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Estuaries in NSW

Manning Estuary
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Khappinghat Creek Camden Haven Estuary
[Image of Estuary] Manning River - Harrington Entrance
[Image of Estuary] Manning River - Old Bar Entrance
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

River

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 8320 km2
Waterway Area 25.4 km2
Entrance Characteristics Open with a single training wall along the northern shoreline
Location (Lat-Long) 31.878S ,  152.697E
Distance (from Sydney) 350 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

The Manning River is a complex estuarine system which includes a number of tributary creeks, branch channels and two ocean entrances, the main entrance being at Harrington and the secondary entrance, Farquhar Inlet, is 12 km to the south at Old Bar. The entrance at Farquhar Inlet has, at times, been entirely closed by littoral sand. The approximate length of the main river is 150 km with the limit of tidal influence located in the vicinity of "Abbotts Falls", a gravel bar approximately 54 km from the entrance. The river is navigable up to Wingham, a major town located approximately 30 km from the entrance. The mean spring tidal range at Taree is approximately 0.71 m, 62% of that at the entrance.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Manning River
Landsdown River
Cattai Creek
Tappin Creek
Browns Creek
Ghinni Ghinni Creek
Harrington Inlet
Pelican Bay
Manning R. Nth Passage
Manning R. Sth Passage
Manning R. Sth Channel
Oyster Arm
Oyster Creek
Crookers Creek
Scotts Creek
Warwiba Creek
Farquhar Inlet
Cattai Creek
Harrington Inlet

Population and Holiday Centres

Taree
Manning Point
Coopernook
Lansdowne
Old Bar
Cundletown
Wingham
Harrington
Tinonee

Special Attributes

General

  • Popular recreational boating and fishing - the long training wall at Harrington is popular with anglers.
  • Extensive mangrove stands - also large areas of wetlands (approximately 100 km2) important for aquatic birds.
  • Intensive oyster producing estuary - also important fish and prawn producer.
  • Sand and gravel resources.

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 3.905 av,ae,ex
Seagrass 1.654 z
Saltmarsh 2.447

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, oyster, boating, tourism, industry, extraction, sewage

Management Issues

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

There are 2 committee(s) active on this estuary

Manning Estuary

Current Situation

Greater Taree City Council has completed a Process Study for the Manning River estuary. Council has commenced the next stage estuary management study.

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 commenced
Draft Estuary Management Plan none
Review Estuary Management Plan none
Implement Estuary Management Plan none
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process none

Contact Details

Greater Taree City Council Omar Faruqi
Ph (02) 6592 5399

Browns Creek

Browns Creek flows through the urban areas of Taree before entering the Manning River. It has previously been degraded by a number of sources including industrial discharges, sewerage effluent and urban runoff. The past two decades have seen the progressive removal of both industrial and sewerage and the installation of a gross pollutant trap. As a result there is increasing evidence of regeneration of life in the river.

Greater Taree City Council has formed the Manning Coastline and Estuary Management Committee to involve the community in the management of its estuaries. Browns Creek was chosen as a high priority area and the committee is currently preparing a management plan for its continued restoration.

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 commenced
Implement Estuary Management Plan none
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process none

Contact Details

Greater Taree City Council Omar Faruqi
Ph (02) 6592 5399

References

Local Government Areas

Greater Taree

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Taree
Cundletown
Coopernook
Wingham