The Community

• Population of approximately 15,000
• 30% of population born overseas
• 3 bushcare groups
• 5 active Streamwatch groups

Land Use

• Area = 783 hectares
• 5,000 properties
• 60 residential (houses)
• 10 % commercial (industrial, shopping)
• 10 % infrastructure (roads, rail)
• 20 % open space and bushland
• Covers parts of: Parramatta City Council and Baulkham Hills Shire Council.

Geology

• The Hornsby Plateau occurs in the north-eastern area of the catchment and dominated by the dissected terrain which cuts through Hawkesbury Sandstone.
• The soils are diverse and include shale caps on the ridges.

Waterways

• Hunts Creek is the main tributary flowing into Lake Parramatta. It joined by Seville Creek below James Ruse High.
• Both creeks are natural, but are fed by hundreds of stormwater drains. All stormwater run-off in the catchment drains into Lake Parramatta.
• The creeks flow through narrow sandstone valleys forming a series of cascading pools.

Biodiversity

• Approximately 10% of catchment is remnant vegetation.
• Weeds such as privet and lantana are a problem.
• Ring tail and brush tail possums, water dragons and over 60 species of birds are found in the reserve.
• Foxes, rabbits and feral cats are a big problem. Fox baiting has been undertaken in the Lake Parramatta Reserve since 2002 with some success
• A recent fauna survey found sugar gliders in the reserve.