waterways-banner.jpg

Waterways

No matter where you live in Hornsby Shire you live in a stormwater drainage catchment and everyone’s actions contribute to the overall health of our catchments. A catchment is an area of land over which water flows and eventually is collected at the lowest point. Most of our sub-catchments drain into the Hawkesbury estuary except for a few of the sub-catchments in the Lane Cove catchment area that drain into Sydney Harbour.

The rainwater that runs off our roofs, roads and footpaths, along with the stormwater, flows into the local waterways which then flow into the Hawkesbury estuary at the bottom of the catchment. Since estuaries are at the bottom end of catchments, their condition can be affected by activities occurring within the upstream freshwater catchment. Estuary users rely on a healthy system. These users are those who like undertaking recreational activities like swimming, fishing, boating as well as local commercial seafood industries such as oyster farmers and commercial fishers.

Some of our catchments are still in a relatively natural state while others have been heavily developed, with natural creek lines replaced by concrete channels to control flooding. This has had a large impact on our creeks and rivers.

Hornsby Shire is lucky to have expansive bushland, wetlands and creeks that provide community with important ecological, recreational, economic and social benefits.

An overview of the Hornsby Shire water story and our water cycle.
water conservation

The Hornsby Water Cycle

Councils 50-year vision for Hornsby Shire is to be a beautiful, green, and thriving shire whose management of water and the environment supports clean waterways, sustainable resource use, and a healthy lifestyle that is connected to nature.
Water sampling

What is our future direction?

Council's Water Quality Monitoring Program established in 1994 is one of the most comprehensive monitoring programs currently deployed within NSW, if not Australia. Learn the why, where and how of monitoring our waterway health.
catchment remediation

Using the best information

In addition to comprehensive monitoring of physical, chemical and biological ecosystem health indicators, Hornsby Shire Council has taken an integrated approach to stormwater management by developing a range of capital and non-capital (preventative) measures, including Stormwater quality improvement devices such as pollutant traps, constructed wetlands, sediment basins, raingardens and biofilters.
stormwater

What is happening on the ground

Help us identify sources of water pollution which may impact catchment health and destruction of habitat. Learn how to report pollution incidents and who best to contact. Find out what sorts of complaints Council can investigate.
water pollution

Pollution incident or a concern

Hornsby Shire Council has a proud history of working with community groups and individuals on citizen science projects. Find out how you can join the action to improve the conditions of water environments across the Shire.
hawkesbury estuary

What can you do for the environment

Mangrove regeneration

Video Gallery

water clean up

Calendar of Events