Management

WaterNSW actively manages the Greater Sydney drinking water catchment areas.

Managing the catchment

Protecting catchment health now and into the future.

Catchment management, at this time, only extends to the Greater Sydney drinking water catchment.

The Sydney catchment area covers 16,000 square kilometres. More than one-third is agricultural land, and just under one-third is national park and bushland.
The catchment area is also home to 125,000 people living in 13 local government areas.

WaterNSW, sets the strategic direction for protecting the Sydney catchment area based on:

  • scientific and technical information
  • best management practices
  • experience of landowners and other catchment stakeholders

To learn more about our catchment management strategy, please read the documents below.

Research plays a key role in our management of the Sydney catchment. Each year we publish a Catchment Protection Work Program (available below) that details the specific work and activities that will be delivered.

At the end of every year, we also report on our progress in our Annual Catchment Management Report (available below).

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WaterNSW acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and pay our respects to all elders past, present and emerging. Learn more