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

In 2004, at the time of the establishment of the SMCMA, a Community Forum was held, called the Sydney Hands-On Environmental Forum. This provided a foundation for the SMCMA community program.

Between 2004 and 2007 feedback from Sydney's environmental volunteers indicated that they would value an annual Community Forum where they could meet and share their successes, network to obtain advice on their challenges and generally celebrate their hard work with like-minded individuals.

The SMCMA Community Forum is now an established event on the environmental volunteer calendar.

2012 - Held at Waterview Convention Centre in Bicentennial Park. The theme was “Looking Back…Thinking Forward”. Some 89 people from 50 different environmental volunteer groups attended. Dr Siwan Lovett, Director of the Australian River Restoration Centre gave a captivating presentation “Connections that count: people, place and passion”. Participants were asked to identify their key achievements and challenges and to create a timeline showing when their environmental volunteering experience began. An inaugural photography competition and exhibition was held in conjunction with the event. Winners were selected for “Best photo of a Bushcare site that demonstrates work in progress”, “Best photo of an environmental volunteer group” and “People’s Choice” categories.

2011 - Held at the Epping Club. The focus of the day was “Biodiversity and the science of what we do” to restore the environment. Bernie Hobbs (ABC science presenter) facilitated and spoke about her experience converting the “science=yawn” crowd.  Professor Andrew Beattie spoke about the true wealth of biodiversity, and the importance of its preservation. Dorothy Luther from Wolli Creek Preservation Society, Bill Jones from Quarry Creek Bushcare and Ray Kearney from Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc presented community perspectives showcasing Sydney’s biodiversity. The second Regional Awards were held. Six Regional Awards were given (two Innovation Awards, an Education Environment Award, an Aboriginal Education Award, a Community Group Environment Award and an Urban Landcare Award) and three Highly Commended Awards were given. Award winners gave presentations about their sites and achievements.

2010 - Held at The Waterview Conference Centre, Bicentennial Park, with the theme of "Inspirations and Innovations". Les Robinson, author of "Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney" and director of Enabling Change, facilitated the Forum and spoke on his own inspirations, and on inspirations and innovations more generally. Mia Dalby-Ball from Dragonfly Environmental Pty Ltd gave a talk entitled Inspiration and Motivation: the many benefits of Bushcare, and Tabatha Timbery-Cann, the SMCMA’s Indigenous Catchment Officer, spoke on Connecting to our Urban Country. There was also a performance by "Descendance", an Aboriginal dance troupe.

2009 - Held at the Kirribilli Club, Lavender Bay. The theme for the day was “Connecting People and Places”, and it incorporated the presentation of the SMCMA’s inaugural Regional Awards. The day was MC’d by Brett de Hoedt of Hootville Communications, who also spoke on effective communications for volunteer groups. Megan Tattersall, a Caring for Our Country Facilitator discussed secrets for successful groups. Four Regional Awards (Education Environment Award, Aboriginal Environment Award, Community Group Environment Award, and an Urban Environment Project Award) as well as three Highly Commended awards, were handed out to volunteers on the day by SMCMA Board Members and Mr Brian Scarsbrick, then CEO of Landcare Australia Ltd.

2008 - Held at the Novotel in Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush. The theme for the Forum was “Building Partnerships for the Environment”. Dr Jane Tarran, senior lecturer from UTS presented “Biodiversity in Urban Sydney – Achievements and Opportunities”, and there were presentations from Mudcrabs (Cooks River Eco Volunteers), Wolli Creek Preservation Society, Barrangal Landcare Group, Inner West Environment Group, and EcoDivers.

2007 - Held at the Mercure Hotel Sydney, Central. The keynote address of the 2007 Forum was “Adapting to Climate Change – implications for managing biodiversity in Sydney”, presented by Professor Lesley Hughes, and workshops facilitated by Les Robinson were held in the afternoon to discuss lessons learned within volunteer groups and ways for the SMCMA to support them. As part of the enthusiastic discussion a plan of "Future Action" was compiled.