Lower Georges River Urban Sustainability Initiative

This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust.

The Lower Georges River Sustainability Initiative (LGRSI) is a response to long-standing Georges River Combined Councils’ Committee (GRCCC) objectives for its River Ecosystems Program. Partners with GRCCC in the project are Hurstville City Council, Kogarah City Council, Rockdale City Council, Sutherland Shire Council, and Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority.

• Read a Leader article on the Linking Communities Through Permaculture project.  Leader.Dec 2011 - Friendship Grew in the Garden (188.34kB)

• Read the latest LGRSI update here.  LGRSI Winter 2011 Update (3.65MB)

• Check out the 2010 LGRSI Annual Report here.  LGRSI Annual Report 2010 (989.30kB)

• Click here to view the Background and Structure of the LGRSI.

LGRSI and Marine Industries Association team up to make Estuary Open Day a Success

The first Georges River Estuary Open Day brought together a mix of boaters, fishers, families and river recreationists to enjoy a host of activities. The purpose of the Open Day was to show what businesses and residents can do to preserve and enjoy the river. Many of the River's environmental and fisheries programs were on hand to engage visitors about programs lending a hand in healthy waterways, fisheries, marine activities, education opportunities, recreation and volunteering. The Open Day was held on Saturday 29 October at St George Motor Boat Club in Sans Souci (Rockdale).

The St George Motor Boat Club received accreditation into the Clean Marinas Program by the Marine Industries Association of Australia (MIAA) project manager, Colin Bransgrove. St George Motor Boat Club president Cess Quilkie received the award. Seven other Georges River marinas have been provided with instruction on how to align their operations with Clean Marinas criteria.

'Life on the Georges River' Digital Photo Contest Winners Announced 

Photographers of all ages submitted photos to the Life on the Georges River photo contest. Three prizes were awarded in the following divisions: Beauty/Nature, People/Enjoyment and People's Choice. Over 100 participants at the Open Day voted on photographs. 

Misty Morning, by Bruce Gimber. Taken at Georges River National Park.

First prize, Beauty/Nature on the Georges River

 'Lambeth Reserve' by Chris Ebejer. Taken at Lambeth Reserve. First prize, People/Enjoyment on the Georges River

'Milky Sunset' by Scott Atherton. People's Choice

Community Partnerships Program Action Plan:

Oatley Flora and Fauna Societyheld a second round of Birds and Backyards workshops, inAugust at Carss Park Community Gardens, and 17 September at Illawong RFB at Alfords Point. BIBY workshops were a great success in March and April, with participants receiving a free selection of native plants. OFF members made 7 personal visits to participants’ backyards to provide assistance on landscaping their gardens for small bird habitat.

OFF also held two bird walks, in April and May. A total of 22 people attended. Sixteen members of RAIN (Resourceful Australian Indian Network) visited Oatley Park last June where OFF vice president Alan Fairley discussed the history of Oatley Park and took a short walk to look at native plants and sample ‘bush tucker.’ For more information, contact http://off.oatleypark.com/fauna.html 

Sydney Food Connect  The social enterprise Food Connect, Sydney has expanded its reach in the St George area by developing a partnership with Hurstville Council and Carss Park Community Garden. Every Thursday, Hurstville Library receives boxes of fruit and vege to service local subscribers. To view the media release for this partnership, click here  Food Connect / Hurstville media release (779.50kB)

Food Connect recently conducted a study of its value to the communities it serves as a measure of social change and economic investment called Social Return on Investment. The study found Food Connect, Sydney to be 8:1 in return value on every dollar invested. In May, Food Connect hosted a farm tour and lunch for subscribers. Staff look to increase visibility through public tastings, ‘paddock to plate’ events, and farm tours. For more information, contact http://sydney.foodconnect.com.au/

Carss Park Community Garden continues to be busy. Two more beds have been built, including a raised garden bed which is wheelchair accessible (pictured), and a new water line was completed by Kogarah Council in May. Oatley Flora & Fauna facilitated Birds in Backyards workshops in April and in August, and a No Dig Gardening / Compost workshop was held in May. St George Migrant Resource Centre held a site tour in June, and Food Connect has begun delivering boxes of locally sourced produce to participants. CPCG has also undergone an assessment of its sustainability practices and have incorporated those into its core business. For more information, contact http://www.kogarah.nsw.gov.au/www/html/2478-carss-park-community-garden.asp  

St George Migrant Resource Centre / Inner Soutwest Community Development Organisation have developed a community-driven project called Linking Communities Through Permaculture which aims to proactively unite sustainable living, permaculture and info-sharing among CALD and community housing groups in the St George and Sutherland Shire areas. The project has begun identifying leaders for each of their capacity building trainings with CALD communites and social housing groups. Sessions will be held in each of 3 languages in leadership, balcony gardening, and permaculture design. In the coming quarter the project will conduct cross-cultural materials - such as recipe books and cooking demonstrations - in several languages. Enterprise development classes will continue, with a specific focus on food security and marketing hand-made goods. For more information, contact Mel Ronca at permaculture@sgmrc.org.au

Permaculture St George has developed a strategic plan which encompasses community engagement and training, communication and marketing, leadership in permaculture and an organisational health and growth plan. The Plan is called The Death Valley Suburban Vitality Project, 2011-2014. Apart from various capacity building and in-house resource development, the group plans to facilitate a community vision for a sustainable suburb.

     Sustainable Urban Water Management Action Plan:

• Water Sensitive Urban Design Action Plan group and planning workshops took place for 4 councils;
• Identification of next steps and resource needs for each council.

  Executive engagement is underway;
• 4 Councils developing WSUD Action Plans and engaging executive support;
• $900,000 approved for on-ground works;
• To find out more about WSUD projects and resources, visit http://www.wsud.org/

Organisational Effectiveness Action Plan:

• Organisational Profiling in 4 councils;
• Identification of next steps and resource needs for each council.

NRM Integration Action Plan:

• Mapping of current project/program overlap and integration;
• Joint meetings to discuss current programs and plans;
• Identification of next steps and resource needs for each organisation.

    The Desired Outcomes of the LGRSI:

• More effective organisational arrangements within partner councils (to enable and enhance sustainable practices);
• More effective urban water management;
• More integrated planning and implementation of Natural Resource Management programs within the Lower Georges River catchment;
• More sustainable practices (ie behaviour) of community and business;
• Improved bushland, biodiversity and riparian health. 

Click here to view the Background and Structure of the LGRSI.

How you can be involved

Contact Col Freeman, LGRSI Project Manager, to:

• Attend the Estuary Open Day, 29 October 2011 at St George Motor Boat Club in Sans Souci;
• Ask about how a business, household or individual can be more sustainable;
• Find out about a range of upcoming workshops and events;
• Suggest a workshop or event that you would be interested in attending;
• Tell us about a great ‘sustainability’ idea you have seen or heard of elsewhere.

Col Freeman
Rockdale City Council
Phone:      (02) 9562 1703
Mobile:      0434 154 865
Email:         cfreeman@rockdale.nsw.gov.au