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Estuaries in NSW

Belongil Creek
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[Image of Estuary] Belongil Creek
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Creek

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 30 km2
Waterway Area 0.3 km2
Entrance Characteristics Intermittently open and untrained
Location (Lat-Long) 28.626S ,  153.592E
Distance (from Sydney) 790 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

A high littoral transport rate of approximately 100,000 m3/yr passes the entrance from south to north. The approximate length of the creek is 3 km. The coastal town of Byron Bay adjoins the catchment to the south.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Belongil Creek

Population and Holiday Centres

Byron Bay

Special Attributes

General

  • Highest catchment rainfall of all NSW estuaries (1,850 mm/yr).
  • 30% of catchment is fresh water swamp - aquatic bird habitat.
  • Estuary largely covered by mangrove and saltmarsh beds.

Estuarine Vegetation

The spatial data is reproduced from NSW Fisheries(2006/7) studies, whilst the species makeup is from the West et al.(1985). This map shows the spatial extent of the Estuarine Vegetation.

Type Area Species 1
(km2)
Mangroves 0.070 av,ae
Seagrass 0.000
Saltmarsh 0.083

References

R.J. Williams, G. West, D. Morrison and R.G. Creese, (2006),
"Estuarine Resources of New South Wales",
prepared for the Comprehensive Coastal Assessment (DoP) by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens.

R.J. West, C.A. Thorogood, T.R. Walford and R.J. Williams. (1985).
"An Estuarine Inventory for New South Wales, Australia".
Fisheries Bulletin 2. Department of Agriculture, New South Wales.

Estuary Commerce

fishing

Management Issues

This estuary falls in the area covered by Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority.

Belongil Creek

Specific Issues

  • Poor water quality - low dissolved oxygen, low pH, high bacterial counts has required erection of 'unsafe for swimming' signage.
  • Acid sulfate soils and the impacts on the estuary of acid runoff from disturbance and drainage of these soils.
  • Point source pollution discharges.
  • Urban stormwater from Byron Bay CBD and industrial estate.
  • Entrance opening management.
  • Further residential and industrial developments and Byron Bay road bypass and sports fields proposals.
  • Protection of riparian vegetation and aquatic habitats.

Belongil Creek Estuary Management Committee was formed in 1994, by Byron Shire Council, to develop and implement an Estuary Management Plan for Belongil Creek. The data compilation study was completed in December 1996, and the processes study was completed in 1997. The Management Study/Management Plan stage has been completed and the plan adopted by Council in November 2001.

Council has established a Belongil Estuary Co-ordination Committee to review implementation progress on the Plan. Council has also established two working groups to progress acid sulfate soils management and Belongil Creek entrance opening management.

The Estuary Management Process 2

Process Status Date
Form Estuary Management Committee (EMC) completed
Assemble Existing Data completed 1996
Carryout Process Study completed 1997
Carryout Estuary Management Study completed 2000
Draft Estuary Management Plan completed 2000
Review Estuary Management Plan completed 2001
Implement Estuary Management Plan commenced 2001
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process none

Contact Details

Byron Shire Council Ms Phyliss Jones
ph (02) 6626 7000 fax (02) 6684 3018

References

Local Government Areas

Byron

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Byron Bay