Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority has merged with Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Authority

The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Action Plan (CAP) is central to the delivery of natural resource management throughout our region.

The vision described by the CAP is "Community Growth Reconciled with Nature - An urban community that thrives within a valued natural landscape".

The CAP depicts a region where there are strong and positive links between healthy, functioning natural resource systems, vibrant communities and a robust and sustainable economy.

The CAP is the reference document for the community,Australian and NSW Government, state owned corporations, industry, peak bodies and in particular local councils who are the CMA’s primary partners in specific programs. Importantly, the CAP has a key role in addressing the priorities of the State Plan at the local level. The NSW State Plan identifies targets which will guide the implementation of CAPs to ensure better outcomes for native vegetation, biodiversity, land, rivers and coastal waterways.

The CAP complements other natural resource management plans, including regional strategies, water sharing plans and regional conservation plans.

The CAP is the result of extensive collaboration with local groups, Aboriginal communities, local government, industry, NSW and Commonwealth agencies to develop the best priorities and investments for natural resource management at a catchment level.

A copy of the SMCMA CAP targets   Download.

The Catchment Action Plan is available in sections or as a single downloadable file.
Download Catchment Action Plan - entire document (7MB PDF)
		The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Action Plan	Download
Download Catchment Action Plan in sections.
		Minister’s Forward	Download
		Table of Contents	Download
Sections 1 to 5 develop the major themes for sustainable natural resource management in the Sydney Metropolitan region and show how the coordination and facilitation roles of the SMCMA will add value by better integrating stakeholder activity so that positive connective processes in natural systems are strengthened.
		Section 1: Meeting the natural resource challenges of the Sydney Metropolitan catchment region – the strategic role of the SMCMA.	Download
		Section 2: An overview of how the CAP targets improve community, institutional and natural process connections to contribute to the achievement of the State-wide natural resource management targets.	Download
		Section 3: How the SMCMA operates and how it will engage with its institutional and community partners to improve natural resource values.	Download
		Section 4: How scientific, institutional and community knowledge of the catchment has been used to identify natural resource management priorities and targets for the region.	Download
		Section 5: Catchment Targets describe the trends (improvements) in the condition of key natural resource values that SMCMA and its regional partners are aiming to achieve.	Download
Sections 6 to 9 set out the most important processes that need to change if risks to key natural resource values in the region are to be reduced. These chapters introduce and explain the Management Targets that will be the focus of efforts to improve the condition of natural resource values for the Sydney Metropolitan catchment region.
		Section 6: BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT TARGETS - partners and activities for improvement in Biodiversity values.	Download
		Section 7: WATER MANAGEMENT TARGETS - partners and activities for improvement in aquatic systems, including freshwater creeks, wetlands and groundwater, estuaries and marine waters.	Download
		Section 8: LAND MANAGEMENT TARGETS - partners and activities to manage land capability hazards and constraints, protecting soil and landscape condition and minimising risks to bushland and aquatic systems.	Download
		Section 9: COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT TARGETS - partners and activities to improve community capacity to engage constructively in sustainable natural resource management that supports the social and economic lifestyles which Sydney residents enjoy.	Download
Section 10 identifies important areas of uncertainty and areas for improving the strategic focus of the CAP. This section also discusses how SMCMA proposes to improve its own operations and its systems for working with partners in the region.
		Section 10: MER AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT - how the CAP will be improved over time.	Download
		Section 11: Includes references and appendices	Download