Managing the Water Catchments of Warringah

The Warringah Local Government Area contains a unique and spectacular environment encompassing an area of 153 square kilometres.  Significant natural features include 14 kilometres of coastline consisting of  sandy beaches and rocky headlands, four coastal lagoons,  a portion of Middle Harbour and some 50 kilometres of creeks.  These features all fall within Warringah’s six catchment areas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A catchment is an area of land that collects surface water, which then drains to a common river or major body of water such as a lagoon. Each catchment is separated by hills or ridges, which direct the surface water into creeks, drains and channels. Everything that happens in a catchment is linked. Anything that happens upstream can have an impact downstream. A pollution incident in the upper part of a catchment can have a harmful impact on water quality and aquatic plants and animals further downstream.
 
Council’s Catchment Management Team is committed to the protection and enhancement of Warringah’s coastal and aquatic environments as well as managing risks and hazards associated with these areas through a number of adopted management plans and programs.

Some of the plans and strategies that have been developed and are now being implemented include estuary management plans, coastal management plans, floodplain management plans, and a comprehensive creek management study.  Strategic implementation of these plans has resulted in the Catchment Management Team undertaking many programs and projects to maintain and improve the quality of Warringah’s catchments.  These include community education, the installation of stormwater quality improvement devices, management and control of floodplain development, rehabilitation projects, environmental audits, and environmental monitoring and assessment programs.

The management of such a highly valued and well-utilised natural environment requires input from those who live in and use the area.  The Team supports several community-based advisory committees who provide valuable assistance in the production of management plans and the implementation of the programs and projects from those plans. 

Click here to find out how you can help protect our catchment areas.

For more information on some of the programs that Warringah's Catchment Management Team are involved in, click on one of the links below:

• Creeks and Lagoons
• Flooding and Stormwater
• Coastline Management
• Working with Industry

For more information, contact Council on (02) 9942 2111.