This month we’re spending time in the part of our river catchment with the worst reputation of all. The most unloved part of a river system that was unloved for so long. The most unnatural, the most toxic. The worst of the worst.

I’m talking about Shea’s Creek, but you might know it better as the Alexandr(i)a Canal.

In this episode you’ll hear from historian Ron Ringer about the history of this waterway, and how it came to be the way it is. We’re also delving into a recent controversy; we’re following up on the significant oil spill here recently and asking questions of the authorities about their response and their efforts to hold the perpetrators to account.

While this incident shows how this waterway continues to be neglected and abused, the waterway itself is resilient and despite being a so-called man-made landscape, it supports an ecosystem and contributes to the local area. 

It’s this resilience and the way the natural qualities of water interact with and sometimes overrun the man-made features of the landscape that have also inspired artists, like Ashley Frost, to engage with these places, and to teach us something about them.

Later in the episode, you’ll also hear how the swamp’s persistence inspires local rapper BAYANG (tha Bushranger), and we’ll chat about his new song Sydney Swamp (Pemulwuy Paddles Along Gulay’yari).

And finally we share points of interest and controversy from the Cooks River Valley Association’s Annual Report and AGM, including a chat with new millennial committee member Maja Sorensen. 

And of course we have all your River News for August 2026.

Guests: Ron Ringer, Ashley Frost, BAYANG (tha Bushranger) and Maja Sorensen.

Host/producer: Niall Edwards-FitzSimons  

Music by: riverkid 

Thanks to all of our guests, and also to Jason L’Ecuyer and Zoe Ferguson.

All of the statements we received are here in full: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fLSKI68FIHZahWvnv6M36HU6G6eyf2Zg?usp=drive_link

This episode was produced on the lands of the Gadigal and the Bidjigal and we pay respect to elders past and present.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.