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Estuaries in NSW

Hearns Lake
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Moonee Creek Woolgoolga Lake
[Image of Estuary] Hearns Lake
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Small coastal lake

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 9 km2
Waterway Area 0.3 km2
Entrance Characteristics Intermittently/mechanically opened and untrained
Location (Lat-Long) 30.133S ,  153.202E
Distance (from Sydney) 575 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

The town of Sandy Creek is located near the entrance of Hearns Lake. Large tracks of steeply sloped terrain exist within the Hearns Lake catchment. Hearns Lake is in generally good condition and provides limited swimming and recreational fishing.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Hearns Lake

Population and Holiday Centres

Sandy Beach

Special Attributes

General

  • Moonee Creek is stocked with fish and mud crabs while Hearns Lake is well known for its king prawns.

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 0.003 av
Seagrass 0.000
Saltmarsh 0.045

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.

Hearns Lake

Current Situation

Coffs Harbour City Council has formed a Coastal/Estuary Management Committee to allow community input into the management of all its estuaries. Funds for the preparation of Hearns Lake Estuary Management Plan were approved August 2004.

The Estuary Management Process 2

Process Status Date
Form Estuary Management Committee (EMC) completed
Assemble Existing Data commenced August 2004
Carryout Process Study none
Carryout Estuary Management Study none
Draft Estuary Management Plan none
Review Estuary Management Plan none
Implement Estuary Management Plan none
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process none

Contact Details

Coffs Harbour Martin Rose
Ph 6648 4421

References

Local Government Areas

Coffs Harbour

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Moonee Beach