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Estuaries in NSW

St Georges Basin
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Swan Lake Jervis Bay
[Image of Estuary] St Georges Basin
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Lake

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 407 km2
Waterway Area 38.9 km2
Entrance Characteristics Intermittently/mechanically opened and untrained
Location (Lat-Long) 35.185S ,  150.594E
Distance (from Sydney) 200 km South
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

St Georges Basin is a significant coastal lake with a large shallow basin connected to the ocean by a narrow channel at the village of Sussex Inlet. This channel exits the basin at its southern shore. Wandandian Creek, the main tributary to the basin, forms a substantial fluvial delta at its entrance in the north-west corner of the lake. The towns of Sanctuary Point and St Georges Basin are located on the northern shore of the lake. Booderee National Park (under the authority of the Australian Capital Territory) borders the basin on its eastern edge. Large proportions of its catchment are modified.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

St Georges Basin
Tomerong Creek
Sussex Inlet
Tullarwalla Lagoon And Creek
Wandandian Creek
Suffolk Creek

Population and Holiday Centres

Sussex Inlet
Sanctuary Point
St Georges Basin
Basin View
Wandandian
Erowal Bay

Special Attributes

General

  • Sussex Inlet has developed as a tourist and amateur fishing centre.
  • Excellent recreational boating.
  • Aeolian deposits comprising the Cudmirrah Sand Barrier which separates St Georges Basin from the ocean are estimated to contain 120 million tonnes of high quality construction sand.
  • Canal estates run off inlet.
  • Has been declared a recreational fishing haven.
  • Booderee National Park borders its eastern shore.
  • Substantial increase in residential development on its northern shores.

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 0.276 av,ae
Seagrass 3.170 z,p,h,r
Saltmarsh 0.149

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, farming

Management Issues

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

St Georges Basin

Current Situation

Shoalhaven City Council has established the Central Shoalhaven Natural Resource and Floodplain Management Committee to oversee implementation of the St Georges Basin Estuary Management Plan.

Management Issues

  • impact of canal estates at Sussex Inlet on water quality, tidal flushing and acid sulphate soils.
  • outbreak of the invasive seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia.

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 commenced

Contact Details

Shoalhaven City Council Martin Berg
Ph (02) 4429 3111

References

Local Government Areas

Shoalhaven

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Huskisson
Sussex Inlet