The Peninsula was the big winner in the Central Coast 2019-20 Waterways report card, released last week, with excellent ratings awarded to Woy Woy Bay, Booker Bay and Patonga Creek.
All three waterways showed an improvement over the previous year’s report.
The Waterways report examines the ecological health of Brisbane Water, along with Southern Lake Macquarie, Tuggerah Lakes, the lower Hawkesbury River and the larger coastal lagoons over the 2019-20 year, providing a clear picture of the health of the region’s estuarine waterways.
It uses seagrass depth range, turbidity and chlorophyll-a as indicators of health and follows NSW Government guidelines.
Council’s Team Leader Estuary Management, Vanessa McCann said the naturally well flushed nature of Brisbane Water was reflected in the good results seen over the past three years.
In other parts of the region, Terrigal and Wamberal lagoons were rated fair, Cockrone Lagoon received an excellent rating, while Avoca Lagoon received a very poor rating.
Of 36 sites monitored in 2019-20, 23 (64 per cent) were graded good or excellent, 12 (33 per cent) were graded fair and only 1 (3 per cent) was graded very poor.
Fair ratings were awarded to Narara Creek, Erina Creek, Kincumber Broadwater and Mooney Mooney Creek, while three different zones in Brisbane Water and Mangrove Creek were rated good and Cockle Bay received an excellent rating.
To the north of the region, water quality in Lake Munmorah was rated good across the system, as were the majority of sites in Tuggerah Lake.
Central Coast Council Environment and Planning Director, Scott Cox, said that whilst the report shows overall positive results it also provides a valuable tool to Council to identify areas for further investigation.
“Council uses a recognised monitoring program to assess the ecological health of our waterways, allowing us to monitor their condition, track changes over time and target investment and on ground works to improve ecosystem health,” Cox said.
“These results will allow Council to review our management actions and plan for on ground works to help improve waterway health over time.
“It is important to remember this program looks at ecological health for the waterways; while some of our waterways at times, look and smell in ways we don’t expect them to this is not always an indicator of poor health.
“We still have a way to go, but these reports can help us make informed management decisions that help fix the problems at the source.”
Council Administrator, Dick Persson, said the release of the report card coincided with the first round of engagement for Council’s Coastal Management Programs.
“We value how much our community care for their local waterways, and we want as many people as possible to take part in the engagement activities for the suite of Coastal Management Programs we have to develop for our region,” Persson said.
“This process provides a great opportunity for Council to work with our community in formulating these new plans, identifying priorities and together working towards a better future for our beautiful coast and waterways.
The 2019-20 Waterways report card also outlines the actions Council has taken to target improvements in waterway health.
To view the report card, visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/waterwayhealth
To have your say and sign up to be involved in the Our Coast, Our Waterways program visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/waterways
Source:
Media release, Apr 13
Central Coast Council