Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance

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Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance

The Hawkesbury Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance (HNWA) is a group of organisations committed to ensuring

The Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance acknowledge the Darug and Darkinjung people, the original custodians of the country where we live and work. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and offer our deep respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. The Hawkesbury Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance (HNWA) are a group of organisations committed to ensuring a health

y, liveable, swimmable, fishable Hawkesbury-Nepean River into the future by:

- being an effective, independent public advocate for the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and its tributaries
- providing a unified voice, representative of the community, in relation to whole-of-river issues
- identifying, creating and implement initiatives that will protect and restore the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and its tributaries
- building and fostering relationships with all stakeholders and supporting community education
- working with local First Nation organisations advocating for River Dyarubbin
- ensuring integrated management founded upon stewardship
- building and making publicly accessible knowledge relating to the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment
- celebrating the ecological and social value of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River and its tributaries

The HNWA is coordinated Western Sydney University's Sustainability Education and Partnerships (comprising RCE Greater Western Sydney) and School of Science, Greater Sydney Landcare Network (GLSN) with Streamwatch and GLSN member groups: Cattai Hills Environment Network (CHEN), Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network (HNLN) and Hawkesbury Environment Network (HEN).

28/08/2026

Not all greenery is good for our waterways. Running bamboo is a serious threat, and one we’re finding across our catchment. It crowds out native vegetation, reduced diversity and can contribute to bank instability and erosion, especially in flood-prone areas like the Hawkesbury-Nepean.

As part of our RRRP Project, we’re working with private landholders along Little Wheeny Creek to remove bamboo and working to create a healthy riparian habitat. 🌱

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program and supported by Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.

26/08/2026

The Hawkesbury-Nepean faces many significant ongoing challenges, including turbidity and litter impacts. As these build up in our waterways, pools become shallower, waterways narrower, and even the water course itself changes, making platypus more vulnerable to predators, increasing entanglement risks, and exacerbating climate change effects.

Fortunately, we can all make a difference. By keeping litter out of waterways, planting native vegetation to slow water flow and installing sediment fencing near stormwater drains or creeks, we can help protect our local environment.

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program and supported by Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.

24/08/2026

Did you know that platypus need much more than just water to thrive? Healthy platypus populations depend on resilient riparian habitats. These are the vegetated areas along rivers and creeks that provide food, shelter, and protection, including:

✅ A wide riparian zone (at least 3 metres)
✅ Tall trees
✅ Overhanging vegetation
✅ Woody debris and organic matter
✅ Lack of sedimentation

How does your property rate? Undertake a rapid platypus habitat assessment:https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/harwest/shared-media/platypus-rapid-habitat-assessment-onlineversion-2026.pdf

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.

21/08/2026

Did you know invasive vines like Cat’s Claw Creeper can smother native vegetation?

These w**ds spread easily along our waterways (especially with localised flooding), but community action can make a real difference. By learning to identify invasive species, reporting or safely removing infestations where you can, and supporting local restoration efforts like Landcare, we can help protect our riparian zones and the wildlife that depends on them. 🍃💧

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.
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19/08/2026

Say hi to June, one of your local platypus! 👋

Most people don't expect to find platypus living so close to urban areas, but June is proof. Living near Kurrajong, June, like the other platypus in our catchment, is helping researchers better understand how healthy creek systems support one of Australia's most iconic species.

Little Wheeny Creek and Wheeny Creek are currently undergoing important riparian restoration works to improve habitat quality and give platypus like June the best chance to thrive for generations to come. Through community engagement, habitat restoration and ongoing monitoring, we're all working to ensure platypus continue to call our local waterways home. 🌱💙

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.

17/08/2026

🌿 Privet is an invasive woody w**d that can take over riverbanks. Healthy waterways depend on healthy native vegetation. By carefully managing invasive w**ds and restoring native plant communities, we can help create better homes for platypus and other local wildlife that call riparian zones there home.

💡 Platypus Month Tip: If you're managing woody w**ds along a creek or river, avoid removing large infestations all at once. Gradual removal, combined with replanting native species, can help stabilise riverbanks, reduce erosion and maintain habitat while the area recovers.

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.

11/08/2026

Say hi to Alexandra, your local platypus! 👋

At 37.5 cm and under a kilo, she’s a superstar. Alexandra will spend a week crafting a cosy burrow, filling it with wet materials, and keeping her eggs warm until they hatch. She’ll spend most of her time in the burrow feeding her young milk until the end of summer when her young beginning to explore their local waterways.

It’s important to keep our river and creek banks quiet from October to March (in NSW) to help platypus like Alexandra thrive. Our RRRP project is all about restoring, protecting, and monitoring our platypus and their habitats. 🌱

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.
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Hawkesbury Nepean Platypus Project

09/08/2026

Do you know what platypus eat? They feast on a variety of water bugs (more technically known as macroinvertebrates) who can be found living under leaf litter, rocks, sediment and submerged logs in the waterway.

Good platypus habitat features a variety of substrates for food, while overhanging branches and vegetation makes it safer for them to forage.

Through the RRRP project, we’re working to improve these conditions in a range of locations across the Hawkesbury-Nepean!

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.
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06/08/2026

Riparian zones are vital habitats for biodiversity, including our platypus. They offer safe burrowing and foraging grounds. By maintaining your riparian habitat, you can help protect local species, improve water quality, and keep your property and our waterways healthy.

We’re working with local property owners giving them a helping hand in enhancing these features, and building a connected network of Platypus Parks.

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.
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04/08/2026

August is Platypus Month 💚

Platypus live right here in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River catchment, including in our urban creeks. This month, we’re highlighting how healthy riverbanks, interconnected waterways, and community action can help protect these unique animals. Help keep our rivers resilient for platypus! 💧

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, with the support of Western Sydney University and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Waterkeeper Alliance.

Address

Hawkesbury, NSW
2753

Website

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/harwest/harwest/hawkesbury-nepean_waterkeepers_alliance

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