Coastal Management Program:
Nambucca Coastline and Estuaries
Public Exhibition of the Draft Coastal Management Program
for Nambucca Coastline and Estuaries is now closed. Thank you for your input
Project Background:
Hydrosphere Consulting has been engaged by Nambucca Valley Council (NVC) to prepare a Coastal Management Program (CMP) for the Nambucca coastline and estuaries. The study area for the CMP includes approximately 25km of coastline from Oyster Creek to Scotts Head (including Little Beach) and the tidal sections of Deep Creek, Swimming Creek, Nambucca River and Warrell Creek. The goal of the CMP is to provide the long-term strategy and management actions for these areas, balancing priorities for environmental, cultural, recreational and commercial values, along with adaptation to emerging issues such as sea level rise and a changing population.
The project is equally funded by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) and NVC. The preparation of the CMP will be in accordance with the NSW Coastal Management Act 2016 and the five stages of NSW guidelines for coastal management, the Coastal Management Manual. The manual outlines the mandatory requirements and provides guidance on the preparation, development, adoption and content of the CMP. The development of the CMP is a comprehensive process requiring detailed review and analysis as well as an extensive community consultation process.
The coastline and estuaries are many things to many people. The beaches and estuaries are of significant cultural value for Aboriginal people and provide a place to continue traditional cultural practices. The scenic waterways and picturesque surrounds are used extensively for recreational activities and are of great importance to the local community and visitors alike, contributing to tourism and the local economy. The working waterway of the Nambucca River supports oyster aquaculture and commercial fishing industries. The study area obtains its identity from these industries and from agricultural and forestry practices in the catchments as well as significant areas of national parks and reserves in the upper catchments and on the coastal foreshores. A diversity of habitats have evolved for a wide variety of plants and animals including a number of protected flora and fauna species such as estuarine vegetation (mangrove, saltmarsh and seagrass), shorebirds, raptors and fish species.
Project Stages:
Stage 1 - Scoping study – involves collation of existing information, community and stakeholder engagement, and scoping of technical studies to fill key information gaps. Indicative timeline: Complete, report available for download below.
Stage 2 - Detailed studies of vulnerabilities and opportunities – involves confirmation of key issues and concerns, field work to confirm current knowledge and completion of identified technical studies to fill key information gaps. Indicative timeline: Complete, report available for download below.
Stage 3 - Response indication and evaluation – involves threat consequence and risk assessment, the evaluation and identification of management options and the development of management actions. Indicative timeline: Complete, report available for download below.
Stage 4 - Finalise, exhibit, certify and adopt the CMP – involves the preparation of a Draft CMP for agency review and public exhibition, the identification of funding and final mechanisms to implement the CMP, compiling and addressing submissions from agencies and the community and finalisation of the CMP document for certification. Indicative timeline: Draft now on public exhibition, report available for download below.
Stage 5 - Implementation, monitoring and reporting – involves the implementation of management actions from the certified CMP by NVC and involved agencies as well as the monitoring and reporting of CMP progress. Indicative timeline: Ongoing from mid 2021.
Further information on the process, including technical resources related to the implementation of these stages can be found on the DPIE website here: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/water/coasts/coastal-management/manual
Current Progress:
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Public Exhibition of the Draft Coastal Management Program is now closed. The project team are now reviewing submissions and preparing the final CMP documentation.
Public Exhibition
On the 29th April 2021 Council endorsed the Draft Coastal Management Program for Nambucca Coastline and Estuaries (CMP) for exhibition. The draft CMP was available on public exhibition from Friday 11th of June to Wednesday 14th July 2021. Public Exhibition is now closed.
Related Information and Documentation:
A suite of information is available relating to the existing management and health of the study area as listed below.
Community Engagement:
There is a lot of public interest in these beaches and waterways and community input to this plan is critical in getting the right balance in management priorities. A community survey and drop-in session were held during the preparation of the Scoping Study. The online project communication portal received comments and feedback from the community throughout the project. The draft CMP was available on public exhibition from Friday 11th of June to Wednesday 14th July 2021 and community members provided submissions on the draft program. Public Exhibition is now closed.