NSW Liberal Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Minister for the Environment Michael Richardson announced today a Liberal/Nationals Government would rescue the Cooks River from Labor’s 12 years of environmental neglect.

“Over the last 12 years, the Carr/Iemma Labor Government has done nothing to fix the Cooks River which for decades has been a polluted suburban drain filled with toxic sediments,” Mr Debnam said.

“I recently kayaked up the Cooks River and was disgusted by the filthy water and the foul stench from the toxic sediment,” he said.

“It really is a 19^th century sewer. Given Bob Carr and Morris Iemma have refused to fix it, I will take responsibility to fix this problem.

“Under a NSW Liberal/Nationals Government, $5 million will be allocated to reverse Labor’s neglect of this historic waterway,” he said.

During its first term a NSW Liberal/Nationals Government will:

1.         Re-establish the Cooks River Catchment Management Committee (CMC) as part of the Sydney Metro Catchment Management Authority;

2.            Approve a management plan for the identification of hot spots within sub-catchments.

3.         Under the direction of the CMC, $4.6 million will fund the following activities as part of the management plan to:

·        Introduce offline wetlands where possible, and vertical flow filters;

·        Introduce end of pipe traps and collection booms;

·        Install fish regeneration areas in concrete sections of the river;

·        Re-establish flora undergrowth corridors along the river foreshores for balanced biodiversity, and

·        Replace and restore dangerous sections of the river bank.

4.         Work with local councils to reduce the number of wet weather overflows.

5.         Identify future projects to remove concrete and steel sheeting, and toxic sediments by 2015.

Mr Richardson said the Liberals are committed to restoring the Cooks River to an ecologically sustainable state where aquatic life can flourish.

"The Carr-Iemma Labor Government talks about the environment a lot, but there's been no action," he said.

"Labor's promises to clean up the river have simply evaporated.

"I will ensure a co-operative approach between local residents, business and government to clean up the river.

"For the last four years, Morris Iemma has either been Health Minister or Premier and he has failed to take action to clean it up to the extent that the dioxin crisis in Sydney Harbour means nobody can eat any fish caught in the harbour. It's a disgrace.

"After 12 years, Carr/Iemma Labor has had long enough. The time for excuses is over.

"NSW needs higher standards and better services," Mr Richardson said.

ENDS