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Estuaries in NSW

Lake Macquarie
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[Image of Estuary] Lake Macquarie
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Lake

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 700 km2
Waterway Area 120 km2
Entrance Characteristics Open with twin training breakwaters
Location (Lat-Long) 33.086S ,  151.662E
Distance (from Sydney) 135 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

The lake is enclosed by 170 km2 of winding foreshores. It has a maximum depth of about 11 m off Pulbah Island - elsewhere the lake bed is generally flat, averaging 7 m in depth. Swansea Channel, a tidal inlet of approximately 4 km in length, connects the lake to the ocean. Tidal ventilation through Swansea Channel is restricted - for a spring tidal range of 1.25 m at the entrance, the associated range within the lake is approximately 0.06 m. The mean lake level is typically super-elevated 0.07 m above mean sea level. It has been estimated that only 1% of the lake volume exchanges with ocean waters during an average tidal cycle.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Lake Macquarie
Redhead Lagoon
Belmont Lagoon
Black Neds Bay
Dora Creek
Salts Bay
Swansea Channel
Mannering Bay
Mannering Lake
Swan Bay
Cockle Creek

Population and Holiday Centres

Swansea
Toronto
Newcastle Localities
Swansea

Special Attributes

General

  • Important holidaying area - many camping and caravan reserves provide holiday and semi-permanent accommodation for visitors to the area.
  • Popular recreational amenity supporting amateur fishing, boating, water- skiing and bathing.
  • Second largest NSW estuarine waterway area.
  • Second largest estuarine fish producer in NSW (430 t/yr) - also an important source of crustacea and molluscs.
  • Third largest estuarine seagrass area (13 km2).

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 1.249 av
Seagrass 14.859 z,p,h,r
Saltmarsh 0.887

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

boating, tourism, sewage

Management Issues

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

Lake Macquarie

Current Situation

Lake Macquarie City Council has formed the Lake Macquarie Estuary / Coastal Management Committee to prepare a management plan for the Lake Macquarie estuary. The management plan has been completed and is currently being implemented by Council.

Current projects include

  • management of heavy metals (from base metal slag) on foreshore reserves.
  • Integrated Foreshore Management Plans, Implementation Strategy and Education Program for Lake Macquarie.
  • Stabilisation of foreshore, Mats Point to Black Neds Bay.

Separately, Lake Macquarie and Wyong Councils are members of the Lake Macquarie Project Management Committee which is implementing the Lake Macquarie Taskforce - Integrated Estuary and Catchment Management Framework (1999). Contact Jeff Jansson, Lake Macquarie & Catchment Coordinator Ph 4921 0230 for further details.

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 1996
Draft Estuary Management Plan completed 1997
Review Estuary Management Plan completed
Implement Estuary Management Plan commenced
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process commenced

Contact Details

Lake Macquarie City Council Simon Walpole
Ph (02) 4921 0393

References

Local Government Areas

Lake Macquarie
Wyong

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Wallsend
Catherine Hill Bay
Morriset
Swansea
Dooralong