Estuary and Coastal Management Program

Contents: Estuary Management Program | Estuary Improvement Actions | Coastal Management Program | Estuary and Coastal Zone Management Committee

Estuary Management Program

Under the NSW Estuary Management Policy, local Councils are responsible for the preparation and implementation of detailed management plans for estuaries in their jurisdiction.

The policy recommends an eight-step process to develop and implement an Estuary Management Plan.

1. form an estuary management committee;
2. assemble existing data (data analysis and review study);
3. undertake an estuary processes study;
4. undertake an estuary management study;
5. prepare draft estuary management plan;
6. public review of the draft plan;
7. adopt and implement the estuary management plan;
8. monitor and review the management process as necessary.

In line with this policy, Council has developed two Estuary Management Plans to cover fourteen estuaries under its management.

Estuary Management Study and Plan for Fairy, Towradgi, Hewitts and Tramway Creeks

Fairy, Towradgi, Hewitts and Tramway Creeks are four of the larger estuaries under Council’s management and they were the focus of the first Estuary Management Plan. With funding support from the NSW Estuary Management Program, the data analysis and review study was initiated in 2003 and the Estuary Management Plan was completed and adopted by Council in February 2005. Three reports relating to these estuaries are available.

Estuary Management Study and Plan for several of Wollongong's creeks and lagoons

The second Estuary Management Plan covers Hargraves Creek, Stanwell Creek, Stoney Creek, Flanagans Creek, Slacky Creek, Whartons Creek, Collins Creek, Bellambi Gully, Bellambi Lagoon, and Tom Thumb Lagoon. The data analysis and review study for these estuaries was completed in 2006 and the Estuary Management Plan was completed and adopted by Council in March 2008.  Three reports relating to these estuaries are available.

Climate Change Impact and Implications for Management of Estuaries in Wollongong

The impact of climate change on estuaries, and the implications for management of estuaries, was not initially considered in the development of the Estuary Management Plans.  Council is now updating the management actions to ensure sustainable outcomes are achieved from their implementation under a changing climate.  The project will be completed by June 2010.

Estuary Improvement Actions

A staged implementation of the Estuary Management Plans is being conducted with funding provided by Council and other external funding agencies.  Some of the projects completed or underway include:

Entrance Management Policies for Fairy and Towradgi Lagoons

These policies completed in 2008, prescribe the criteria that Council can use to manually open the entrances of Fairy and Towradgi Lagoon to control flooding of low lying property whilst protecting estuarine environments.  Water levels in these lagoons are continuously being monitored to trigger warnings when water levels reach critical levels to warrant an opening.  Entrance Management Policies and their associated Review of Environmental Factors are available.

Bush Restoration Works

Bush restoration works, including weed removal and revegetation, have been undertaken at several estuary locations.  These include areas around Hargraves Creek, Stanwell Creek, Hewitts and Tramway Creeks, Collins Creek, Bellambi Creek, Towradgi Creek, and Fairy and Cabbage Tree Creeks.

Bank Stabilisation Works

A boat ramp and viewing platform has been constructed on Towradgi Creek to prevent erosion resulting from the bare bank being used to launch model sailing boats and surf life saving training activities.  Bank stabilisation works are also underway at the Blue Divers site along the Pioneer Road bridge.

Installation of Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices

A litter boom has been installed along the main channel of Fairy Creek and CDS (Continuous Deflective Separator) units have been installed along a stormwater outlet at Stuart Park and at Cawley Street (East Corrimal) to prevent rubbish from being washed down into the creeks and onto the beaches.

Coastal Management Program

Wollongong City Council has approximately 60 km of coastline, extending from Garie Beach in the north to Windang Beach in the south.  About half of the coastline consists of cliffs and headlands while the rest is beaches and dunes backed by gentler sloping land.  Various issues including coastal hazards such as erosion and inundation, as well as geotechnical issues under the current and a changing climate are being considered in developing a coastal zone management plan for this area.  A coastal processes and hazard assessment study is currently being undertaken, using the recently adopted NSW Sea Level Rise Policy benchmarks.  Following completion of this study, the second stage involving the development of a management plan will be undertaken. For more information, please visit the Wollongong Coastal Zone Study website.

Estuary and Coastal Zone Management Committee

The former Estuary Management Committee has been extended to form a new committee which has responsibility for providing advice to Council on both estuary and coastal management matters.  The committee members include Council officers, community representatives, independent scientific advisors, and State Government agency representatives.  The extended Estuary and Coastal Zone Management Committee has been meeting regularly since July 2009.