Peter is an environmental professional with thirty years’ experience in Coastal, Marine and Environmental Sciences and Management, Environmental Engineering and Natural Resource Management.

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Peter's career spans local and state governments, academia and TAFE. For six years he managed the waterways of Gosford City Council. He returned to academia and accepted the role of Director of Newcastle University’s Coastal and Estuarine Research Facility. He has since been contracted to the Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority, the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment Management Authority, Greater Sydney Local Land Services the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and the NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment.

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Peter developed the Sydney Harbour Catchment Water Quality Improvement Plan and the Sydney Harbour Estuary Processes Study for which he won NSW Chief Scientists Prize. He assisted the NSW government develop the Coastal Management Reforms and coordinated the Greater Sydney Harbour Coastal Management Program Stage 1 Scoping Study. He is also facilitating the development of the Greater Sydney Harbour Catchment Coastal Management Plan and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Coastal Management Plan.

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Dr Freewater is also an expert in Integrated Water Management and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). He was the manager of the WSUD in Sydney Program and coordinator of the Sydney Consortium for the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities. He completed the Water Sensitive Urban Design DCP Guide/Template and LEP Clause, which has been used by numerous Sydney Councils. He assisted the University of Sydney and Infrastructure NSW with the development of the Three Bays District Water Sensitive Urban Design Plan and has assisted the strategic planning of the South Creek and Aerotropolis growth areas of Western Sydney.

 

Education:

 

Doctor of Philosophy Science 2004

Environmental Biology

Awarded Science Scholarship

Won 2003 NSW Coastal Council Award

University of Technology, Sydney

 

Master of Engineering 2008

Environmental Engineering

Won 2007 Postgraduate Research Prize

University of Newcastle

 

Bachelor of Science (Honours) 1992

Honours in Marine Ecology

Awarded the Marine Science Prize

University of Sydney

               

Diploma Land Conservation and Management 2006

NSW Department of Primary Industries

               

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40110) 2013

                               

Higher School Certificate 1981

Sydney Boys High School