Liveability and an urban creek : perspectives and dreams of residents who are not yet

Over the next 20 years the population of Western Sydney is expected to increase by 900,000. Added to this residential expansion will be a focus on economic activity and employment within the Western Sydney employment lands. This area includes key centres such as the future second airport at Badgerys Creek. Much of the forecast growth will occur within the South Creek catchment, the longest freshwater creek in Sydney. The transformation of the 630km2 catchment from predominantly peri-urban, pasture and market gardens to an urbanscape will radically change the form and ecology of South Creek. Existing creek management objectives and development policies focus on nutrient pollution discharge to the downstream Hawkesbury estuary and do not reflect contemporary knowledge of ecological waterway outcomes. In this paper we conceptualise and document waterway outcomes for South Creek and its tributaries to inform future water servicing and urban form. We document the current ecological and social status of this waterway and present outcomes to maximise liveability for a community yet to arrive. This is achieved by identifying linkages between waterway health concepts, human wellbeing and the potential aspirations and dreams of a future urban community.