NSW Crest
Home > Coastal and floodplains > Estuaries > Major Estuaries

Estuaries in NSW

Botany Bay
Next South Next North
Port Hacking Georges River
[Image of Estuary] Botany Bay
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Enclosed embayment

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 1100 km2
Waterway Area 80 km2
Entrance Characteristics Open with deep and all weather access
Location (Lat-Long) 34.007S ,  151.238E
Distance (from Sydney) 15 km South
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

Botany Bay forms an oval shaped embayment approximately 7 km long and 5.5 km wide. The bay is relatively shallow with a depth at low water of typically 5.5 m.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Botany Bay

Population and Holiday Centres

Sydney Airport and Southern and Eastern Suburbs

Special Attributes

General

  • Biggest crude oil importing port and largest container port in NSW.
  • Important recreational amenity for residents of Sydney.
  • Considerable areas of seagrass, particularly on the southern side of the bay, limit erosion and provide a habitat and shelter for many animals and plants - also important mangrove and saltmarsh areas in Quibray Bay, Weeney Bay and Woolooware Bay on the southern shore.
  • Towra Point is a RAMSAR listed wetland.
  • Recreational fishing haven (Closed with the exception of abalone gathering and rock lobster trapping).

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 4.227 av,ae
Seagrass 6.238 z,p,h
Saltmarsh 1.573

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

oyster, port, industry

Management Issues

This estuary falls in the area covered by Sydney Metro Catchment Management Authority.

Botany Bay

Management Issues

  • Urban development (including ports and airports) has encroached on more than half of the Bay's shoreline and much of the riparian lands upstream.
  • Dredging and foreshore development have been likely primary causes of significant local beach erosion
  • Seagrass beds have been lost or damaged in a number of locations.
  • Water quality in the two major tributary rivers has declined.

The Estuary Management Process 2

Process Status Date
Form Estuary Management Committee (EMC) none
Assemble Existing Data none
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

References

Local Government Areas

Botany
Rockdale
Sutherland

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Botany Bay
Port Hacking