The Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley is a massive area in outer north-western Sydney. The topography and rich alluvial soils have made it ideal for farmland, and for well over a century it has provided much of the fresh produce for the Sydney region. More recently, residential development has increased significantly with many new suburbs and associated infrastructure.
The Valley is also a major floodplain. Five major rivers and their tributaries flow into the valley, but there is only one outlet to the ocean, through the narrow Sackville Gorge. Floodwater backs up and spreads across the floodplain causing wide, deep and damaging floods. While flooding is an important natural process, there have been many occasions when floods in this valley have caused widespread destruction of property, and there has also been loss of life.
How it came together
Under the Flood Strategy, an innovative interagency approach to developing the resource pulled together experts and expertise from educational institutions across all levels and from all sectors, as well as government departments and agencies. An extremely high level of cooperation and dedication saw those involved share their skills and knowledge with overwhelming generosity.
Research and specialist input from a Schools Advisory Committee led to the selection of ‘Water in the World’ as the most suitable element of the school curriculum to support with learning and teaching resources on flood risk and resilience. Following a robust process, the Centre for Educational Research at Western Sydney University was selected to take the lead role as educational specialists to develop the resources.
Acknowledgements
Agencies and organisations
- Infrastructure NSW
- NSW SES
- Bureau of Meteorology
- NSW Police
- NSW Office of Emergency Management
- Esri Australia
- Hawkesbury City Council, Penrith City Council, The Hills Shire Council
Schools Advisory Committee
- Cross Sector Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE) Committee
- NSW Geography Teachers Association (GTA)
- Western Sydney Social Science Teachers Association (WESSSTA)
- Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW)
- NSW Department of Education (DOE)
- NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)
Western Sydney University Project Team
- Prof. Kathryn Holmes
- Prof. Basant Maheshwari
- Dr Kay Carroll (Lead)
- Dr Erin Mackenzie
- Dr Nathan Berger
- Ms Sasha Jessop
Writing Team
- Rex Cooke – Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview
- Helena Christophoridis – Our Lady of Mercy College, Burraneer
- Susan Caldis – Macquarie University and NSW Geography Teachers’ Association
- Steve Etheridge – Penrith Environmental Education Centre and Western Sydney Social Science Teachers’ Association
- Kimberley Parnis – Marist College, Parramatta