Cooks River Estuarine Vegetation Management Plan
The Cooks River Estuarine Vegetation Management Plan (VMP) builds on best practice guidelines for management of salt marsh and mangrove vegetation communities, including the Saltwater Wetlands Rehabilitation Manual (DECC 2008). Current activities and proposals for management of foreshore vegetation along the Cooks River are identified, such as Sydney Water's bank naturalisation program and the proposed Cooks Cove redevelopment (which is now under voluntary administration).
Mangrove and salt marsh vegetation along the Cooks River foreshore has been mapped based on aerial photography interpretation and field investigation, and categorised as follows:
- Type A - Remnant with regeneration potential
- Type B - Remnant requiring rehabilitation
- Type C - Previously or currently being rehabilitated
- Type D - Highly degraded and dispersed
Linkages or potential corridors between remnant patches of vegetation are identified. Areas where there is scope for foreshore vegetation to expand into higher elevations of open space in response to predicted sea level rise are indicated.
It is recommended that priority be given to:
- Conserving existing native vegetation
- Removing threats (e.g. weeds, physical damage)
- Rehabilitating vegetation, starting with larger, better quality areas (e.g. Wolli Creek, Gough Whitlam Park and wetlands in the proposed Cooks Cove redevelopment area)
Guidelines for preparing detailed site-specific plans are provided. Detailed plans should build on the site profiles provided in this VMP.
A more integrated approach is recommended for the management of the Cooks River foreshore, facilitated through the Cooks River Foreshores Working Group. This would improve coordination of onground rehabilitation works, information sharing, and may lead to cost savings and efficiencies. Other relevant parties should also be engaged (e.g. community groups, planning sections of Rockdale Council for Cooks Cove development, and parks and reserves sections of Marrickville Council for Tempe Reserve).
This plan is an initiative of the Cooks River Foreshores Working Group, managed by the City of Canterbury, Marrickville and Rockdale Councils with assistance from the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Coastal and Estuary Management Program. |