Rivers and creeks provide multiple benefits to the environment including many benefits to people. However since European settlement widespread degradation of waterways and their catchments has occurred. All levels of government acknowledge this and there are range of government and community based programs, policies and planning frameworks which have been specifically developed to address the issue. Council has recognised the need for a local scale plan that complements existing frameworks to assist with rehabilitation/restoration of local waterways.

In 2009 Bathurst Regional Council, with funding from the Central West Catchment Management Authority, engaged CenWest Environmental Services to prepare an Urban Waterways Management Plan  for the city. The study covers the six main urban tributaries of the Macquarie River - that is Raglan, Jordan, Hawthornden, Sawpit, Queen Charlotte's Vale and Saltram Creeks.

The project involved an assessment of the current condition of the waterways to provide a baseline condition index against which future trends in waterway health can be assessed. The plan also outlines long term strategies for the management and restoration of these waterways and recommends specific actions to improve their health.

The vision for Bathurst's urban waterways, as identified in the plan is "Waterways for people and wildlife providing environmental and recreational linkages in the Bathurst urban landscape."

Hawthornden Creek was identified in the plan as the highest priority sub-catchment to be targeted for rehablitation/restoration work. Council has therefore initiated a rehabilitation project in the reaches of Hawthornden Creek which lie within Boundary Road Reserve. The project is being developed in collaboration with Boundary Road Reserve Landcare Group and is currently in the planning phase.