterways.

The blitz aims to build on the improvements achieved in the month-long campaign held in May when more than 1,110 building sites were inspected by 19 Councils, NSW Environment Protection Authority and Department of Planning, Industry and Environment officers.

With the help of Georges Riverkeeper and City of Canterbury Bankstown, Conservation Volunteers Australia volunteers braved the rain to begin revegetating at Little Salt Pan Creek in the Georges River catchment with over 3,000 Sporobolus virginicus seedlings.

Haven’t heard of S.virginicus? Its common names include Sand Couch, Salt Couch and Saltwater Couch. But whatever you call it, it’s an incredibly important plant species found in intertidal areas.

There is now an interactive map to show you where to walk, cycle, swim, fish and boat along the Georges River, and you’re invited to contribute your favourite walks and lookouts.

Georges Riverkeeper Chairman, Geoff Shelton, said: “The Georges River is over 100 km long so it can be difficult to know where the best spots are to enjoy the river.”

"The digital map is an easy way to find cycle tracks, nature walks, swimming spots and other facilities such as playgrounds and toilets, as well as finding out more about the vegetation and geography of the river,” he added.

Building sites are getting the message and improving their environmental performance, according to the latest results of the Get the Site Right sediment control campaign.

The campaign saw council and EPA officers conduct more than 1,110 inspections of building sites along the Parramatta River, Central Coast, Cooks River and Georges River in the May 2019 blitz and found that 748 (63 per cent) of sites were compliant, a 13 per cent improvement on last year’s figures.

Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA), in partnership with Georges Riverkeeper is launching an exciting new project that will see the reintroduction of 9,000 plants in order to restore healthy fish habitats and food webs throughout the Georges River.  With support from the NSW DPI Fisheries’ Recreational Fishing Trust, CVA teams will be working to restore key areas of fish habitat by reintroducing a fundamental species of saltmarsh across 6 different sites along the Georges River from Tonbridge Creek, Ramsgate to Chipping Norton Lakes, Lansvale / Chipping Norton.