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Estuaries in NSW

Cudgera Creek
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Mooball Creek Cudgen Lake and Creek
[Image of Estuary] Cudgera Creek
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Creek

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 60 km2
Waterway Area 0.2 km2
Entrance Characteristics Open and untrained
Location (Lat-Long) 28.361S ,  153.577E
Distance (from Sydney) 830 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

A shallow inlet with a high littoral transport rate past the entrance of about 450,000 m3/yr from south to north. The small town of Hastings Point is located at the entrance. The approximate length of the creek is 3.5 km. A bedrock headland, on the south side of the entrance, naturally trains the tidal flow and contributes to entrance stability.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Cudgera Creek

Population and Holiday Centres

Hastings Point
Cudgera Beach

Special Attributes

General

  • Popular holiday area.
  • Relatively extensive mangrove stands.

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 0.148 av,ae,rh
Seagrass 0.034 z
Saltmarsh 0.074

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.

Cudgera Creek

Specific Issues

  • Entrance shoaling - during times of high longshore sand transport and low creek flows, the entrance can become heavily shoaled and sometimes closes. This can have create flooding and water quality concerns. On occasions the creek entrance has been artificially opened.
  • Tidal restrictions - the bridge crossing at Hastings Point may act as a constriction to both tidal and flood flows. Council is investigating the removal of restrictions between the bridge piers.

Current Situation

Cudgen, Cudgera and Mooball Creek are being addressed by Tweed Shire Council under one management plan. Refer to the Cudgen Lake and Creek [cudgen.html] for details.

The Estuary Management Process 2

Process Status Date
Form Estuary Management Committee (EMC) completed
Assemble Existing Data completed
Carryout Process Study completed
Carryout Estuary Management Study completed
Draft Estuary Management Plan completed
Review Estuary Management Plan completed
Implement Estuary Management Plan commenced 1998/99
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process commenced 2004

Contact Details

Tweed Shire Council Ms Jane Lofthouse
ph: (02) 6670 2 577 fax (02) 6672 0429

References

Local Government Areas

Tweed

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Cudgen
Pottsville