How did Cooks River become so polluted?

When Captain Cook found the river in 1770 he described it as a “fine stream of drinking water”. By the early 1900s it was so polluted by industry and sewage that it was declared officially dead. Toxic waste poured into the river from the 1960s to 1990, killing any fish trying to survive.

Can you swim in Cooks River?

IN THE 1930s taking a dip in the Cooks River was so popular that councils had to employ lifeguards, known as the Steel Park River Patrol, to police the shore. But, though there have been enormous ecological improvements in the condition of the river over the years, you still can’t really swim in it.

Why does the Cooks River smell?

That means reducing the daily tonnes of plastic, organic matter and silt that drains into the Cooks from its massive, concrete-covered catchment, smothering nascent wildlife, clogging the riverbed and adding to the smell, which has improved, but still lingers at low tide.

Are there sharks in the Cooks River?

The bull shark is known for its aggressive nature, predilection for warm shallow water, and presence in brackish and freshwater systems including estuaries and rivers, and is likely to be found in the Cooks River.

Can you eat fish from Cooks River?

The whole of the tidal waters of Cooks River and its tributaries, from its junction with Botany Bay upstream to Punchbowl road bridge, Belfield. Important: Fish and shellfish caught in these waters should not be eaten due to high levels of pollutants being found in these waters. You should release your catch.

How deep is the Cooks River?

thirty centimetres deep
Course. The river begins at Graf Park, Yagoona, then flows in a roughly north-easterly direction to Chullora. It reaches its northernmost point at Strathfield, where it leads into a concrete open canal, no more than one metre wide and thirty centimetres deep.

Does the Cooks River smell?

Up to 100 bags of rubbish are being removed from Cooks River six times a year with some parts of the river so thick with pollution, “you could almost walk across it”. “The area is supposed to be attracting new residents — but the smell is repulsive and the pollution becoming dangerous.”

Are there bull sharks in the Manning River?

“It is a bit of a sport, and we enjoy it,” said Mr Maddalena on Saturday morning from a fishing boat off the north coast. The longest shark they’ve caught is a 3.2 metre shark off the beach, and a 3.15 metre female bull shark on the Manning River.

Are fish from Georges River safe to eat?

Dietary advice Warnings are in place owing to concentrated industrial pollutants: FISH AND SHELLFISH SHOULD NOT BE EATEN if caught in Georges River and its tributaries upstream from Rabaul boat ramp at Georges Hall, including Prospect Creek, Cabramatta Creek and Chipping Norton Lakes.

What fish live in the Cooks River?

Cooks River is a stream in New South Wales, Australia. The most popular species caught here are Dusky flathead, Surf bream, and Yellowtail amberjack.

Can you walk along Cooks River?

Cooks River cycleway is a multiuse path, mainly for cycling and walking, that follows the river from Tempe to Strathfield.

What happens to excess water in the Cooks River?

Any excess water enters an overflow pit at the end of the swale which is diverted into Council’s stormwater system prior to discharging the water, in a cleaner state, into the Cooks River. The Cooks River Alliance is made up of four councils in the Cooks River catchment (Canterbury-Bankstown, Inner West, Strathfield and Bayside).

What is the Cooks River catchment?

The Cooks River catchment is highly urbanised and serves as part of a stormwater system for the 100 square kilometres of watershed. From south Strathfield to Canterbury, the River is a concrete channel and many of its tributaries have also been converted to concrete or brick-lined channels.

What happened to the Cooks River valley?

In their drive to establish country estates and thriving industries in the Cooks River valley during the nineteenth century, European settlers exploited the water, timber and fertile soils of the Cooks River with little appreciation of the impact of their ‘improvements’

Where does the Cooks River join the Graf Park River?

As the River makes its way from Graf Park to Kyeemagh, it is joined by Greenacre Creek, Cox Creek, Cup and Saucer Creek, Wolli Creek, Bardwell Creek, Alexandria Canal (Sheas Creek) and Muddy Creek. The Cooks River catchment is highly urbanised and serves as part of a stormwater system for the 100 square kilometres of watershed.