All about the Cooks River
Where does the river begin?
The Cooks River begins around the area of Graf Park, Yagoona. The area is highly urbanised with many large commercial and industrial areas with large carparks and busy roads.
All the rainwater run-off from this area drains into the Chullora Wetlands, which is the first of many constructed wetlands along the Cooks.
These wetlands are very important for trapping sediment, rubbish and chemical pollution, before it continues down the river.
Geography of the Cooks
The Cooks River Catchment (the area of land which feeds water to the river) is about 100km2 and is 90% urbanised.
This means nearly all of the river catchment is covered with concrete, paved, or other hard surfaces.
As a result, 70% of rainwater runs-off into the stormwater system (drains and pipes) and flows directly into the river, taking with it all the plastic rubbish and chemical pollution that is laying around on the ground.
The Cooks River has many parks and paths along the length of the river which provide recreation and a potential habitat corridor in a densely urban setting.
Cooks River Model
A rainy day on the Cooks River
This video is the perfect introduction to the Cooks River. Investigated through the Cooks River model, 'A rainy day on the Cooks River' shares some of the different stories that the river has to tell. With probing questions and wonderful imagery, this narrated video will set the scene for learning about and making a positive difference to this amazing river.
Q & A with water experts
After six months of being in schools around the Cooks River as part of the Stormwater Action Plan program there were a few questions that needed some expert advice. The following is the Zoom session with Sydney Water and the Cooks River Alliance answering the big questions from students who have already participated in the program. Enjoy!
SIX View maps
Build knowledge around where the Cooks River is and how each school and community is connected to the river as part of the catchment. Use both the satellite image and historical map to show changes to the area over time. Click on the image to be taken to their website.
Image of Cooks River mouth at Botany Bay. Captured from SIX Maps
A flyover look at the Cooks River
In the past large sections of the Cooks River were turned into concrete channel to try and manage industrial pollution and flood waters.
Many any of its tributaries (small creeks and drains) have also been converted to concrete or brick-lined channels.
However this not ecologically healthy, nor is it ideal for human recreation. So we are now looking for ways to clean up the river and make it more natural again.
One solution is to "naturalise" creeks and river banks. This involves removing old concrete walls and replacing them with stabilised banks of native plants, trees and rocks.
This is happening in areas where there is enough green space along the river to allow for it. The plants used are local Australian plants (native plants). They are the same plants that grew there before the area was cleared and urbanised.
As the plants grow over time the ecosystem moves back in.
The Cooks River is highly valued as somewhere to connect with nature, exercise and relax.
The shared path and parks along the river are used by many different people for many different types of recreational activities.
Learning about and caring for the Cooks River is something you can do and it will help you form a connection with the river.
Like water, people are drawn to the river and it is a place where people and nature connect.
The lower tidal sections of the river support significant areas of mangroves, salt marsh, bird and fish life.
Ocean fish also breed in the mangrove and need this sheltered protected environment to lay their eggs in.
These river swampland environments are ecologically rich environments and are vitally important as places were the river sediment settles and is filtered.
Wolli Creek flows through important remnant (original) bushland, providing the most significant connected wild space in the region.
This is both important for the ecosystem and for human health. People love a good nature path that connects along the river. It is a highly valued place to walk in nature and exercise. It is also great for commuting to and from work by bike and foot.
This is the Cooks River entrance where it enters the sea at Kamay, Botany Bay.
We need to understand that everything that goes "into" the river, ends up in the Ocean.
Most of the plastic rubbish and pollution that enters the river is actually underwater and unseen. So it is very important to manage our rubbish at home, in parks, in the streets, in carparks, at school and in shopping areas.
The river starts at your place...
Why is there so much plastic rubbish in the Cooks River?
Sadly, anyone who has walked along the Cooks River in recent years has probably asked themselves this question. In certain parts of the river, litter such as plastic bottles, cups and bags (also known as gross pollutants), are clearly visible and often build up after heavy rain.
As the stormwater rushes off our roofs, driveways and roads, it flows directly into drains and into the river, picking up pollution on its way. And it’s not just the pollution we can see. Along its way, stormwater picks up oil and chemical residues which also end up in the river. That’s why it’s not just the litter right by the river that matters, as litter anywhere within the catchment can end up in the Cooks River.
Activities:
- Write your Cooks River Story
'My Cooks River'
Ideas for what to write about...
What you like about the Cooks River?
Where areas near the river do you like to go to?
What you like to do there and what nature do you see there?
What the river means to you?
Have you seen a litter or pollution problem in the river and how that makes you feel?
2. What can people in the catchment do to help the river?
Answers:
Pick up any rubbish before it gets washed into the drain
Sweep up leaves and garden waste which decay in the water
Pick up after pets and put their waste in the bin
Wash your car on the lawn to reduce detergent washing into the river
Carefully dispose of oils, paints and chemicals
Don’t overuse fertiliser as this will wash into the river
Install a rainwater tank or raingarden, or increase pervious surfaces to reduce the amount of stormwater flowing to the river. See our Instruction Sheets for further details.
Manage soil erosion if renovating to prevent sediment pollution
Plant locally native plants to increase habitat