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Estuaries in NSW

Port Stephens
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Tilligerry Creek Karuah River
[Image of Estuary] Port Stephens - Looking West
[Image of Estuary] Port Stephens - Looking East
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Drowned valley

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 4950 km2
Waterway Area 166 km2
Entrance Characteristics Open and untrained
Location (Lat-Long) 32.708S ,  152.196E
Distance (from Sydney) 200 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

Port Stephens lies at the confluence of the Myall River, the Karuah River, Tilligerry Creek and the Ocean. The Port comprises two large circular basins. The lower Port below Soldiers Point includes the Myall River Entrance and includes the most heavily urbanised areas. The ecology and dominant processes within the lower Port are marine. The upper Port comprises a deeper mud settling basin inland of Soldiers Point and encompasses the Tilligerry Creek entrance and the Karuah River entrance to the north. The ecology and processes of the upper Port are predominately estuarine. The area to the east of Port Stephens comprises the Tomago/Tomaree/Stockton sand beds which cover an area of 275 km2 and extend inland for a distance of approximately 15km between the Hunter River and the northern end of the Tomaree Peninsula.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Bundabah Creek
Reedy Creek
Twelve Mile Creek
Tilligerry Creek
Bundabah Creek
Port Stephens

Population and Holiday Centres

Nelson Bay
Shoal Bay
Soldiers Point
Lemontree Passage
Swan Bay
North Arm Cove

Special Attributes

General

  • Major holidaying area.
  • Largest NSW estuarine waterway area, mangrove area (23 km2) and saltmarsh area (8 km2).
  • Largest oyster producing estuary (over 2,000 t/yr) - also an important crustacean source.
  • Some 30 ocean-going and 20 estuary fishing vessels, and over 1,000 recreational craft, operate in and out of Port Stephens.
  • Extremely important oyster spat area- services oyster industry in many other estuaries.
  • Major harbour and marina facilities at Nelson Bay.
  • The Myall Lakes are the only National Park in NSW that includes the entire waterway as well as the shoreline. Blooms of blue green algae in the Myall Lakes have highlighted its extreme sensitivity with retention times of 400 to 800 days, for nutrients from all catchment sources.

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 9.461 av,ae
Seagrass 11.149 z,p,h
Saltmarsh 5.032

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, port, boating, tourism, sewage

Management Issues

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

Port Stephens

Port Stephens/Myall Lakes Estuary Management Committee

Port Stephens and Great Lakes Councils have formed the Port Stephens / Myall Lakes Estuary Management Committee to prepare a management plan for the combined estuary. The Management plan has been finalised and is currently being implemented by the two councils. Preparation of the Plan involved the following activities.

Data Compilation Study

This study reviewed the extent of existing information and defined issues relating to the estuary as:

  • Lower Port, water quality, beach erosion, conflict of use and development pressures
  • Upper Port, water quality, groundwater, sedimentation, foreshore erosion and navigation
  • Myall Lakes, water quality, illegal development, conservation, access and recreation pressures
  • Myall River, shoaling/navigation, bank erosion, conflict of use, development pressures and water quality
  • Karuah River, water quality and navigation
  • Tilligerry Creek, water quality, navigation and forshore erosion.

Estuary Processes Study

The processes study is a broad summary of catchment usage, coastal, tides and river processes, flora and fauna, sedimentation, waterway usage and water quality. For example:

  • The waterways of Port Stephens and Myall Lakes support a wide variety of estuarine habitats, some of which are unique in the State
  • Approximately 65% of the catchment is naturally vegetated and a wide range of vegetation habitats are respresented.
  • The total area occupied by oyster leases is approximately 11.5 km2or about 7% of the waterway area.

Estuary Management Study and Plan

The management study and plan divided the estuary into a number of management areas to determine management issues, options and recommended actions. Priority actions were recomended which aim to improve baseline information, provide a robust planning framework, address existing problems and maintain government and community commitment to plan implementation. A significant acknowledgement is the link of shoreline erosion with the removal of riparian vegetation. Great Lakes and Port Stephens Councils are currently implementing the management plan.

The Estuary Management Process 2

Process Status Date
Form Estuary Management Committee (EMC) completed
Assemble Existing Data completed 1997
Carryout Process Study completed 1999
Carryout Estuary Management Study completed 2000
Draft Estuary Management Plan completed 2000
Review Estuary Management Plan completed 2002
Implement Estuary Management Plan commenced 2002
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process commenced

Contact Details

Port Stephens Council Rick Harris
Ph (02) 4980 0255

References

Local Government Areas

Port Stephens
Great Lakes

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Port Stephens
Karuah
Morna Point
Williamtown
The Branch
Clarence Town