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Stormwater Management

With the exception of major trunk drainage lines which are owned and managed by Sydney Water, the City of Sydney has primary responsibility for managing urban stormwater in the Local Government Area (LGA).

Stormwater Plans

In 1999, the City of Sydney (and former South Sydney) with Sydney Water and the Roads and Traffic Authority prepared regional Stormwater Management Plans for Port Jackson South, Cooks River and Mills Pond Creek.

These plans have guided various structural and non-structural programs that the City has used to reduce stormwater pollution. PDF versions of the SMPs can be downloaded below.

Stormwater Programs

fish gratesSculptured stormwater grates

The City has installed 43 sculptured stormwater grates throughout the Glebe catchment area. The grates incorporate a fish design to remind people that materials entering the stormwater drain affect the health of our harbour and its marine life.

Erosion and sediment control

When development applications involving earthworks are submitted, the City distributes information packs on erosion and sediment control for builders and developers, to ensure that nothing but water enters our stormwater system. Where breaches occur, City Rangers can issue warnings, clean-up notices and ultimately infringements.

Federal Park WetlandWetland maintenance

As part of an ongoing maintenance regime of the salt marsh wetland at Federal Park Glebe, the City engaged services to remove sediment build up that was reducing our effectiveness to capture pollution from stormwater.

Blackwattle Bay stormwater education

In 2005 the City completed our NSW Stormwater Trust funded program to educate businesses, residents, Council staff, the Sydney Fish Market and builders in the Blackwattle Bay catchment on ways to prevent stormwater pollution and the effects it has on water quality. For more information, download the PDF summary reports below.

Spill Response Trailer

RTA spill trailer

The City of Sydney and adjoining Councils now have spill response trailers. All cleansing staff are trained in spill identification and procedures. Managers and team leaders are trained in managing a spill response and cost recovery where the source can be identified. City Rangers have been trained in the pollution laws and cost recovery.

Pollution Traps

The City maintains 11 gross pollution traps and 4,000 trapped gully pits preventing around 1,300 tonnes of rubbish from entering our bays and harbour each year.

Street Cleansing

Each year, the City's street cleansing program also removes waste and litter from roads and footways preventing it from entering our drains and waterways.

In 2004, the City conducted a street sweeping trial where samples were collected from locations around the local government area and analysed for a range of heavy metals.

The results showed streets that are regularly cleaned are lower in potential toxic pollutants. Sites sampled near parkland and vegetation had lower pollutant levels, showing the ability of vegetation to absorb pollutants.

For more information, download the PDF summary report below.

Water Sensitive Urban Design

Developments designed around reducing demands on mains water supply and reducing stormwater pollution are known as water sensitive urban design (WSUD). For more information see www.wsud.org

The City has installed 20 biofiltration tree pits along Darlinghurst Road. Because busy roads are a major source of pollutants entering Sydney Harbour, the pits are designed to treat stormwater pollution collected from gutters. The design is beneficial for the trees with more growing room and a pocket of air to ensure roots are not damaged.

A stormwater treatment system also has been designed for two sites as part of the Glebe foreshore upgrade. Biofiltration swales will be incorporated into the park design to remove pollution from stormwater before it enters Blackwattle Bay.

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Last Updated: Thursday 18 August, 2011

Please Note:
While care is taken to ensure accuracy, the City of Sydney cannot guarantee that information expressed here is correct and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. The City of Sydney makes no warranty or undertaking, whether expressed or implied, nor does it assume any legal liability, whether direct or indirect.