Funding for Cooks River welcomed by Council
The Administrator of Inner West Council today welcomed the funding announcement by the Australian Government for Cooks River recovery and wetland restoration projects.
The $1.2 million allocated to the Cooks River works includes $360,000 for Mahoney Reserve and $280,000 for Steel Park.
Stage 1 of the plan includes:
- Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) and Recreation Node – HJ Mahoney Reserve: $364,550
- New Shade Tree Planting – HJ Mahoney Reserve: $15,000
- Removal of lower branches on vegetation – Steel Park: $9,600
- New plantings of groundcover and grasses -- Steel Park: $75,000
- WSUD – stormwater works for Illawarra Road and Thornley Street: $293,400
As well, a Green Army project will:
- Restore the Northern Wetland Corridor along Cooks River
- Control and remove noxious weeds, as well as enhance endangered ecological communities
- Improve habitat for threatened species and the resilience of estuarial habitat areas
Inner West Council is one of several member councils of the Cooks River Alliance, a partnership that is focused on the long-term improvement of the Cooks River catchment.
“Unfortunately the Cooks River has had a tumultuous history. It has been dammed, diverted, dredged, dumped and thoroughly degraded,” said Inner West Council Administrator Richard Pearson.
“In more recent times, thanks to the enormous work and efforts of Cooks River councils and communities, the river is slowly recovering. The river is increasingly recognised as an environmental and community resource with many natural, cultural and historical qualities.
“One recent aspiration adopted by Council is to make the Cooks River ‘swimmable’ once again. It was actually a popular swimming spot as late as the mid-1900s. This is a dream of many inner west residents and the funding announced today will take us one step closer to achieving our goal,” Mr Pearson said.