View source for Cooks River

{{Short description|River in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia}}
{{For|the New South Wales electorate|Electoral district of Cook's River}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Cooks River
| native_name        = {{native name|xdk|Goolay'yari}} ([[Cadigal]])
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = CooksRiver2.jpg
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = Cooks River near [[Sydney Airport]]
| map                = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = Australia Sydney satellite
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= [[NASA]] satellite image of the Cooks River, with the location of the [[mouth (river)|mouth]], as marked
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Australia]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[New South Wales]]
| subdivision_type3  = Region
| subdivision_name3  = [[Sydney basin]] ([[Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia|IBRA]]), [[Inner West]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = City
| subdivision_name5  = [[Sydney]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|23|km|mi|abbr=on}} 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = 
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = Graf Park
| source1_location   = [[Yagoona]]
| source1_coordinates= 
| source1_elevation  = 
| mouth              = [[Botany Bay]]
| mouth_location     = [[Kyeemagh]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|33|56|57|S|151|10|06|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = 
| progression        = 
| waterfalls         = 
| river_system       = [[Botany Bay]]
| basin_size         = {{cvt|100|km2}}
| tributaries_left   = [[Cup and Saucer Creek]], [[Alexandra Canal (New South Wales)|Alexandra Canal]]
| tributaries_right  = [[Coxs Creek (Belfield, New South Wales)|Coxs Creek]], [[Wolli Creek]]
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}
The '''Cooks River''', a semi-mature [[tide]]-dominated [[ria|drowned valley estuary]],<ref name=NSWDEH>{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/estuaries/stats/CooksRiver.htm |title=Cooks River: Physical characteristics |work=[[Office of Environment & Heritage]]|date=26 April 2012 |access-date=7 September 2012 }}</ref> is a [[tributary]] of [[Botany Bay]], located in south-western [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia.

The course of the {{Convert|23|km|mi|-long|adj=mid}} urban waterway has been altered to accommodate various developments along its shore. It serves as part of a [[stormwater]] system for the {{convert|100|km2}} of its watershed, and many of the original streams running into it have been turned into concrete lined channels. The tidal sections support significant areas of [[Mangrove forest|mangrove ecosystems]] and are used for recreational activities.

==Course==
{{Unreferencedsect|date=September 2023}}
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. It then heads towards the south-east. Where Cooks River runs through Strathfield Golf Course, the concrete lining has been partly removed. Here the plants have returned and have created an environment where the water is filtered and runs clean, and where wildlife has returned. One section here is called the Chain of Ponds.

At [[Belfield, New South Wales|Belfield]] it joins with the [[Coxs Creek (Belfield, New South Wales)|Cox Creek Channel]] and flows in an easterly direction. The canal widens and deepens as it picks up stormwater from surrounding suburbs, such as [[Campsie, New South Wales|Campsie]] and becomes influenced by tidal action.

At [[Canterbury, New South Wales|Canterbury]], it is joined by [[Cup and Saucer Creek]]. Industrial areas line the Cooks River at Canterbury. In the past, factories discharged their waste directly into the water.

The [[valley]] becomes more pronounced as the river reaches [[Tempe, New South Wales|Tempe]], where it is joined by [[Wolli Creek]] and the [[Alexandra Canal (New South Wales)|Alexandra Canal]]. The [[Princes Highway]] crosses the Cooks River and links Tempe to the suburb of [[Wolli Creek, New South Wales|Wolli Creek]]. Also here is the low-lying [[Fatima Island]], which is submerged at high tide.

The course of the final south-flowing section of river is entirely artificial. The river formerly flowed, via marshes, on a meandering course across the present site of [[Sydney Airport]] to meet Mill Stream and enter [[Botany Bay]] from the northern end of the bay. The boundary between the [[Parish of Botany]] and the [[Parish of St George]] remains at the former mouth of Cooks River. This part of the river course was altered to accommodate the expanding Sydney Airport. Cooks River now connects with [[Botany Bay]] at [[Kyeemagh]].

The corridor of land beside the river is a conduit for many services along large parts of its length including electricity, high-voltage lines, a high-pressure oil pipe owned by [[Shell plc|Shell]], and high-volume sewage pipes. Many of the lower-lying areas have been filled and are parks and sports grounds. In spite of this the river and adjacent lands are being recognised for their beauty, history, amenity and environmental value, if not also for potential for improvements. The walkway and [[Bike Paths in Sydney#Bay to Bay .28Homebush to Cronulla and Kurnell.29|cycleway]] beside much of the river is part of the path connecting [[Sydney Olympic Park]] with Botany Bay.

==Management==
Care and control of the river is shared between many [[Local government in Australia#New South Wales|local councils]] and the New South Wales Government through agencies such as the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority, the [[Department of Planning & Environment]] and [[Sydney Water]].

The river also has a number of community-based organisations which assist its maintenance, in particular the Cooks River Valley Association (CRVA). The CRVA grew from The Cooks River Improvement League, founded in 1925, which had published a book entitled "Our Ocean to Ocean Opportunity". The League recommended cleaning up the river by developing a canal system and removing of the footings of Tempe Dam, proposal which had been made originally by engineer H B Henson, in 1896.

In 2010 the Cup and Saucer Wetlands were built in Canterbury to create a natural environment for the native wildlife and fauna.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgRSi0burzQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/bgRSi0burzQ |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Cup and Saucer Wetlands|publisher=[[Sydney Water]]|website=[[YouTube]]|date=11 March 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Selected areas of the Cooks River which is lined with concrete will be replaced in 2013 and 2014 with a more natural bank with sandstone rocks and indigenous planting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sydneywatertalk.com/crbnp|title=Cooks River Bank Naturalisation Project|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321222911/http://www.sydneywatertalk.com.au//crbnp/|archive-date=21 March 2015}}</ref>

==Environmental issues==
[[File:2nd leg, on this Air Canada plane - Sydney to Vancouver, BC - Sydney subburbs and beaches from the air (13113706185).jpg|thumb|Aerial view of the river and surrounding suburbs]]
The Cooks River has a catchment area of {{convert|100|km2}}, within the metropolitan areas of Sydney enclosed by urban environments and extensive recreational areas. Over 400,000 people live in this area and there are over 100,000 commercial and industrial premises. The river has typical water catchment management problems characteristic of heavily urbanised areas, including: 
* Removal of native [[vegetation]] and [[habitat destruction]]
* Modified [[hydrology]] including increased peak run-off rates due to covering of land with hard surfaces, concrete storm water canals and re-routing of water courses
* Pollution from motor vehicles, litter, sewage, illegal dumping, industrial, commercial and domestic activities
* [[Nutrient]] enrichment from surrounding environment, especially due to water runoffs from recreational parks, resulting in increased [[algal]] levels

The [http://cooksriver.org.au Cooks River Alliance] is a partnership between councils in the Cooks River Catchment. It works with the local communities to restore the health of the river. The Alliance Board is made up of one councillor from each member council. The members of the Cooks River Alliance are: [[Bayside Council|Bayside]], [[City of Canterbury-Bankstown|Canterbury-Bankstown]], [[City of Sydney]], [[Inner West Council|Inner West]] and [[Municipality of Strathfield|Strathfield]]. The Alliance combines and builds resources, experience, knowledge and skills within councils and communities, to work on complex environmental challenges. Community Representatives will have the opportunity to contribute to the direction of the Alliance, and provide local resident perspectives.

Water quality testing conducted by the Water Research Centre found quantities of pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals at levels similar to untreated sewage.<ref name="srgos">{{Cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-10-24/sydney-river-given-open-sewer-status/3596832 |title=Sydney river given 'open sewer' status |access-date=20 April 2023 |date=24 October 2011 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|location=Australia}}</ref> A very old and broken sewerage system has been blamed for the contaminants which included soaps, insecticides, caffeine and anticonvulsants.<ref name="srgos"/>

A group of local Councils fund the project named Riverlife, which trains tour guides and organises interpretive walking and cycling tours of the "river" most weekends.<ref name=Tebbutt>{{cite web |work=Private Members Statements, [[Hansard]] |publisher=Legislative Assembly of New South Wales |date=7 June 2006 |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LA20060607034 |title=Cooks River Remediation |last=Tebbutt |first=Carmel |authorlink=Carmel Tebbutt |access-date=27 August 2012 }}</ref>

In 2022, educator and YouTuber [[Beau Miles]] attempted to paddle a kayak down the full length of the Cooks River, producing a documentary of the journey to highlight the poor condition of the river, which he called the "sickest urban river in Australia".<ref>Kayaking the sickest urban river in Australia - Jul 28, 2022 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmxKUwB8VFQ</ref>

==History==
Before European Settlement, the [[Indigenous Australian]] population used the river by [[fishing]] and gathering shellfish. This had little effect on the river's natural [[ecology]] as sustainable practices were adhered to. It is generally thought that four different clans, each speaking a distinct dialect of the Darug language, inhabited the area surrounding the river. The [[Bediagal]] clan occupied the area on the southern side of the river. whilst on the northern side, it is generally thought that the Gameygal clan lived between the mouth of the Cooks River and the ocean. Further west, the river was used by the [[Cadigal]] people (whose country extended north up to Port Jackson and took in the area where modern-day Sydney is now located). Further west still and along the upper reaches of the river, the country was occupied by the Wangal people.

In 1770, [[Captain Cook]] sailed into [[Botany Bay]] and made the first written description of the river as follows: "I found a very fine stream of fresh water on the north side in the first sandy cove within the island before which a ship might lay land-locked and wood for fuel may be got everywhere."<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Captain James Cook|journal=Cook's Journal by James Cook|url=http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks/e00043.html#ch8|publisher=Gutenberg Australia|access-date=14 December 2016|title=EXPLORATION OF EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA}}</ref> The existence of the river appeared to make settlement a possibility; however, when the [[First Fleet]] arrived the river and valley was regarded as unsuitable. Captain [[John Hunter (Royal Navy officer)|John Hunter]] and Lieutenant Bradley both mentioned the shallowness of the water and large [[swamp]] areas.

The first land grants along the river tended to be fairly large and used mostly for [[grazing]] and [[timber]] with some fishing and lime burning at Botany Bay. [[Governor Macquarie]] makes reference to a slender bridge in his 1810 [[diary]], adding that "the soil is bad and neither good for tillage or pasturage". Nevertheless, some farmers did find they could till the land and settlement along the river spread, and roads and crossings were made in several places.

[[File:Cooks river dam kiln 1871 V1-FL1226619.tif|thumb|Lime kiln and dam, Cooks River ca. 1875]]
In the 1830s a [[dam]] was built across the river; however, this did not provide a clean water supply and the structure itself began to damage the river's ecology by preventing tidal flushing of deposited urban silt. A second dam was built to serve a [[sugar mill]] at the new village of [[Canterbury, New South Wales|Canterbury Vale]]. The location took advantage of the water supply and [[barge]] transport. The mill closed in 1855; however, other polluting industries were later to follow including [[wool]] washes, [[Tanning (leather)|tanneries]] and [[boiling down]] works. Despite the increasingly doubtful quality of the water, the river remained a popular place in the late nineteenth century for [[boat]]ing, [[picnic]]s and [[human swimming|swimming]]. In 1894, artist [[Sydney Long]] painted an idyllic scene of boys swimming in the Cook's River, entitled ''By Tranquil Waters'', which was so well received that it was bought by the Trustees of the [[Art Gallery of New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Sharp|first=Julia|title=Long Road to Conservation|journal=Look|publisher=Art Gallery Society of New South Wales|date=September 2012|pages=25}}</ref><ref>[http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/689/ AGNSW Collection record and image]</ref> By the 1880s tree clearing resulted in [[erosion]], [[silting]] and expansion of [[reed beds]], blocking river flow.

On the weekend of 25–27 May 1889, {{convert|425|mm}} of rain [[inundate]]d all the low-lying land. At the height of the flood, the top of the Sugarworks Dam was covered by {{convert|10|ft|m|0|order=flip}} of water.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www2.canterbury.nsw.gov.au/cooknet/www/html/209-cooks-river-history.html|title=Welcome to the City of Canterbury, Sydney, Australia|last=Australia|first=Canterbury City Council, Sydney|website=www2.canterbury.nsw.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2016-04-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13724598 |title=THE FLOODS IN THE SUBURBS. |newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=15,968 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 May 1889 |access-date=2 April 2016 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Authorities responded to the extensive damage and loss of animals by removing the dams and weirs. A proposed series of canals connecting the river with Sydney Harbour was not commenced. A sewage farm operated near the mouth of the river from 1889 to 1916. A railway was used in both the construction of mains and filtration buildings, as well as in the day-to-day operation, moving screened solids throughout the farm.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Botany - Rockdale Sewage Farm Railway |last=Thorpe|first=N.J. |journal=[[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]]|date=August 1969 |pages=165–177 }}</ref>

[[File:SLNSW 796183 Cooks River Campsie.jpg|thumb|View of the Cooks River at Campsie]]
Concreting of the river banks commenced in the 1930s and the Cooks River Improvement Act of 1946 confirmed the policy of the tidying up of an undisciplined stream within neat [[cement]] boundaries. Between 1947 and 1953, engineers diverted the original [[river mouth]] to the west of [[Sydney Airport]] to accommodate new runways.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adastra.adastron.com/projects/sydney-airport-1947-1975.htm|title=Sydney Airport 1947–1975|website=Adastra Aerial Surveys|access-date=22 May 2024}}</ref>

Initiatives from 1976 onwards have attempted to preserve and return the natural features of the river system with tree planting, pollution traps and [[landscaping]]. [[Footpath]]s and a cycle track were built to increase recreational use of the river. The NSW State Government committed {{AUD}}2.9&nbsp;million to the restoration of the sheet piling on the banks of the river.<ref name=Tebbutt/> In November 2007 the Federal [[Australian Labor Party]], then in opposition, made an announcement of A$2&nbsp;million for environmental projects on the Cooks River.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 November 2007 |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Labor-to-fund-Sydney-river-if-elected/2007/11/18/1195321595385.html |title=Labor to fund Sydney river if elected |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]]|access-date=27 August 2012 }}</ref>

In 2009, Strathfield Council established the [https://web.archive.org/web/20140512214245/http://www.cooksriverfunrun.com.au/index.html Cooks River Fun Run]. This event is held annually around June or July each year. The event starts at Freshwater Park Strathfield, with a 5&nbsp;km and 10&nbsp;km run, a 5&nbsp;km walk and 2&nbsp;km kids' run.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
CooksRiver3.jpg|Cooks River, railway bridge between Tempe and Wolli Creek
Cooks River Canterbury NSW.jpg|Industrial areas along the Cooks River at Canterbury
Cup and Saucer Creek and SugarMill NSW.jpg|Cooks River joined by [[Cup and Saucer Creek]]
Cooks river Hurlstone Park.jpg|Cooks River at [[Hurlstone Park]]
</gallery>

==See also==
{{stack|{{portal|New South Wales|Environment|Water}}}}
* [[List of rivers in Australia]]
* [[List of rivers in New South Wales (A-K)]]
* [[Rivers of New South Wales]]
* [[Cooks River/Castlereagh Ironbark ecological community]]
* [[Cooks River cycleway]]
* [[Cooks River Sewage Aqueduct]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/CooksRiver/maplg.htm|title=Cooks River catchment|format=map|work=[[Office of Environment & Heritage]]|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]}}
* {{cite web | url = http://dictionaryofsydney.org/natural_feature/cooks_river | title = Cooks River | access-date = 6 October 2015 | date = 2013 | work=[[Dictionary of Sydney]]| publisher = Dictionary of Sydney Trust}} <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Creative Commons license|CC-By-SA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki> Articles on history of Cooks River 
* [http://www2.canterbury.nsw.gov.au/cooknet/www/html/170-cooknet---the-cooks-river-portal.html Cooks Net]
* [http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/environment/in_your_community/cooks_river/riverlife.html?s=809002591 RiverLife]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090905021624/http://www.ourriver.com.au/ Cooks River Sustainability Initiative]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090912123357/http://www.sydneywater.com.au/MajorProjects/CooksRiverBankNaturalisation.cfm Cooks River Bank Naturalisation]
* [http://sydney.cma.nsw.gov.au/cooks-river/project-news/ Cooks River Urban Water Initiative]
* [http://members.ozemail.com.au/~dnoble/rides/Cooks_River_Cycleway.html The Cooks River Cycleway]
* [http://cooksriver.org.au/ Cooks River Alliance]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140512223724/http://www.cooksriverfunrun.com.au/ Cooks River Fun Run]
* [http://www.greenway.org.au/ Greenway - Cooks River to Iron Cove]
* [http://strathfieldheritage.org/buildings/cooks-river-strathfield-timeline/ Cooks River Strathfield - historical timeline]
* [http://meusepress.tripod.com/sydneyrivers.pdf Guide to Sydney Rivers site]

{{Waterways of Sydney|state=autocollapse}}
{{Rivers of the Sydney Basin|state=autocollapse}}
{{Rivers of New South Wales|state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:Cooks River| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Sydney]]
[[Category:Kyeemagh, New South Wales]]