Estuaries, lagoons and wetlands
Estuaries, lagoons and wetlands are dynamic, living entities and an important part of the natural environment. These systems are integral to landscape processes such as nutrient cycling, water detention, slow release of flood water and trapping of sediments.
Within the Central Coast it is estimated there are about 870 hectares of mangroves, 190 hectares of saltmarsh and 1,780 hectares of seagrass. The Central Coast contains and is surrounded by a number of differing estuaries and coastal lagoons, from Lake Macquarie in the north to the Hawkesbury River in the south. Each system contains important ecosystems and is unique in terms of its ecology, biodiversity and management requirements.
Our wetlands have high intrinsic value for regional and national biodiversity, providing habitat for a wide range wildlife including waterbirds, fish, frogs and invertebrates, and water-loving plants such as sedges, rushes and various tree species. They also support many listed threatened species and ecological communities.
Since the release of the New South Wales Government's Estuary Management Manual in 1992, Council has worked with government bodies, industry and the community to appropriately manage activities in and around estuaries — guiding conservation and rehabilitation efforts, supporting land managers who have wetlands or creeks on their property, and educating the community.
Over the past decade, Council has developed and adopted Estuary Management Plans (EMPs) and Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) for all the geographical catchments within the local government area. In 2018, the NSW State Government established a new framework for the management of coastal environments which requires Councils to transition their existing EMPs and CZMPs across to the new Coastal Management Programmes (CMP) format. Council will be reviewing and working through its existing plans over the coming years.
The current management plans for each of the Central Coast’s estuaries or coastal lagoons can be viewed by clicking on the links below:
Learn more about the development of our new Coastal Management Programs, including opportunities for to have your say and be involved in engagement activities.
Related Pages
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Brisbane Water
Brisbane Water is a youthful wave-dominated barrier estuary with high scenic value and areas of pristine vegetation. -
Coastal lagoons
The Central Coast’s four coastal lagoon systems (Wamberal Terrigal Avoca and Cockrone) are a significant geographic feature of the region. -
Creek maintenance
Council currently maintains 24 high priority creeks in accordance with site specific Maintenance Management Plans. -
Hawkesbury River
The Lower Hawkesbury Estuary Management Plan manages estuary from Wisemans Ferry to Broken Bay excluding Pittwater and Brisbane Water. -
Lake Macquarie
Lake Macquarie is a natural estuarine lake with an area of some 110 square kilometres and a catchment of about 600 square kilometres. -
Tuggerah Lakes estuary
Balancing ecosystem health and flood mitigation through proactive management of the catchment, foreshores and Entrance Channel to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.