Coxs River

Last updated

Coxs
Coxs River Blue Mountains.jpg
Coxs River near Mount Cookem
Coxs River
EtymologyIn honour of William Cox [1]
Location
Country Australia
State New South Wales
Region Sydney Basin (IBRA), Central Tablelands, Blue Mountains, Macarthur
Local government areas Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Wollondilly
Physical characteristics
SourceGardiners Gap, within Ben Bullen State Forest
 • location Cullen Bullen
 • elevation1,040 m (3,410 ft)
Mouth confluence with Warragamba River to form Lake Burragorang
 • elevation
114 m (374 ft)
Length155 km (96 mi)
Basin features
River system Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment
Tributaries 
 • leftBlackheath Creek, Pulpit Hill Creek, Megalong Creek, Galong Creek, Breakfast Creek (New South Wales), Cedar Creek (New South Wales), Kedumba River
 • rightGanbenang Creek, Long Swamp Creek, Little River (Oberon), Jenolan River, Kanangra Creek, Kowmung River, Wollondilly River, Butchers Creek
Bridges
Reservoirs Lake Wallace, Lake Lyell, Lake Burragorang
[2] [3]

The Coxs River, a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Central Tablelands, Blue Mountains, and Macarthur regions of New South Wales, Australia.

Contents

Course and features

The Coxs River rises in Gardiners Gap, within Ben Bullen State Forest, east of Cullen Bullen, and flows through the Megalong Valley and parts of the Greater Blue Mountains Area World Heritage Site including the Blue Mountains and Kanangra-Boyd national parks, heading generally south and then east, joined by fifteen tributaries including the Little, Jenolan, Kedumba, Kowmung, and Wollondilly rivers, before reaching its confluence with the Warragamba River to form Lake Burragorang. The river descends 931 metres (3,054 ft) over its 155-kilometre (96 mi) course. [3]

The river is impounded at Lake Wallace where it forms a cooling source for Wallerawang Power Station; at Lake Lyell where it is used for water supply for the city of Lithgow and water cooling for Wallerawang Power Station; [4] and at Lake Burragorang, a major water supply source for greater metropolitan Sydney.

At Wallerawang, the river is crossed by a stone single-track railway bridge, completed in 1870; and a replacement masonry/brick double-track railway underbridge, completed in 1923. [5] East of Wallerawang, the Great Western Highway (A32) also crosses the river, via the Jack Wilson Bridge.

History

To the Aboriginal peoples who lived in the area for thousands of years before white settlement, Coxs River was one of two corridors that could be used to cross the Blue Mountains, the other being the Bilpin Ridge, now the site of Bells Line of Road. Coxs River was the easiest way to cross the mountains, but this fact was unknown to the European settlers, for whom the mountains were a seemingly impassable barrier.[ citation needed ]

A former convict, John Wilson, may have been the first European to cross the Blue Mountains. Wilson arrived with the First Fleet in 1788 as a convict and was released in 1792. After this, he lived with the Aborigines and functioned as an intermediary between them and the settlers. In 1797 Wilson returned to Sydney, claiming to have explored up to a hundred miles in all directions around Sydney, including across the mountains. His descriptions and observations were generally accurate, and it is possible that he had crossed the mountains via the Coxs River corridor, guided by the Aborigines. [6]

Governor Macquarie named both Coxs River and Coxs Pass in honour of William Cox, a military officer, roadmaker and builder. [1] In 1815 the naming of the Coxs River is mentioned: [7]

The junction of these two streams a very handsome river, now called by the Governor "Cox's River" which takes its course...and empties itself into the River Nepean...

—  Historical Records of Australia (Series I, Volume VIII, p. 572).

Pollution

As of 2008, there were concerns about water quality in upper Coxs River. Testing carried out by researchers from the Blue Mountains Conservation Society showed that this part of the river had high levels of heavy metals including zinc, copper and manganese, 125 times more sulphate than surrounding streams and only 5% of the oxygen that fish need. The pH level, a test of acidity, was up to 1000 times higher than that of neighbouring creeks, while the river was 80 times as salty as it should be. The Sydney Catchment Authority confirmed that the test was accurate, but said the water gets safer to drink in the lower river, approaching Warragamba Dam. The Department of Environment and Climate Change stated that the contamination could be caused by Delta Electricity's Wallerawang Power Station reusing its water as a result of drought. Delta stated that it was operating within the conditions of its licence. [8]

In 2009, Dr Ian Wright of the University of Western Sydney reported that the water flowing into Coxs River contained high levels of copper, boron and other metals at "many times" the levels found upstream of the Wallerawang Power Station. High arsenic levels were found down stream of the plant, although it was diluted further downstream and was not thought to pose a risk to humans. The Blue Mountains Conservation Society was taking a case to the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales with the backing of Environment Defenders Office of New South Wales, intending to argue that Delta Electricity are polluting Coxs River. The Society also intended to challenge the New South Wales system of environmental licences. The Society's president, Tara Cameron, said: "These licences are just licences to pollute. They are just allowing the status quo and making people feel good without actually protecting the environment." [9] Journalists Ben Cubby and Erik Jensen maintained that the NSW Government had known about the pollution for over two years. [10]

Activities and access

A range of leisure activities are accessible adjacent to the river, including the Katoomba to Mittagong Trail, the Six Foot Track and camping.

Vehicle access is available at many locations along the river. There are several areas close to Hartley. As the river progresses towards Lake Burragorang, vehicle access is not permitted. Bushwalking is the most popular access method to the Coxs River. There are several well maintained historic walks that follow along scenic sections of the river. One of the most popular is the Six Foot Track. [11] Horse riding is another popular way to enjoy the Coxs river. There are several tour operators in the Megalong Valley that offer day and overnight rides.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Mountains National Park</span> Protected area in New South Wales, Australia

The Blue Mountains National Park is a protected national park that is located in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The 267,954-hectare (662,130-acre) national park is situated approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) west of the Sydney CBD, and the park boundary is quite irregular as it is broken up by roads, urban areas and areas of private property. Despite the name mountains, the area is an uplifted plateau, dissected by a number of larger rivers. The highest point in the park is Mount Werong at 1,215 metres (3,986 ft) above sea level; while the low point is on the Nepean River at 20 metres (66 ft) above sea level as it leaves the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wingecarribee River</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

The Wingecarribee River, a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment, is located in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warragamba Dam</span> Dam in Warragamba, New South Wales

Warragamba Dam is a heritage-listed dam in the outer South Western Sydney suburb of Warragamba, Wollondilly Shire in New South Wales, Australia. It is a concrete gravity dam, which creates Lake Burragorang, the primary reservoir for water supply for the city of Sydney. The dam wall is located approximately 65 kilometres (40 mi) W of Sydney central business district, 4½ km SW of the town of Wallacia, and 1 km NW of the village of Warragamba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake Burragorang</span> Man-made water supply dammed reservoir in Australia

Lake Burragorang is a man-made reservoir in the lower Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, serving as a major water supply for greater metropolitan Sydney. The dam impounding the lake, the Warragamba Dam, is located approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) southwest of the Sydney central business district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkesbury River</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

The Hawkesbury River, or Hawkesbury-Nepean River a river located northwest of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, almost encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney. The river between Wisemans Ferry and the Pacific Ocean marks the boundary of Greater Metropolitan Sydney in the south and the Central Coast region to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colo River</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

The Colo River, a perennial stream that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Central Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nepean River</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

The Nepean River, is a major perennial river, located in the south-west and west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Nepean River, and, continuing by its downstream name, the Hawkesbury River, almost encircles the metropolitan region of Sydney.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollondilly River</span> River in Australia

The Wollondilly River, an Australian perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment, is located in the Southern Tablelands and Southern Highlands regions of New South Wales. The river meanders from its western slopes near Crookwell, flowing south-east through Goulburn, turning north-east to near Bullio, flowing north-west to Barrallier, before finally heading north-easterly into its mouth at Lake Burragorang.

Warragamba is a town in New South Wales, Australia, in Wollondilly Shire. Located on the eastern edge of the Blue Mountains, Warragamba is one and a half hour's drive west of Sydney. The name Warragamba comes from the aboriginal words Warra and Gamba meaning 'water running over rocks'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollondilly Shire</span> Local government area in New South Wales, Australia

Wollondilly Shire is a periurban local government area, located on the south west fringe of the Greater Sydney area in New South Wales, Australia, parts of which fall into the Macarthur, Blue Mountains and Central Tablelands regions in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Wollondilly is seen as the transition between Regional NSW and the Greater Sydney Region, and is variously categorised as part of both. Wollondilly Shire was created by proclamation in the NSW Government Gazette on 7 March 1906, following the passing of the Local Government (Shires) Act 1905, and amalgamated with the Municipality of Picton on 1 May 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grose River</span> River in Australia

The Grose River, a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warragamba River</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

The Warragamba River, a river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Macarthur region of New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kedumba River</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

The Kedumba River, a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Blue Mountains and Macarthur regions of New South Wales, Australia.

The Kowmung River, a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nattai River</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

The Nattai River, a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia.

The Tonalli River, a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Blue Mountains region of New South Wales, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wollangambe River</span> River in New South Wales, Australia

The Wollangambe River, an Australian perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment within the Sydney Basin, is located in the Greater Blue Mountains Area of New South Wales.

The Little River, a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Southern Highlands region of New South Wales, Australia.

The Little River, a perennial river that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia.

The Coxs River track is a heritage-listed former walking track and road and now walking track at Cox's River Arms, Lake Burragorang/Warragamba Dam, City of Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. The track is also known as the Warragamba Dam - Burragorang Valley - Wentworth Falls Track. The property is owned by the Sydney Catchment Authority, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.

References

  1. 1 2 Hickson, Edna. "Cox, William (1764–1837)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Coxs River". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales . Retrieved 1 April 2013. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  3. 1 2 "Coxs River, NSW". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Wallerawang". About us: Generation. Delta Electricity. 2009. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "Wallerawang rail bridges over Cox's River". New South Wales State Heritage Register . Department of Planning & Environment. H01064. Retrieved 8 April 2020. CC BY icon.svg Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) under CC BY 4.0 licence .
  6. ↑ The Blue Mountains Rediscovered. pp. 76–77.
  7. ↑ Historical Records of Australia . Series I. Vol. VIII. 24 June 1815. p. 572.
  8. ↑ Cubby, Ben (2 December 2008). "River 'killed' by pollution feeds city water supply". The Sydney Morning Herald . p. 5. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  9. ↑ Cubby, Ben (18 June 2009). "Toxic metals threat". The Sydney Morning Herald . p. 1. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  10. ↑ Cubby, Ben; Jensen, Erik (19 June 2009). "Labor knew about toxic water threat". The Sydney Morning Herald . p. 1. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Paton, Neil (2004). Sydney and Blue Mountains Bushwalks. Kangaroo Press. p. 240.

33°57′S150°25′E / 33.950°S 150.417°E / -33.950; 150.417

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.