Northwest Sydney land and waterways

Reducing flooding, and caring for land and water

We own low-lying stormwater land, also known as trunk drainage land, in Northwest Sydney. It's important for us to find ways to reduce flood risk to the many properties in this area, restore local creeks and waterways and improve the quality of water entering the Hawkesbury–Nepean River.

We own stormwater, or 'trunk drainage', land in Northwest Sydney, also known as the 'Rouse Hill Development Area'. Trunk drainage land is low lying land that's prone to flash flooding. This land may look like creeks, bushland, or parks and reserves, with stormwater pits or concrete channels in the middle. Housing is often built very close to creeks and trunk drainage land.

We care for the land to reduce flood risk to properties, restore local creeks and waterways and improve the quality of water entering the Hawkesbury–Nepean River.

We regularly maintain and rehabilitate local creeks and bushland in this area by planting local native plants and removing weeds and invasive species. Each year we remove around 375 cubic metres of rubbish and 510 tonnes of sediment from trunk drainage land in the Rouse Hill Development Area.

We restore local creeks and improve waterway health across Northwest Sydney.

New plan of management

We’re currently preparing a new plan of management for the Rouse Hill trunk drainage lands. This will direct our ongoing works to protect and enhance the natural environment in the area. We'll share the details of this plan with the community when its completed.
 

Strangers Creek

Strangers Creek is a tributary of Caddies Creek, which has undergone significant urban development since the 1990s. In 2019, we completed revitalising 1.9 kilometres of Strangers Creek.

This project involved rehabilitating the creek banks and establishing a habitat for fauna. This helped to restore the natural environment and character of the creek.
 

Elizabeth Macarthur Creek

We're looking at revitalising part of Elizabeth Macarthur Creek in Kellyville to protect the flood-prone land, rehabilitate the creek and protect the environment. We'll let the community know when this project is due to start.
 

Metro Northwest stormwater options assessment

We're currently identifying and prioritising stormwater system improvement projects in the Metro Northwest Urban Renewal Corridor. We'll share these details with the community when we know more.

How can you prevent weeds growing in bushland?
  • Choose native plants where you can. Exotics can spread and overrun native bushland.
  • Don’t dump garden waste or lawn clippings in bushland. They contain seeds that damage native bushland and waterways.
  • Don’t damage plants or wildlife in bushland. This includes mowing grass and removing plants.
  • Don’t dump rubbish or building materials in bushland, creeks or stormwater channels.

Learn more about Other weeds in bushland and reserves (5.4 MB)

Report any rubbish or building material by contacting:

Or you can call us on 13 20 92.

To learn more, please call us on 13 20 92 during working hours.