Sullivans Creek Catchment Group Inc
Profile of Organisation
The Sullivans Creek Catchment Group Inc. (SCCG), is a volunteer / community-based
organisation that seeks to facilitate the restoration, protection, maintenance and
enhancement of the natural, social and economic values of the Sullivans Creek
catchment. This is achieved through the strategic implementation of an integrated
catchment management plan developed in consultation with the catchment community,
government agencies, scientific and technical experts and corporate partners. SCCG has
been operating for approximately four years and has been funded by the Natural Heritage
Trust, the ACT Environment Grants Program and the private sector to date.
A particular focus of SCCG is the restoration of Sullivans Creek, which has been lined
with concrete in the urban part of the catchment. SCCG’s major objective is to restore the
urban sections of Sullivans Creek to a more natural and effective system of wetlands and
vegetated channels. Through the restoration strategy, SCCG will facilitate the
development of community volunteers participating in the environmental and social
management / maintenance of the restored areas. SCCG also promotes the use of Water
Sensitive Urban Design in both re-development and greenfields development.
The diversity of stakeholders within the catchment has resulted in a variety of
management regimes that are often conflicting. It was recognised that there was a lack of
coordination, communication and integration between these groups, which prevented the
catchment from being managed in a complimentary and interactive fashion. In order to
address the complex issues facing the catchment it was necessary to create an
administrative body that could liaise between the existing groups, and to plan and oversee
the implementation of a catchment management plan. Sullivans Creek Catchment Group
was established to undertake this role. (See Attachment 1. List of key stakeholders).
SCCG has an established Technical Advisory Committee to provide the group with
technical expertise on a range of issues. (See Attachment 2. Technical Advisory
Committee Membership).
A focus of SCCG is to build on the community /government partnership in the area of
Sullivans Creek Catchment in north Canberra (See Attachment 3. Brochure showing map
of Sullivans Creek Catchment). Sullivans Creek Catchment includes the residential
suburbs of Acton, Turner, O’Connor, Lyneham, Ainslie, Dickson, Downer, Hackett,
Watson and Mitchell. Urban areas comprise approximately 48% of the catchment, rural
land under leases and licenses 35% and land in conservation reserves 17%. The key
boundary landmarks to the area are Black Mountain, O’Connor & Bruce Ridges and
Crace Grasslands in the west and Mts Majura & Ainslie to the east. The headwaters of
creek start close to the northern ACT / NSW border and the creek flows into Lake Burley
Griffin. The majority of the rural land is zoned for residential development estimated to
take place in 15-20 years time.
SCCG developed a draft “Sullivans Creek Catchment Management Plan” (SCCMP) in
the year 2000, of which a Wetland Restoration Strategy and the promotion of water
sensitive urban design are major components. The SCCMP is based directly on
community consultation outcomes. Two overwhelming comments were made throughout
the consultation process. The first was an emphasis on the requirement for water to be
visible in the landscape so that city-based people can understand its importance in an
urban context. That is, the community wants to see the creek restored to a living,
healthier and more natural system. The second was concern regarding the apparent lack
of cohesion between the activities and managers across the range of stakeholders
managing natural resources in the catchment.
The aim of the SCCMP is to provide an agreed set of issues, objectives and actions that
are strategically developed and coordinated across the catchment by the relevant land and
water managers – both community and Government. When implemented, these actions
will improve the environmental health and level of community stewardship in Sullivans
Creek Catchment. The Wetland Restoration Strategy identifies 14 sites for possible
constructed wetlands in the urban part of Sullivans Creek Catchment. (See Attachment 4.
Sites identified for possible wetlands in Sullivans Creek Catchment). The proposed
wetland sites are located in urban areas on tributaries of Sullivans Creek, excepting one
located on the Australian National University Campus. The wetlands will need to be
retrofitted into the urban areas.
It is envisaged that the Wetland Restoration Strategy will be implemented over the next
5-15 years on an individual wetland project basis. As funding for each wetland is secured
through the development of partnerships, each wetland will be planned and constructed
with local resident input. SCCG has now identified a range of funding sources on which
to draw upon.
The Broader Catchment Context
SCCG is very aware of the broader catchment context in which it is operating. The below
facts highlight the importance of the approach that Sullivans Creek Catchment Group is
taking to the down stream health of the Murray Darling Basin System.
 Sullivans Creek is the second largest tributary flowing into Lake Burley Griffin,
which is a major recreational and visual feature for Canberra.
 Sullivans Creek is the most densely populated and developed sub-catchment in the
ACT, and is the also Canberra’s most degraded and polluted creek.
 Lake Burley Griffin is located on the Molonglo River, a major tributary of the
Murrumbidgee River, which is a major tributary to the River Murray.
 Canberra is located high upstream in the Murrumbidgee Catchment – which is a
unique situation in Australia. For all the other major catchments in Australia urban
areas are located at their base - downstream.


The Murrumbidgee Catchment is one of Australia’s most productive catchments, that
is pollutes by the ACT due to the size of its urban footprint and its location upstream.
Canberra is the largest city in the Murray-Darling Basin, making Sullivans Creek a
significant down stream polluter for Australia’s largest catchment.
Development of Community / Business Government Partnerships
SCCG is interested in facilitating the implementation of Integrated Catchment
Management (ICM) in Sullivans Creek Catchment by involving the maximum diversity
of stakeholders to contribute to the development, planning and implementation of onground projects.
The ICM Framework for the ACT, produced by Environment ACT, DUS outlines an
approach to catchment management that involves:
“...the integration of natural resource management across the whole of government
and the many sectors of the community that use and manage these resources. ICM
can only be achieved by fostering cooperation and coordination between the
interested parties and must be able to reflect many different perspectives”
(ACT Government, Environment ACT “An Integrated Catchment Management
Framework for the ACT”, 1, 2000).
The ICM Framework outlines five building blocks of which SCCG has incorporated into
the SCCMP and this project proposal. The building blocks are:
 an effective partnership with government;
 appropriate knowledge and skills;
 legislative coordination mechanisms;
 management coordination mechanisms; and
 effective resource use.
The relevant building blocks have been used by SCCG in developing a process to plan
for SCCG projects. SCCG is developing a partnership with government as demonstrated
through the successful functioning of the Technical Advisory Committee. SCCG has
actively participated in the Community/Government Partnership Project initiated by
Environment ACT, DUS. The SCCG Technical Advisory Committee has also been the
key vehicle for SCCG to harness the appropriate knowledge and skills necessary to plan,
coordinate and implement technically feasible and cost-effective projects in the
catchment. SCCG has produced a plan to ensure that the projects proposed are not ‘adhoc’ in their placement, but are strategically sited within the catchment.
SCCG has formed many links with government agencies, community groups and
businesses to date. This project will continue to maintain and form additional links and
partnerships with a diversity of community, government and business organisations.
SCCG has been successful in gaining significant financial support ($165,000 cash) from
CIC Pendon (land developer) for the construction of the first retrofitted wetland in the
ACT, located adjacent to David Street, and the City Edge housing redevelopment in
O’Connor. SCCG plans to extend this approach to funding wetlands across the
catchment. In terms of this project proposal, opportunities exist for securing joint funding
arrangements with land developers undertaking redevelopment projects in the area of
Lyneham and SCCG is currently investigating potential business partners for the
construction of the identified wetland site.
SCCG is also building working relations with Planning and Land Management (PALM)
Government officers to coordinate the construction of wetlands and stormwater detention
facilities in areas identified for redevelopment in subsequent years.
SCCG has gained support from many businesses in the private sector to differing extents.
SCCG is supported by the Australian National University (ANU) through provision of an
office and administrative support as an in-kind contribution to the group’s activities.
This support has a monetary value of over $10,000 per year. Contributions from the
business sector have kept SCCG project costs to a minimum. SCCG will continue to
actively seek to establish relations with the business sector throughout this project.
Significant private sector sponsorship of SCCG has come from:
















The Australian National University (ANU)
CIC Pendon and Community Housing Canberra
Seeds and Plants Australia
Geoff Butler and Associates
Young Consulting Engineers
Kennards Hiring Service
Delicateating Restaurant
Colin Lyons Signs
Dulux Paint
Global Learning
The School of Art, ANU
Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT)
CRC for Freshwater Ecology
Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies (CRES), ANU
Canberra Sand and Gravel
Nehemiah Constructions.
SCCG has developed effective working relations with the Residents Associations of
North Canberra and many active community groups in the ACT. SCCG forms part of the
Landcare network in the ACT and aims to continue promoting the landcare ethic through
all projects. SCCG is an active member group of the Conservation Council of South-East
Region and Canberra. The structure of SCCG has been designed to allow for wide
membership and involvement in projects.
SCCG holds monthly Committee and General meetings that are open to the public. The
General meetings provide an important education and training forum for environmental
issues in the catchment, whereby guest speakers give presentations on a range of
interesting topics.
These meetings also provide an important forum for members of the community to voice
their opinions on a range of topics, lead discussions and seek practical solutions.
Most environmental community activity in the ACT is based around the protection /
restoration of waterways and nature reserves. Few environmental based community
groups have formed in Sullivans Creek Catchment to date due to the fact that the creek is
lined with concrete and many members of the public are not aware that it is a natural
creek system. SCCG has facilitated community awareness and activity in the area of
north Canberra, with an email network of over 350 people and membership rapidly
increasing. There is a lot of demonstrable community support for SCCG activities and
many volunteers came forward with interest in undertaking on-ground, planning and
other project activities associated with the recently constructed O’Connor Wetland.
SCCG plans to review and finalise the SCCMP in 2002. This process will involve setting
priorities for actions in the catchment, identifying roles and responsibilities and liaising
closely with government to program capital works and allocate funds to actions.