Wamberal Lagoon Catchment Aquatic Survey Final Report (PDF ...

1. Background
The Gosford LGA is experiencing rapid growth and development. This high population
coastal area represents a significant environmental asset that is fundamentally important
to our lifestyle and economy. Implementing the infrastructure needed to support the
increased population, agriculture and tourism must be undertaken so as to minimize or
avoid ecological impacts on coastal vegetation, wetlands and threatened species. It is
essential that management agencies have the information on hand to wisely plan the
development and future of these fragile coastal regions. Additionally, the Gosford coastal
region will be increasingly affected by global warming and climate change. Any decisions
made today could have lasting effects on the biodiversity of this coastal area. Currently,
however, management agencies do not have access to all the appropriate information
to enable the protection of our coastal crustacean and fish species and their fragile
aquatic habitats.
Over the last few years the Australian Crayfish Project (ACP) & Australian Aquatic
Biodiversity Survey (AABS) has been surveying eastern Australia for freshwater crayfish
and aquatic fauna. Over $300,000 has been expended in private funding sponsoring
these projects resulting in numerous important discoveries. In addition to recording
and describing several new species of crayfish in the region, the survey has also revealed
that an alarming proportion of the region’s endemic species appear to be facing serious
threats.
With the support of Gosford City Council the whole of the Gosford LGA will be surveyed
on a catchment by catchment basis and the results collected will greatly increase the
knowledge base and allow better management of these fragile coastal ecosystems,
helping the conservation of our aquatic species.
2. Introduction
Wamberal Lagoon is a small coastal lagoon located on the NSW Central Coast. It is a
growing residential area located between the major towns of Gosford to the south and
Wyong to the north. Being only 85 km or 90 minutes from the Sydney Central business
district, it is also a popular recreation area for both Sydney and local residents.
The lagoon has a surface area of approximately 0.57 km² and a catchment area of 6.6
km² (Map 1) with only one main tributary stream, Forresters Creek. Wamberal Lagoon
itself is substantially protected by the Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve. On the seaward
side of the lagoon, the nature reserve encloses the whole of the coastal barrier, whilst
at other locations around the waterway the nature reserve covers land of a variable
width affording some protective separation from other land uses. The existence of the
nature reserve increases the protection from stormwater runoff from the surrounding
catchment into the lagoon. (Gosford Factsheet W11(1/05)).
Wamberal Lagoon Catchment Report Australian Aquatic Biological P/L 6