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Newcastle Catchment Management ForumNewcastle Catchment Management Forum was formed in December 2002 to replace the Throsby Creek and Ironbark Creek Total Catchment Management (TCM) committees. The forum covers the catchments of Throsby, Ironbark, Cottage, Purgatory and Greenways creeks and enables a more integrated delivery of catchment management across Newcastle. The forum will build on the strategies and projects of the former TCM committees and will continue to work with the people of Newcastle to solve local environmental and natural resource problems. Who's represented on the forum?Community members make up the majority of the forum, along with state and local government representatives and community interest groups.
Some members of Newcastle Catchment Management Forum at their first meeting in February 2003. What area does the forum cover?
Throsby Creek catchment is one of Australia's most densely populated catchments with over 67,500 people living within its 3,000ha.The creek, and its major tributary Styx Creek, flow into Newcastle Harbour near Carrington. (see fact sheet; see map)
The suburbs of Beresfield, Woodberry and Thornton are located in Greenways Creek catchment. Although the majority of the catchment is presently rural, increased pressure from development is expected over the next few years as the Thornton to Killingworth strategy progresses. The SEPP 14-listed Woodberry Swamp is contained within the catchment. Purgatory Creek drains the north-eastern corner of Hexham Swamp, along with the suburb of Tarro and the eastern parts of Woodberry and Beresfield. The SEPP 14-listed Tarro Swamp is contained within the catchment. Relevant LinksFact Sheets:
Throsby Creek Catchment;
Ironbark Creek Catchment Latest projectsSpring cleaning Throsby Creek's mangroves
Now because of on-going problems, Newcastle Catchment Management Forum has called on professionals to clean up the mangroves in Thorsby Creek near Carrington. Mangroves act as filters for our waterways, making them cleaner and healthier. They also trap litter, preventing it from ending up in our harbour and on our beaches where it causes a real problems for sea creatures and humans alike. Importantly, the clean-up will improve habitat for estuarine species such as birds, fish and crabs that depend on the area. Woody debris and leaf litter will be left behind as they are valuable in the estuary's food chain however, human-made items such as drink bottles, cigarette butts, syringes, and packaging will be removed. Honeysuckle Development Corporation, The Kingston Group, Wincrest and Task Developments have provided sponsorship for the two-year clean-up program. Kennedy Cove
The forum is working towards solving major problems at the site including the inundation of the park adjacent to the cove with waters from Throsby Creek during high spring tides and certain weather conditions, and soil erosion problems at the stormwater outlet which feeds into the cove. Working with the Hunter-Central Rivers CMA, Newcastle City Council and Hunter Water Corporation, the forum will use its funds to build a small levee to minimise tidal inundation and carry-out soil erosion control works at the stormwater outlet to address the safety concerns of the local community. Northcott Park transformedNorthcott Park in Shortland is undergoing a remarkable transformation with the help of Shortland to Wallsend Landcare, Newcastle Council and Newcastle Catchment Management Forum.
New tree plots have been established and council workers have modified mowing operations in the park to allow acacias and native grasses to re-establish naturally. The next stage of the works will see soil erosion control works on the exposed soils at the top of the park. Future plans include creating a habitat corridor to link Northcott Park to Hexham Swamp. Volunteers make a difference in upper Ironbark CreekThe Central Rankin Park Landcare Group, with support from the Newcastle Catchment Management Forum, the NSW Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources and Lake Macquarie City Council are rehabilitating a section of creek in the upper Ironbark Creek catchment. The project has received funding from the Australian Government Envirofund. The area has been badly degraded by urbanisation, increased water flows and weed invasion. Creek bed and bank erosion at the site are impacting on downstream environments by increasing sediment and nutrient loads. Five stream and bed control structures made of rock will be installed in the creek to slow water movement and trap sediments. These structures will raise the bed level and reduce bank erosion, especially during times of high flow. A group of eight volunteers from the landcare group will clear weeds and revegetate the site, with the aim of re-establishing a habitat corridor for the length of the site. Approximately 200 plants will be established over the next 10 months. Lambton Ker-rai projectNewcastle City Council, Hunter Water Corporation and the Newcastle Catchment Management Forum have been working with the community of the Lambton sub-catchment over the past two years to identify and raise awareness of issues affecting stormwater quality in the area. An important component of this work is the Lambton Ker-rai Creek deformalisation project. This project seeks to rehabilitate the creek by reinstalling natural creek features such as meanders, pool and riffle sequences, and native landscaping. These features will enhance visual impacts while improving water quality, drainage problems and public access to the site. Reinstalling natural creek features in modified creek systems is a strategy being adopted by many Sydney councils to address degraded creeks and stormwater drains. The project has been discussed with users
of the park as well as the wider Lambton
community at two public meetings. The concept plan will go on public exhibition
during July and August this year in order to get more community feedback to
allow finalisation of the plan. Throsby Tidal Reaches projectThe Newcastle Catchment Management Forum, in association with Hunter Water Corporation, Newcastle City Council and Throsby Land Care are working on improving the tidal section of Throsby Creek between Hannel Street and Maitland Road in SUBURB. The ultimate aim of the improvement will be to increase habitat diversity for native flora and fauna while facilitating community use of the area and improving its aesthetic value. The project arose from recommendations by Throsby Landcare in 1998. These were the result of work by the University of Newcastle. Currently, a local environmental consultant is conducting a feasibility study for the improvement works. The study is considering installing natural features in the creek wherever appropriate and/or possible and any potential impacts that this might have on the area. Preliminary concept designs should be complete by the end of 2004. For more information about Newcastle Catchment Management Forum contact us.
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The 800ha
Cottage Creek catchment covers Newcastle's CBD and the suburbs of
Merewether, Hamilton, The Junction and Cooks Hill. Cottage Creek flows into
Newcastle Harbour near the Honeysuckle development area. 
Ironbark Creek catchment covers the western suburbs of Newcastle with around
40,000 people living within its 12,500ha. The internationally important Hexham
Swamp and Shortland Wetlands are located in the catchment. Ironbark Creek flows
into the south arm of the Hunter River at Hexham. (
Residents from throughout the Hunter have
spent hundreds of hours tackling one of Throsby Creek's worst
problems- litter!
Located
just one kilometre upstream of where Throsby Creek meets Newcastle Harbour,
Kennedy Cove (formerly Arnold Street Reserve) is the site of one of Newcastle
Catchment Management Forum's projects.
Funding through the Hunter Trust’s Rivercare/ Catchment Plan Devolved Grant
has allowed a diversity of understorey species to be planted beneath the
existing stand of mature trees. 