The 2019-20 Waterways report card for the Central Coast has been released.
 
The report examines the ecological health of Southern Lake Macquarie, Tuggerah Lakes, Brisbane Water, the lower Hawkesbury River and the larger coastal lagoons over the 2019-20 year, providing a clear picture of the health of our estuarine waterways here on the Central Coast.
 
Central Coast Council Environment and Planning Director, Scott Cox said that whilst the report, which is compiled from ongoing monitoring and assessments, 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,” Mr Cox said.
 
“For the 2019-20 year we have seen good or excellent results at 64% of sites including all of the southern Lake Macquarie sites, Cockrone Lagoon, Lake Munmorah and the majority of sites in Tuggerah Lake, Brisbane Water and the Lower Hawkesbury.
 
“Other sites that have shown a mix of fair to poor results include Budgewoi Lake, Wamberal, Terrigal and Avoca lagoons, and some other sites where creek systems enter larger waterways.
 
“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.
 
“The program has shown that for 2019-20 the overall health of Tuggerah Lakes for example was quite good.
 
“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’s program is delivered in partnership with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, using a scientifically robust methodology and is one of the most comprehensive programs of its kind provided by local government in NSW.
 
Council Administrator, Dick Persson AM announced 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,” Mr 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 information provided will go towards the development of four Coastal Management Programs we are developing, either on our own or in partnership with other local councils.
 
“The process is set out by the NSW Government, and it will take some time, however this first round of engagement aims to understand what our community values about these important waterways and how they use them.
 
“Members of the community will also be invited to sign up to take part in focus groups and other workshops that will take place throughout the whole process.
 
“I understand that the community may feel this is just another plan or strategy, but as we have seen with the erosion issue at Wamberal, certified coastal management plans open the door for action and funding into the future.
 
“We need to follow the process and get the right actions into these plans for the future.
 
“I would encourage everyone on the Central Coast, even those living in areas that seem far disconnected from the coastal zone to take part in this survey so that we may understand what all waterways on the Central Coast mean to you.”
 
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 
 
ENDS
 
Additional information/quotes for each of the waterway categories
 
Tuggerah Lakes Estuary 
Central Coast Council has been monitoring the ecological health of the Tuggerah Lakes estuary since 2011. Council now monitors 16 sites throughout the estuary.

Council’s Team Leader Estuary Management, Vanessa McCann said the results for Tuggerah Lakes were good news overall.

“Our results show water quality across the Tuggerah Lakes estuary generally improving or remaining stable over recent years,” Ms McCann said.

“Specifically, water quality in Lake Munmorah was rated good across the system, as were the majority of sites in Tuggerah Lake.

“Budgewoi Lake and some fringing sites around Tuggerah Lake including Canton Beach, Ourimbah Creek and Tumbi Creek were rated as fair.

“The good news is that we continue to see a positive trend in condition across most sites with 69% of sites improving and 2% remaining stable.

“The Coastal Management Programs, which are currently being prepared, provide an ideal opportunity to have a good look at these trends and ensure appropriate management actions are in place and targeted towards turning those results around where necessary.

“We can all play a part in this process, and I would urge everyone to take a look at some of the waterway tips available our website. Our lakes need all of us if we are to make them healthy, functioning ecosystems into the future. “
 
Brisbane Water
Central Coast Council monitors nine sites within Brisbane Water.

Council’s Team Leader Estuary Management, Vanessa McCann said that water quality graded from fair in the upper estuary to excellent closer to the mouth. Woy Woy Bay, Cockle Bay and Booker Bay were considered excellent for the 2019-20 year whilst the main basins graded as good.

“The naturally well flushed nature of Brisbane Water is reflected in the good results we have seen over the past three years,” Mc McCann said.

“Reduced water quality coming from the Narara, Erina and Kincumber Creek catchments have highlighted some concerns, particularly following heavy rainfall. During these times, chlorophyll-a and turbidity can spike in response to catchment runoff.

“It was great however to see a resurgence in seagrass at the Erina Creek site which is a positive sign for ecological health.

“The Coastal Management Programs, which are currently being prepared, provide an ideal opportunity to have a good look at these trends and ensure appropriate management actions are in place and targeted towards turning results around where necessary.

“We can all play a part in this process, and I would urge everyone to take a look at some of the waterway tips available our website. Our waterways need all of us if we are to make them healthy, functioning ecosystems into the future."
 
Southern Lake Macquarie
Central Coast Council monitors three sites within southern Lake Macquarie.
Council’s Team Leader Estuary Management, Vanessa McCann said all sites were considered excellent for the third consecutive year.

“Our Lake Macquarie sites all showed excellent results in 2019-20 with all indicators remaining well below the trigger values throughout the year,” Ms McCann said.

“Seagrass depth range continues to vary between the sites however the overall trend for Lake Macquarie is really positive.

“The Coastal Management Programs, which are currently being prepared, provide an ideal opportunity to have a good look at these trends and ensure appropriate management actions are in place and targeted towards turning results around where necessary.

“We can all play a part in this process, and I would urge everyone to take a look at some of the waterway tips available our website. Our waterways need all of us if we are to make them healthy, functioning ecosystems into the future. “
 
Coastal Lagoons
Central Coast Council monitors our four coastal lagoons – Wamberal, Terrigal, Avoca and Cockrone.

Council’s Team Leader Estuary Management, Vanessa McCann said the lagoons varied results reflected the urbanised nature of the lagoons catchments and the pressures they face.

“In 2019-20 Cockrone Lagoon rated as excellent whilst Wamberal and Terrigal rated as fair,” Ms McCann said.

“Avoca Lagoon has retained a very poor rating and we are working in partnership with the NSW Government to explore exactly what is going on and what we can do to improve those results over time

“The Coastal Management Programs, which are currently being prepared, provide an ideal opportunity to have a good look at these trends and ensure appropriate management actions are in place and targeted towards turning results around where necessary.

“We can all play a part in this process, and I would urge everyone to take a look at some of the waterway tips available our website. Our waterways need all of us if we are to make them healthy, functioning ecosystems into the future. “

Council remains committed to progressing the Terrigal and coastal lagoon catchment audit with the NSW Government component wrapping up in late 2020.
 
Lower Hawkesbury River
Central Coast Council monitors four sites that make up part of the Lower Hawkesbury River catchment.

Council’s Team Leader Estuary Management, Vanessa McCann said three sites, Mangrove Creek, Mullet Creek and Patonga Creek performed well during the 2019-20 year.

“Overall the water quality in these three creeks is good to excellent, with welcomed improvements noticed in Mangrove Creek this year,” Ms McCann said.

“The fourth location we monitor, Mooney Mooney Creek remains fair this year, with results indicating high nutrients in the water that can lead to algal blooms and a decline in water quality.

“The Coastal Management Programs, which are currently being prepared, provide an ideal opportunity to have a good look at these trends and ensure appropriate management actions are in place and targeted towards turning results around where necessary.

“We can all play a part in this process, and I would urge everyone to take a look at some of the waterway tips available our website. Our waterways need all of us if we are to make them healthy, functioning ecosystems into the future.”
 

Editors notes:

Central Coast Waterways report card
•    The Central Coast Waterways report card reports on ecological health of our waterways – using seagrass depth range, turbidity and Chlorophyll-a as indicators of health. The program follows the NSW Government guidelines and allows for comparison to any estuary in NSW.
•    The NSW State of the Beaches Report, the Beachwatch program and the Terrigal Catchment Audit are focused on water quality as it relates to recreational swimming guidelines and uses microbial contamination as the indicator. This is a separate program.

In summary the 2019-20 report tells us:
•    Brisbane Water estuary was generally considered good – excellent, with results in sites where the creeks enter the estuary only fair.
•    Water quality throughout the Tuggerah Lakes estuary was generally good, with a pocket of fair results for Budgewoi Lake and an excellent result at Chittaway Bay
•    the water quality in our southern Lake Macquarie sites is excellent
•    our coastal lagoons vary from excellent at Cockrone Lagoon to very poor at Avoca lagoon
•    the lower Hawkesbury River sites are generally good, with an excellent result for Patonga Creek and a fair result in Mooney Mooney Creek.

Of 36 sites monitored in 2019-20:
•    23 (64%) were graded good or excellent
•    12 (33%) were graded fair
•    1 (3%) was graded very poor.

The 2019-20 Waterways report card also outlines the actions Council has taken to target improvements in waterway health including:
•    intercepted and removed over 1600 tonnes of sediment and pollution from stormwater quality improvement devices before it reached the waterways
•    removed around 10,000m3 of excess seagrass wrack and floating algae from Tuggerah Lakes.
•    continued the Terrigal and Coastal Lagoon Audit including completing significant on-ground works to resolve water quality issues
•    collected 1,636 tonnes of material from the foreshores following the February 2020 flood
•    constructed new stormwater quality improvement devices at Umina Beach, The Entrance, Gorokan and Blue Haven to reduce pollutant loads to the waterways
•    continued rehabilitation of natural wetlands at Elizabeth Bay, Doyalson, Budgewoi, Toukley, Tacoma, Chittaway Bay, Berkeley Vale, Erina, Davistown, Saratoga, Bensville, Tascott, Avoca and Terrigal and restoration of coastal saltmarshes along the shores of Tuggerah Lake and

Brisbane Water
•    supported 80 Environmental Volunteer groups to conserve natural areas and improve the amenity of the Central Coast.

Coastal management programs
•    Council has implemented over 76% of the actions in our existing Coastal Zone Management Plans, Estuary Management Plans. Plenty of work is still happening on the ground under these plans.
•    Council will develop two coastal management programs itself - one for the Tuggerah Lakes estuary and the other for the open coast, including our larger coastal lagoons.
•    Council are also a key partner in a group of six Councils developing the Hawkesbury-Nepean River plan which includes all of Brisbane Water and the rivers to our west and will contribute to the development of the Lake Macquarie plan.