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DWE Home > Home > across the state > Sydney/South Coast >

Sydney/South Coast

Encompassing some 40,000 square kilometres and stretching along 600 kilometres of NSW coastline, the Sydney/South Coast is home to 25 per cent of Australia's population.  It contains some of the state's most pristine and scenic coastal environments, including 18 major river systems and 60 significant estuaries.

Catchments within the region supply water to Sydney, the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Hawkesbury-Nepean areas and the Blue Mountains as well as other major coastal and inland towns.

The Sydney/South Coast region has a diverse landscape with clean sandy beaches, rolling green hills and growing urban centres which attract thousands of tourists and 'sea-changers' to the area every year.  With this rapid growth, managing our fragile water resources sustainably is a key challenge for the Department, who is meeting this challenge utilising statutory water sharing plans.

The water sharing plans encompass both surface water and groundwater resources.  In addition to the development and implementation of these plans, DWE is also monitoring the environmental and socio-economic outcomes of these plans.  We must protect the health of our rivers and aquifers whilst managing the competing demands for water between all users which includes the environment.

The management of blue-green algae, in conjunction with local government, is an area where DWE ensures the community is informed and aware of algal blooms and the potential hazard to human and animals.

Major projects and responsibilities in the Sydney/South Coast area:

• Audley Weir Fishway
• Macro Water Sharing Plans
• Shoalhaven Environmental Flows
• Snowy River Flow Response Monitoring Program
• Blue-green Algal Management
• Water access licensing
• Water compliance