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Estuaries in NSW

Port Jackson
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Lane Cove River Manly Lagoon
[Image of Estuary] Port Jackson
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Drowned valley

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 217 km2
Waterway Area 49.7 km2
Entrance Characteristics Open with deep water and all-weather access
Location (Lat-Long) 33.828S ,  151.284E
Distance (from Sydney) 1 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

Port Jackson, the focal waterway and primary port for Sydney, extends upstream from its 1.5 km wide and 22 m deep entrance at the Heads, for some 10 km terminating at the confluence of the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers near the suburb of Balmain. Little tidal attenuation is evident along the length of the port.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

North Harbour
Middle Harbour
Port Jackson
Lane Cove River
Middle Harbour Creek
Gordon Creek
Moores Creek
Johnston's Creek
Parramatta
Scott's Creek

Population and Holiday Centres

Sydney and Harbour Suburbs

Special Attributes

General

  • Busiest port in NSW with total annual trade (imports and exports) currently in excess of 35 million tonnes.
  • Major tourist and recreational attraction.
  • Fifth largest prawn producing estuary in NSW (55 t/yr) - also producer of fish and other crustacea.

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 0.000
Seagrass 0.000
Saltmarsh 0.000

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, port, boating, tourism, industry

Management Issues

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

There are 2 committee(s) active on this estuary

Port Jackson

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

Long Bay

Current Situation

North Sydney and Willoughby Councils have formed the Long Bay Estuary Management Committee which has prepared a management plans for Long Bay.

Long Bay is a small embayment on the south-west side of Middle-Harbour 7 km north of Sydney CBD. The total waterway area is 7 ha while the urbanised catchment draining via Flat Rock Creek through Tunks Park to the head of the Bay is some 732 ha.

The Sydney Water NSOOS tunnel has reduced sewerage overflows into Long Bay. The dredging of Long Bay to provide navigation access to remove tunnel spoil during its construction also removed the problem of sedimentation within the bay.

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

Contact Details

North Sydney Council John van Hesden
Ph 9936 8100 Fax 9936 8177

References

Local Government Areas

Mosman
North Sydney
Parramatta
Concord
Drummoyne
Hornsby
Hunters Hill
Baulkham Hills
Auburn
Leichhardt
Sydney
Woollahra
Warringah
Ku-ring-gai
Willoughby

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Sydney Heads
Parramatta River
Hornsby
Botany Bay