13.2 The Wallis Lake Estuary Management Committee - Great Lakes ...

A Vision for Wallis Lake – Centre of Excellence 

It is a vision of Great Lakes Council to make Wallis Lake a Centre of Excellence by: 

• facilitating novel and innovative research into natural resource management issues 

• promoting estuary and catchment best practice management tailored to Wallis Lake 

• developing unique management systems involving thorough community engagement, and 

• facilitating community change. 

It is envisaged that from this approach, innovative solutions necessary to successfully manage 

the Wallis Lake water body and catchment in a sustainable manner will be founded. 

Many recently conducted targeted studies in Wallis Lake have resulted from recommendations 

by CSIRO Land and Water scientist Graham Harris, whose opinion was sought by Great 

Lakes Council on local environmental management issues in the estuary and surrounding 

catchment. This provided an unbiased scientific assessment of the issues in the catchment based on 

existing data at the time. 

However, Great Lakes Council realises that successful management of our natural resources 

only occurs when effort is spread equally among implementation and monitoring in addition to 

research and planning. In this way ’adaptive management’ is possible whereby the results from 

monitoring programs feed directly back into future management planning. 

Research / Planning 

Targeted 

Action 

The 

Management 

Triangle 

Innovation / 

Best Practice 

Implementation 

Performance 

Assessment 

Monitoring 

If the balance becomes biased towards any one corner of the management 

triangle, the possible consequences are as follows: 

IMPLEMENTATION = spontaneous reaction to management issues 

MONITORING = observing systematic decline and deterioration 

PLANNING = lack of action and response towards management issues

By making Wallis Lake a Centre of Excellence the environmental, economic, social and 

cultural well being of the Wallis Lake community will be enhanced. 

Acknowledgments 

The Wallis Lake Estuary Management Plan has been prepared for the Wallis Lake Estuary 

Management Committee by Stephanie Moore on behalf of the estuary community and government 

agencies. 

Considerable assistance in preparing the WLEMP was received from Gerard Tuckerman, manager 

of Natural Systems and Estuaries, together with Mat Bell, Stacey Tyack and Naomi Soustal and 

from Glenn Handford, Director of Planning and Environment, at Great Lakes Council. Assistance 

was received in preparing figures and maps from Brendan Soustal. 

During the consultation phase, assistance and support was given by Brett Peterkin of Peterkin and 

Associates. 

Councillor John Weate donated considerable time to chair and assist in publicising the community 

meeting. 

Valuable comments and advice were received from many representatives of the Wallis Lake 

Estuary Management Committee, Great Lakes Council, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and 

Natural Resources, Department of Lands, NSW Department of Environment and Conservation, 

NSW Department of Primary Industries, MSB Waterways, commercial fishers, oyster growers and 

boatshed owners. 

Many community members provided input to the WLEMP and supported its development through 

attending the community meeting, sharing their local knowledge and expressing their concerns for 

the future management of the estuary. Appreciation is extended to Jolanda Nayutah from the 

Forster Local Aboriginal Lands Council for coordinating a meeting with indigenous members of the 

community and Aboriginal elders. 

This plan has only been made possible through the participation of stakeholders in the extensive 

consultation phase. Without this the WLEMP could not have comprehensively covered the range of 

management strategies that have been presented.

Wallis Lake Estuary Management Plan 

Contents 

Page No 

1 INTRODUCTION 

1.1 Purpose of the Wallis Lake Estuary Management Plan......................................................................1 

1.2 Objectives ...........................................................................................................................................1 

1.3 The estuary management process .....................................................................................................1 

1.4 The stakeholder and community consultation process.......................................................................3 

2 THE STUDY AREA 

2.1 Location and environmental characteristics....................................................................................... 5 

2.2 Current use and condition.................................................................................................................. 7 

2.2.1 The island/entrance area.................................................................................................... 8 

2.2.2 Wallis Lake water body .................................................................................................... 10 

2.2.3 Muddy Creek, Pipers Bay, Pipers Creek and Forster Keys.............................................. 12 

2.2.4 Wallamba River ................................................................................................................ 15 

2.2.5 Coolongolook and Wang Wauk Rivers............................................................................. 17 

2.2.6 Wallingat River ................................................................................................................. 17 

3 HOW TO USE THIS PLAN 

3.1 Management themes and actions ....................................................................................................20 

3.2 Priority ..............................................................................................................................................20 

3.3 Indicative costs.................................................................................................................................21 

3.4 Performance assessment.................................................................................................................21 

4 ACTION PLANS 

4.1 Water quality and flow...................................................................................................................... 22 

4.2 Ecology ............................................................................................................................................ 38 

4.3 Fisheries .......................................................................................................................................... 50 

4.4 Oyster aquaculture........................................................................................................................... 55 

4.5 Sedimentation.................................................................................................................................. 58 

4.6 Foreshore management................................................................................................................... 62 

4.7 Waterway usage .............................................................................................................................. 78 

4.8 Community education ...................................................................................................................... 84 

5 IMPLEMENTATION 

5.1 How to implement this plan ............................................................................................................. 92 

5.2 Order of implementation.................................................................................................................. 94 

6 MONITOR AND REVIEW PROCESS ....................................................................................... 98 

7 FUNDING REQUIREMENTS AND SOURCES .......................................................................106 

8 RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PLANS, STRATEGIES AND STUDIES ...............................108 

9 EXISTING LEGISLATION, POLICIES AND CONVENTIONS ................................................110 

10 ACRONYMS............................................................................................................................111 

11 GLOSSARY ............................................................................................................................113 

12 REFERENCES........................................................................................................................115 

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Page No 

13 APPENDICES 

13.1 A summary of existing plans, strategies and studies related to the WLEMP ................................ 118 

13.2 The Wallis Lake Estuary Management Committee ....................................................................... 128 

13.3 Submissions and consultations ..................................................................................................... 129 

13.4 Letter to landholders...................................................................................................................... 131 

13.5 Issues raised during public meeting and with Forster LALC ......................................................... 132 

13.6 Background to the Wallis Lake region........................................................................................... 133 

13.7 Best practice guidelines for human - dolphin interactions ............................................................. 136 

13.8 Considerations for assessing boat launching facilities .................................................................. 137 

Figures 

Figure 1.1 The Estuary Management Process.................................................................................................... 2 

Figure 2.1 The Wallis Lake Estuary .................................................................................................................... 6 

Figure 2.3 Management area A: Island/entrance area........................................................................................ 9 

Figure 2.4 Management area B: Wallis Lake Water Body ................................................................................ 11 

Figure 2.5 Management area C1: Muddy Creek............................................................................................... 13 

Figure 2.6 Management area C2: Pipers Bay, Pipers Creek and Forster Keys................................................ 14 

Figure 2.7 Management area D: Wallamba River............................................................................................. 16 

Figure 2.8 Management area E: Coolongolook and Wang Wauk Rivers.......................................................... 18 

Figure 2.9 Management area F: Wallingat River .............................................................................................. 19 

Figure 4.1 Locations for creek rehabilitation ..................................................................................................... 24 

Figure 4.2 Sites for baseline water quality testing............................................................................................. 31 

Figure 4.3 Sites of monthly water samples for faecal coliform testing by NSW Food Authority........................ 33 

Figure 4.4 Sites of monthly phytoplankton sampling by NSW food Authority ................................................... 33 

Figure 4.5 SEPP14 and other wetland areas of Wallis Lake with high conservation value .............................. 39 

Figure 4.6 Shallow seagrass beds to consider including in ‘proceed with care’ zone....................................... 41 

Figure 4.7 Sites of Chaetomorpha sp blooms in Pipers Creek and Microdictyon sp blooms 

in Breckenridge Channel ................................................................................................................. 45 

Figure 4.8 Location of sites for the seagrass monitoring program.................................................................... 47 

Figure 4.9 Sites of fishways to be installed and site of fish kills in the upper Wallamba River ......................... 51 

Figure 4.10 Marine Protected Areas in NSW and boundaries of the Manning Bioregion for 

the Bioregional Assessment............................................................................................................ 52 

Figure 4.11 Conservation zonings 7a and 7b on the islands and Wallis Lake foreshores.................................. 64 

Figure 4.12 Areas on islands experiencing considerable erosion....................................................................... 66 

Figure 4.13 Location of foreshore reserves ........................................................................................................ 68 

Figure 4.14 Informal foreshore road at Green Point ........................................................................................... 72 

Figure 4.15 Location of the Green Cathedral...................................................................................................... 79 

Figure 4.16 

Figure 4.17 

Figure 4.18 

Suggested locations for signage identifying islands and for additional channel 

markers ........................................................................................................................................... 81 

Area to restrict waterskiing, wakeboarding and other power boat recreational 

activities to on the Wallamba River ................................................................................................. 83 

Example of an educational diagram illustrating the ecological importance of 

Seagrass beds as a food source and as habitat for juvenile fish .................................................... 89 

Figure 6.1 Schematic diagram of the artificial wetlands on the K-leg drainage line........................................ 100 

Figure 6.2 Sites of annual shellfish samples for pesticide and metals testing by NSW Food Authority.......... 100 

Figure 8.1 The planning framework for the maintenance and improvement of estuarine health .................... 109 

Figure 9.1 

Legislation, policies and conventions that make up the natural resource planning 

framework and can be used as tools to implement the WLEMP and WLCMP.............................. 110 

iii


Plates 

Page No 

Plate 1.1 Public meeting participants, 4 December 2003 ................................................................................. 4 

Plate 2.1 Aerial photograph demarcating estuary management areas in Wallis Lake...................................... 7 

Plate 4.1 Pennington Creek; a site for creek rehabilitation ............................................................................. 23 

Plate 4.2 Darawakh Creek and Frogalla Swamp wetland showing class 2 acid sulphate soils ...................... 28 

Plate 4.3 Major works options to improve flow and water quality in Forster Keys and Pipers 

Plate 4.4 

Creek............................................................................................................................................... 35 

Location of sand bar encroaching on Posidonia australis bed between Wallis and 

Tony’s Point Islands ........................................................................................................................ 43 

Plate 4.5 Chaetomorpha sp bloom in Pipers Creek........................................................................................ 45 

Plate 4.6 Unauthorised modification and dumping in the riparian zone in Muddy Creek................................ 49 

Plate 4.7 Mud Shoal at Green Point................................................................................................................ 59 

Plate 4.8 Sites for urgent dredging operations................................................................................................ 59 

Plate 4.9 Sediment build-up at stormwater outlet in Forster Keys .................................................................. 60 

Plate 4.10 Environmentally friendly mesh jetty walkway reducing shading of seagrass................................... 63 

Plate 4.11 Example of an unauthorised foreshore structure in Muddy Creek................................................... 63 

Plate 4.12 Collapsing retaining wall, Oxley Park............................................................................................... 69 

Plate 4.13 Base of collapsing retaining wall, Oxley Park .................................................................................. 69 

Plate 4.14 Erosion at Oxley Park ...................................................................................................................... 69 

Plate 4.15 Erosion at Rest Point Road reserve................................................................................................. 69 

Plate 4.16 Suggested works for rest Point Road reserve ................................................................................. 70 

Plate 4.17 Suggested works for Darawakh reserve.......................................................................................... 70 

Plate 4.18 Area with drainage problems at the eastern edge of the informal foreshore road, 

Green Point...................................................................................................................................... 72 

Plate 4.19 Erosion on the Wallamba River exacerbated by stock permanently grazing in the 

Riparian zone................................................................................................................................... 75 

Plate 4.20 Worn footpath on walkway-bridge at Oxley Park............................................................................. 77 

Plate 4.21 Foreshore signage breaching minimum height requirements.......................................................... 77 

Plate 4.22 Area behind Fish Coop where conflict occurs between public viewers and 

Commercial fishermen when unloading catches............................................................................. 77 

Plate 4.23 Educational signage at the site of a constructed wetland................................................................ 85 

Plates 4.24& 25 Deep drains transporting sediment and nutrients from grazing land to the Wallamba 

River ................................................................................................................................................ 87 

Plate 8.1 Cover page of the WLCMP, volume 2 ........................................................................................... 108 

Tables 

Table 3.1 Priority assessment ranking scheme ............................................................................................... 20 

Table 3.2 Determination of consequence for priority assessment ranking scheme......................................... 21 

Table 5.1 Shared responsibilities for implementing the WLEMP ..................................................................... 92 

Table 6.1 WLEMP monitoring overview........................................................................................................... 99 

Table 7.1 Total number of actions and strategies for each management theme........................................... 106 

Table 7.2 Expenditure for the WLEMP sorted according to priority ............................................................... 107 

i


1 Introduction 

1.1 Purpose of the Wallis Lake Estuary Management Plan 

The purpose of the Wallis Lake Estuary Management Plan (WLEMP) is to coordinate management 

efforts of local government, state government agencies and community to address issues regarding 

the social, cultural, environmental, recreational and commercial amenity of the Lake. The plan 

provides a schedule of achievable and targeted management actions that have been developed with 

and are endorsed by all stakeholders. 

The WLEMP has been developed in accordance with the State Government’s Estuary Management 

Program. It will operate in concert with a number of other policies including Ecologically Sustainable 

Development, the NSW Coastal Policy, the NSW Estuary Policy and other relevant local government 

policies (eg Development Control Plans). 

Local remedial plans and strategies for the estuary and catchment already in existence (see section 

13.1) will not be replaced by the WLEMP. Instead the WLEMP will provide a strategic framework to 

ensure elements of these plans and strategies are implemented in concert with the broader 

management goals of the estuary community. 

The WLEMP will address management issues of the Wallis Lake water body and its tributaries up to 

the tidal limits, the foreshore and other lands adjacent to the estuary including wetlands and drainage 

reserves that are functionally related to the estuary. 

1.2 Objectives 

The Wallis Lake Estuary Management Plan aims to provide a strategic framework within which 

management measures can operate effectively to: 

1. conserve, protect and enhance areas of significant cultural, ecological and aesthetic value ∗ 

2. restore or remediate degraded areas 

3. balance the recreational, commercial, social and cultural needs of the estuary 

4. increase the economic value of the estuary in an ecologically sustainable manner, and 

5. increase community awareness of estuarine processes and management issues. 

1.3 The estuary management process 

The Estuary Management Process (Figure 1.1) is outlined in the Estuary Management Manual 

(1992). This manual was developed to assist communities to implement the New South Wales 

Government’s Estuary Management Policy of 1987. The goal of this policy was for Estuary 

Management Plans to be developed and implemented for all estuaries in New South Wales. 

∗ Aesthetic value is defined here is a combination of both water quality and scenic attributes. 

1


1. Form an Estuary Management Committee 

2. Assemble existing data 

3. Carry out Estuary Processes Study 

4. Carry out Estuary Management Study 

5. Draft Estuary Management Plan 

6. Review Estuary Management Plan 

7. Adopt and implement Estuary Management Plan 

8. Monitor and review management process 

Figure 1.1: Steps of the Estuary Management Process (reproduced from the New South Wales Estuary 

Management Policy, 1987). 

For Wallis Lake this process began in 1995 with the formation of the Wallis Lake Estuary 

Management Committee. This committee is representative of the major stakeholders in the Lake 

(section13.2) and is responsible for identifying recreational, commercial and environmental issues in 

the estuary. 

In 1996 step 2 was accomplished with the completion of the Wallis Lake Data Compilation Study 

(Willing & Partners). Data available at this time included detailed vertical aerial photography since 

the late 1930s, hydrographic surveys and hydrodynamic data, endangered flora and fauna species, 

extensive rainfall and run-off data, limited water quality data, and details on boat ramps and 

stormwater outlets. Based on available data at the time, major issues facing Wallis Lake were 

identified and ranked in terms of their significance and magnitude. Water quality issues and 

maintenance of the environment were given highest priority as a result of this review. 

Information ‘gaps’ identified in step 2 were addressed in additional studies leading up to the 

preparation of the Wallis Lake Estuary Processes Study in 1999 (Webb, McKeown and Associates), 

representing step 3 of the Estuary Management Process. The Estuary Processes Study 

comprehensively assesses the Wallis Lake system in terms of its hydrodynamics, sediment 

dynamics, water quality, flora and fauna, and waterway usage. Major and minor issues identified in 

step 2 were reassessed and presented alongside additional issues identified in this study under the 

processes listed above. It was recommended that these issues be addressed within the WLEMP. 

2


Step 4 of the Estuary Management Process was tailored to meet the specific management needs of 

the Wallis Lake system. Instead of conducting a broad Estuary Management Study defining 

management objectives, options and impacts for the entire system and its uses, a series of specific 

and targeted investigations were conducted based on the advice of CSIRO scientist Graham Harris. 

These studies were designed to produce management objectives addressing the major concerns at 

the time of unsustainable nutrient and sediment loads entering the Lake. 

The process outlined thus far provides the foundations to draft the Wallis Lake Estuary Management 

Plan (step 5). This plan defines both short and long-term management objectives and identifies 

actions to address these that may be ongoing or one-off in nature. These management actions take 

into account the views of all parties represented in the Wallis Lake Estuary Management Committee 

and the wider community. 

1.4 The stakeholder and community consultation process 

The first stage of community consultation for the WLEMP was achieved through the Wallis Lake 

Estuary Management Committee with various waterway user groups, government authorities and 

environmental groups represented. Many of these stakeholders were consulted for the Wallis Lake 

Catchment Management Plan (WLCMP) and were therefore already briefed on issues in the Wallis 

Lake catchment and estuary. 

Great care was then taken to identify stakeholder groups not represented on the WLEMC (section 

13.3). These stakeholders were briefed on the objectives and scope of the WLEMP and given the 

opportunity to discuss management issues and measures. 

Additionally, a notification letter outlining the WLEMP and inviting the opportunity for direct 

consultation or written submissions was sent to all landholders whose property bordered Wallis Lake 

or its associated tributaries (section 13.4). 

A public meeting held on the 4 December 2003 provided an opportunity for stakeholders and 

community members to take part in the planning process. This meeting was widely publicised 

through the Great Lakes Advocate, the Extra and through an interview with Councillor John Weate 

on ABC radio on 4 December 2003. A second meeting was held at the Foster Local Aboriginal Lands 

Council to consult members of the community on indigenous matters relevant to the WLEMP on 14 

January 2004. A summary of the main concerns raised during these meetings is listed in section 

13.5. 

Information on the WLEMP was also communicated via the local prime news telecast on 5 

December 2003. 

3


[Plate 1.1: Public meeting participants, 4 December 2003] 

This extensive consultation process generated wide community and government support for the 

WLEMP. In some instances, progress has already begun on management actions and this has 

provided a considerable head start towards achieving the estuary management goals for Wallis 

Lake. 

4


2 The management area 

2.1 Location and environmental characteristics 

Wallis Lake is a large sub-tropical estuary situated on the New South Wales mid north coast 

covering an area of approximately 85 km 2 (Figure 2.1). The catchment is spread across the three 

local government areas of Great Lakes Council (65%), Greater Taree City Council (30%) and 

Gloucester Shire Council (5%). 

The four main river systems that discharge into the Lake are the Wallamba, Wang Wauk, 

Coolongolook and Wallingat Rivers. Of these river systems the Wallamba has the largest subcatchment 

of 437 km 2 , approximately one third of the entire Wallis Lake catchment (1440 km 2 ). The 

Wallamba is also the most modified with 69% of the sub-catchment cleared for agriculture. The 

Wang Wauk (207 km 2 ) and Coolongolook (172 km 2 ) are the next two largest sub-catchments. These 

sub-catchments have also been modified for agriculture with the Wang Wauk considerably more 

cleared than the Coolongolook (57% compared to 28% respectively). The Wallingat sub-catchment 

(182km 2 ) has experienced the least amount of clearing (18%) and is largely national park and state 

forest. 

As a consequence of these land use patterns, nearly 60% (17 123 kg.yr -1 P and 108 091 kg.yr -1 N) of 

the total nutrient load entering the Lake can be attributed to the Wallamba and Wang Wauk subcatchments 

based on Catchment Management Support System computer modelling (Great Lakes 

Catchment Management Steering Committee 2001). This is in spite of these sub-catchments 

comprising only 45% of the land area of the entire catchment. These nutrient loads have been 

identified as being unsustainable (Harris 2001). 

The area experiences a mostly summer rainfall regime with an annual average rainfall of 1215 mm 

and an annual median of 1206 mm for the period 1896 to 1997 (Webb, McKeown and Associates 

1999). High magnitude flooding can occur during summer, however the flood variability, and hence 

variability in river discharge, is considerable. This also influences the rate of nutrient and sediment 

input to the estuary system. 

The entrance to the Lake system is kept permanently open by two training walls resulting in 

considerable tidal exchange between the ocean and the estuary and maintaining the clear blue 

waters for which the twin towns of Forster/Tuncurry have become famous. Waters of the 

entrance/island area of the Lake will completely exchange with the ocean on a time scale of 1 day to 

1 week, increasing to greater than 2 months in the southern parts of the Lake and the middle to 

upper reaches of the rivers (Great Lakes Catchment Management Steering Committee 2001). 

Information on the cultural history, natural significance, major industries and productivity of the Wallis 

Lake estuary can be found in section 13.6. 

5


Wallamba River 

Wang Wauk River 

Muddy Creek 

Coolongolook River 

Pacific Highway 

Wallingat River 

Wallis 

Lake 

Pipers Bay 

NSW 

Wallis Lake 

Sydney 

[Figure 2.1: The Wallis Lake estuary] 

6


2.2 Current use and condition 

To facilitate a more detailed discussion of the current use and condition of Wallis Lake, the estuary 

has been divided into management areas, with each area having similar ecological characteristics 

and management needs (Plate 2.1). These areas are: 

A. the island/entrance area 

B. Wallis Lake water body 

C. Muddy Creek, Pipers Bay, Pipers Creek, and Forster Keys 

D. Wallamba River 

E. Coolongolook and Wang Wauk Rivers, and 

F. Wallingat River. 

[Plate 2.1: Aerial photograph demarcating estuary management areas within Wallis Lake] 

7


2.2.1 Management area A: Island/Entrance area 

Area A includes the island/entrance estuary and foreshore area of the Lake (Figure 2.3) covering 

Cape Hawke Harbour to the Wallamba broadwater in the east, Rose Point in the south-west, and 

Coomba Park and Green Point in the south. 

AREA A: 

Average waterway depth ≈ 2.8 m 

Large commercial, residential and tourist developments of Forster/Tuncurry border this area. Much 

of this development occurs immediately adjacent to the foreshore area on Cape Hawke Harbour in 

Tuncurry and along Breckenridge Channel in Forster including Pennington Creek. 

Commercial users include cruise boats, scuba diving boats, fishing charters, commercial fishermen 

and oyster farmers (the majority of Wallis Lake’s 327 oyster leases are situated in this management 

area). The area is used for recreation by amateur fishermen and for swimming, paddling, picnicking, 

power boating and jet skiing. During peak periods (eg long weekends, Easter, Christmas and New 

Years holidays) the area experiences a considerable increase in use by these groups. 

The main access points to the Wallis Lake estuary in this management area are: 

• Point Road – Tuncurry ramp 

• Forster Regional Boat ramp (with marina and pump out facilities) 

• Paradise marina ramp – Little Street 

High densities of moorings are situated in Breckenridge Channel, Cape Hawke Harbour in Tuncurry, 

and on Point Road in Tuncurry. NSW Department of Primary Industries, Department of Lands or 

Great Lakes Council manages these moorings. 

The dynamic movement of sand shoals prevents colonisation by seagrasses close to the entrance. 

However, further from the entrance patches of Zostera spp and Posidonia australis are present. 

SEPP 14 wetland areas are present on a number of the islands in this area including Godwin, 

Mather, Cockatoo, Regatta and Wallis Islands. Large areas of saltmarsh are located on the southern 

shore of Regatta and Big Islands. 

Further to this, an artificial wetland has been constructed on Macintosh Street (Mar 1999) to improve 

stormwater quality from the Pennington Creek catchment. 

8


McClymonts Creek 

Wallamba 

broadwater 

Cape Hawke 

Harbour 

Point Road 

Breckenridge 

Channel 

Cockatoo Island 

Mather Island 

Godwin Island 

Rose Point 

Bandicoot Island 

Regatta Island 

Wallis Island 

Hadleys Island 

Tonys Point Island 

[Figure 2.3: Management area A: Island/entrance area] 

9


2.2.2 Management area B: Wallis Lake water body 

This is the largest area covering the lake and foreshore area to the south of Green Point and 

Coomba Park, including Wallis Creek (Figure 2.4). 

AREA B: 


The townships of Green Point and Coomba Park border this area. 

Both commercial and amateur fishermen and commercial cruise boats utilise this area. 

Recreational activities including swimming, sailing, windsurfing, paddling, power boating and jet 

skiing. 

The main access points to the Wallis Lake estuary in this management area are: 

• Green Point 

• Sailing Club (private) 

• ramp opposite Elizabeth Beach turn-off 

• Pacific Palms ramp (private) 

• public ramp 250 m west of Pacific Palms ramp 

• Coomba Park (with jetty facility), and 

• various unformed access points reached from Coomba Road. 

The majority of Wallis Lake’s seagrass is present in this area with expansive beds of Zostera spp 

throughout and interspersed beds of Posidonia australis in the north. Ruppia sp and Halophila spp 

can be found in the north-west of the area with some larger beds in the shallow eastern area 

between Tiona and Green Point. 

SEPP 14 wetland areas are located on Yahoo and Snake Islands, north of Tiona on the foreshore, 

around Charlotte Bay and Brushy Point, and around Paling Fence Bay south of Coomba Park. An 

extensive saltmarsh area is also located on the shoreline at Green Point. 

10


Paling Fence Bay 

Yahoo Island 

Pelican Island 

Snake Island 

WALLIS LAKE 

Tiona 

Brushy Point 

Pacific Palms 

Charlotte Bay 

Wallis Creek 

[Figure 2.4: Management area B: Wallis Lake water body] 

11


2.2.3 Management area C: Muddy Creek (Wallamba Cove), Pipers Bay, Pipers 

Creek and Forster Keys 

Management Area C1 (Figure 2.5) encompasses Muddy Creek (Wallamba Cove) and Area C2 

(Figure 2.6) the Pipers Bay, Pipers Creek and Forster Keys area. These areas are densely 

urbanised canal estates (or the receiving areas of these) and experience little flushing. 

Denitrification efficiency in Muddy Creek (Area C1) is low at 50% during summer (Smith and 

Heggie 2003). Denitrification is an important natural way for estuaries to cleanse themselves of 

excess nitrogen. It is a process by which organic nitrogen from plant material is converted to 

nitrogen gas by bacteria and lost to the atmosphere. If this process is not operating efficiently, the 

organic nitrogen is instead converted to dissolved inorganic forms (nitrate, nitrite and ammonia) 

and is available for plant growth. A denitrification efficiency of 40% or less is thought to be a sign of 

deteriorating water and sediment quality, so the value of 50% measured in Muddy Creek is poor. A 

phytoplankton bloom caused by Microcystis sp from March until May 2002 is testament to this and 

a sign that excess nutrients are in the system. 

To alleviate the nutrient (and sediment) loads entering Muddy Creek an artificial wetland was 

constructed on Bramble Parade in April 2002. Artificial wetland areas act as filtration systems 

trapping and absorbing nutrients from stormwater in the native vegetation and allowing sediments 

to settle out before entering the estuary. These constructed wetlands can reduce nitrogen loads by 

up to 30%. However, there is limited information available to date on the performance of the 

artificial wetlands constructed in the Wallis Lake catchment. 

Pipers Creek and Forster Keys (Area C2) are the receiving area for stormwater from the Forster 

Keys and Wyuna catchments. The catchment area has largely been cleared for residential and 

commercial purposes, resulting in significant nutrient inputs and possible faecal pollution entering 

the estuary particularly after rain (Webb, McKeown & Assoc. 1999). Five artificial wetlands have 

been constructed in this catchment at Goldens Road north (Dec 2002) and south (Mar 2003), 

Kularoo Drive (Dec 2003), Boronia Street (2004) and Townsend Street (Nov 2001). Further to this, 

1 GPT has been installed at Kularoo Drive. 

Evidence of nutrient enrichment in Area C2 is a persistent bloom of the green filamentous 

macroalgae Chaetomorpha sp. This alga has been observed forming large mats in shallower areas 

of the Creek since December 2000 (S. Moore pers. obs.) and sporadically in the Forster Keys and 

in Pipers Bay. Further, denitrification efficiency is just 38% in Pipers Creek during summer months 

(Smith and Heggie 2003). This is less than the 40% value indicating poor water and sediment 

quality, and means that during summer ammonia (a highly available plant nutrient) is leaching out 

of the sediments into the surrounding water column and is available for plant growth. 

SEPP 14 wetland areas are present on much of Big Island and in the upper reaches of Pipers 

Creek. 

No public access to the Lake is available in Area C1 at Muddy Creek, however access in 

Management Area C2 is obtained via the Forster Keys ramp. 

12


Duck Swamp 

Bramble Parade wetland 

Muddy Creek 

Native Dog Island 

Ohmas Bay 

Oaky Island 

[Figure 2.5: Management area C1: Muddy Creek] 

13


Pioneer Drive wetland 

Kularoo Drive wetland 

Goldens Road north wetland 

Goldens Road south wetland 

Tonys Point 

Island 

Pipers Creek 

Big Island 

Forster Keys 

Pipers Bay 

[Figure 2.6: Management area C2: Pipers Bay, Pipers Creek and Forster Keys] 

14


2.2.4 Management area D: Wallamba River 

Area D encompasses the Wallamba River from the broadwater upstream to the tidal limit at 

Clarksons Crossing in Nabiac (Figure 2.7). The township of Nabiac is situated at the upper tidal 

limit and the smaller township of Failford is located further downstream. 

AREA D: 


Environmental issues resulting from land clearing for agricultural use in the Wallamba River 

catchment include nutrient enrichment (Carter 1999) and faecal contamination from livestock 

(Logan et. al. 2001). In areas where stock has access to the riverbank, riparian vegetation is 

degenerated contributing to riverbank erosion. 

Large volumes of acid product enter the estuary during times of rain from Darawakh Creek due to 

past drainage works disturbing acid sulphate soils in the Darawakh wetland and Frogalla Swamp 

area. The fishing and oyster aquaculture industries especially are affected by this problem. 

Fish kills in the upper reaches of the Wallamba River during summer in 1999 and again in 2003 are 

signs of localised eutrophication. Eutrophication is the process of excess plant growth causing 

algal blooms, particularly of phytoplankton and free floating macroalgae. This plant organic matter 

consumes oxygen as it decomposes on the estuary bed, causing deoxygenation of bottom waters 

in the area. Consequently, asphyxiation is thought to be the cause of the Wallamba River fish kills 

that affected Australian bass, mullet, bream, catfish and eels. The presence of a barrier at 

Clarkson’s Crossing is likely to have significantly contributed to these events by inhibiting fish 

passage downstream to more oxygenated waters. 

Waterskiing and wakeboarding is popular in the lower Wallamba River contributing to erosion in the 

area, particularly at ‘turn around points’ and in areas of high/steep riverbank. Commercial and 

recreational fishermen also utilise the area and oyster aquaculture takes place in the broadwater. 

The estuary can be accessed at Failford and at a number of private launching ramps for a fee. 

Access can also be gained at the two major private ramps at Shalimar Ski and Caravan Park and 

the River Inn Caravan Park. 

Patches of Zostera spp are present in the lower sections of the river and SEPP 14 wetland areas 

with some patchy saltmarsh areas are present along the foreshore of the lower Wallamba River 

and on Gereeba and Wallamba Islands. 

15


Clarksons Crossing 


Darawakh 

Gereeba Island 

Wallamba Island 

McClymonts Creek 

Wallamba broadwater 

[Figure 2.7: Management area D: Wallamba River] 

16


2.2.5 Management area E: Coolongolook and Wang Wauk Rivers 

The Coolongolook and Wang Wauk River system form Management Area E encompassing the 

area upstream from Rose Point (including Shallow Bay and Minimbah Creek) to Locketts Crossing 

on the Coolongolook River and to the Pacific Highway on the Wang Wauk River (Figure 2.8). 

Due to large areas of land cleared for agriculture, similar problems identified in Area D (Wallamba 

River) occur in this management area including nutrient enrichment, faecal contamination from 

livestock and erosion. 

Water skiing occurs on the Coolongolook River, however it is much less intensive than on the 

Wallamba River. The area is also utilised by commercial fishermen. 

SEPP 14 wetland areas border the estuary in this management area downstream of the Wang 

Wauk and Coolongolook River confluence, surrounding Minimbah Creek and around Shallow Bay. 

Within these areas extensive saltmarsh communities are located on Minimbah Creek. 

Access to the upper navigable reaches of the Coolongolook River is via a ramp close to 

Coolongolook. 

2.2.6 Management area F: Wallingat River 

The Wallingat River from the Coolongolook confluence (including Mills Island) upstream to the Tea 

Tree Creek confluence comprise Area F (Figure 2.9). 

The Wallingat River has experienced little human impact with only 18% of the catchment cleared 

and the majority either State Forest or National Park. There are no major townships on the banks 

of the river. 

Much of the foreshore area along the length of the Wallingat River is classified as SEPP 14 

wetland including areas on Mills Island. In addition extensive saltmarsh communities are located on 

the shoreline west of Mills Island. 

The management area is utilised by commercial fishermen and for recreation by water skiers, 

wakeboarders and paddle craft. 

The estuary can be accessed by a ramp within the Wallingat National Park in the upper reaches of 

the management area. 

17


Wang Wauk River 

Minimbah Creek 


Shallow Bay 

Rose Point 

Locketts Crossing 


[Figure 2.8: Management area E: Coolongolook and Wang Wauk Rivers] 

18



Mills Island 


Ferny Creek 

Tea Tree Creek 

[Figure 2.9: Management area F: Wallingat River] 

19


3 How to use this plan 

3.1 Management themes and actions 

The issues, conflicts and concerns in the Lake raised by stakeholders during the consultation 

process have been categorised into the following general management themes: 

• water quality and flow (W) 

• ecology (E) 

• fisheries (F) 

• oyster aquaculture (O) 

• sedimentation (S) 

• foreshore management (M) 

• waterway usage (U) 

• community education (C) 

These management themes provide the basis for the action plans in section 4. 

Some of the actions recommended in the WLEMP are sourced from the WLCMP in recognition of 

the link between the near-shore and estuary environments and between land-based activities and 

water quality. This lends weight to the actions and highlights the importance of their implementation 

for both land and estuary ecosystems. Where the outcomes of smaller scale, targeted 

management plans will significantly benefits the Wallis Lake estuary, implementation of the entire 

plan or strategy is recommended in some of the WLEMP actions. 

3.2 Priority and timing 

Each management strategy in the action plans has been designated a rank based on the following 

priority assessment scheme. 

TEMPORAL AND/OR 

SPATIAL SCALE 

A Always / 

Entire estuary 

B Often / 

>1 Management Area 

C Regularly / 

Single Management Area 

D Occasionally / 

Localised 

E Rarely / 

Confined 

CONSEQUENCE 

1 2 3 4 5 

Catastrophic Major Moderate Minor Insignificant 

I I I H H 

I I H H M 

I H H M M 

H H M M L 

H M M L L 

I = Immediate priority; H = High priority; M = Medium priority; L = Long-term priority. 

[Table 3.1: Priority assessment ranking scheme] 

20


DETERMINATION OF CONSEQUENCE 

1 Catastrophic Human death and/or huge financial loss and/or irreversible environmental/social/cultural damage or 

loss 

2 Major Serious human injury and/or major financial loss and/or significant environmental/social/cultural 

damage or loss 

3 Moderate Human medical treatment required and/or huge financial loss and/or serious 

environmental/social/cultural damage or loss 

4 Minor Medium financial loss and/or moderate environmental/social/cultural damage or loss 

5 Insignificant Low financial loss and/or some environmental/social/cultural damage or loss 

[Table 3.2: Determination of consequence for priority assessment ranking scheme] 

This ranking scheme allows highest priority to be given to strategies relating to issues where the 

current situation is irreversibly threatening the health of the Lake system over large spatial and 

temporal scales and/or has the potential to cause human death. In this case management 

measures will bring immediate relief to the environment and benefit the community. 

Strategies with the immediate priority rank should be commenced within 1 year of adoption of the 

WLEMP to prevent further degradation/conflict or irreversible damage, high priority strategies 

should be implemented with the next 2-3 years and medium priority actions should be implemented 

within the next 5 years. Long-term priority has been given to strategies that will need to be 

implemented to address issues in the near future, but higher ranked items should take precedence. 

Specific time frames are deliberately omitted for each action; instead it is thought it to be inherent 

in the designated priority rank. This avoids precluding implementation of lesser-ranked actions if 

the opportunity arises and resources are available. 

3.3 Indicative costs 

Where possible, an approximate budget based on information currently available is presented for 

implementing each action. The values given for new major works will need reviewing when a 

detailed work program is developed. It is likely that the actual cost of implementing the WLEMP will 

be higher than that stated due to unforseen maintenance costs etc. Actions that require staff time 

only are indicated. 

3.4 Performance assessment 

Section 6 details how the management actions can be monitored, assessed and reviewed where 

necessary. An integrated assessment program is presented identifying the performance indicators 

and data interpretation methodology. Results of the monitoring and evaluation program must feed 

back into the review of the WLEMP in 5 years time. 

21


4 Action plans 

4.1 Water quality and flow 

Management Objective Minimise the pollutant load to the estuary from urban stormwater drains during periods of rainfall. ‘Pollutant’ refers to organic 

contaminants, suspended solids, nitrogen, phosphorous, pathogens, heavy metals and gross pollutants 

W.1 

Management Area A, B, C, D 

Action 

No 

Action 

Indicative 

Cost 

W.1.1 Implement the Wallis Lake stormwater management plan $200,000 

per year 

W.1.2 Conduct creek rehabilitation of existing drainage lines/stormwater channels to 

enhance nutrient reduction mechanisms in-stream at Pennington Creek, Wyuna 

Creek, Dunnes Creek, Pipers Creek, Muddy Creek 

W.1.3 

W.1.4 

W.1.5 

W.1.6 

Prepare protocols for the frequency of maintenance/clean-out of SQIDs and 

regular clean-out stormwater GPTs , and conduct regular maintenance of all 

SQIDs and GPTs in accordance with this protocol 

Develop and implement a scientific monitoring program to assess the 

effectiveness of recently constructed SQIDs and assess the need for any new 

SQIDs 

Develop and implement a water sensitive urban design DCP for all future urban 

developments in the Great Lakes Shire 

Continue to enforce the GLC sediment and erosion control policy 1995 for all 

urban developments 

Priority Responsibilities Progress 

Immediate (B2) GLC Creation and maintenance of 

8 artificial wetlands 

Tree planting in Pennington 

Creek and testing of water 

quality in Pennington and 

Dunnes Creeks through the 

Waterwatch program 

$25,000 High (C2) GLC, 

Waterwatch 

$5,000 + 

$40,000 

per year 

Medium (B5) 

GLC 

$20,000 Medium (B5) GLC 

$10,000 Medium (B5) GLC Progress paused due to 

development of BASIX by 

DIPNR – to resume after 

July 2005 ∗ 

Staff time Medium (B5) GLC Ongoing 

∗ DIPNR introduced the Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) as a planning tool to assess water and energy efficiency of new residential developments. A BASIX certificate will 

only be approved for proposed developments that will be built to use 40% less mains supply water and produce 25% less greenhouse gas emissions (increasing to 40% from July 

2006). 

22


Comments for strategy W.1 

The Wallis Lake stormwater management plan is due for revision in 2005. 

Creek rehabilitation involves the removal of exotic weeds and replanting of native species, removal of litter, and measures to minimise erosion. 

In 2004 an external reference group of members of the building and development industry and an internal reference group from GLC began development of a DCP embracing 

water sensitive urban design. The proposed DCP covered all scales of development from the allotment scale to the development scale and included industry and tourism as well 

as residential developments. The introduction of BASIX by DIPNR has temporarily halted the development of the DCP, however; progress will resume after July 2005 when all 

new residential developments in NSW must gain a BASIX certificate for development approval. Development of the DCP for the Great Lakes Shire should then resume, focusing 

on aspects of water sensitive urban design not covered by BASIX. 

[Plate 4.1: Pennington Creek; a site for creek rehabilitation] 

23


[Figure 4.1: Locations in need of creek rehabilitation] 

24


Management Objective Reduce rural land use impacts on water quality in the Wallamba, Wang Wauk and Coolongolook catchments (particularly nitrogen, 

phosphorous, suspended solids and biological pollutants) 

W.2 

Management Area D, E 

Action 

No 

W.2.1 

W.2.2 

Action 

Continue to implement the soil erosion, surface water quality, riparian zones and 

estuary action plans of the WLCMP to reduce nutrient and sediment run-off from 

the rural catchment 

Where appropriate, continue to provide incentive schemes to protect and 

enhance riparian vegetation in rural land areas eg riverbank fencing through a 

devolved grant system 

Indicative 

Cost 

In 

WLCMP 

budget 

$200,000 

per year 


Immediate (B1) 


Comments 

Implementing the Lower Wallamba River rivercare plan (action M.6.1) will also contribute to achieving this management objective. 

Coordinated by 

WaLI group, 

CMA 

GLC, DIPNR, 

Lands 

Commenced 2002; 11.6 ha 

active erosion controlled, 

12,634 native trees planted 

49 km riverbank fenced 

25


W.3 

Management Area A, B, C, D, E, F 

Management Objective 

Minimise the occurrence and impact of point source chemical pollutant inputs to the estuary 

Action 

Action 

Indicative Priority Responsibilities Progress 

No 

Cost 

W.3.1 Conduct an audit of slipway operations $10,000 High (D2) GLC, DEC 

W.3.2 Continue investigating environmentally friendly alternatives to anti-fouling paints 

and encourage their usage when available 

Staff time High (D2) DEC, GLC, 

Waterways 

W.3.3 Encourage the adoption of new engine technology to reduce the impacts of 

emissions and communicate this through the Wallis Lake boating plan of 

$2,000 + 

staff time 

High (B4) WLEMIC, GLC, 

Waterways 

management 

W.3.4 Review the activity of filling of petrol tanks from pumps at boatsheds located on $5,000 Medium (D4) GLC, boatshed 

W.3.5 

jetties and consider the installation of drip trays over which tanks must be filled 

Prepare and adopt a Wallis Lake spill strategy to deal with accidental point 

source pollution events eg petrochemical spills, bilge pump malfunction 

owners 

$20,000 Immediate (C1) GLC, DEC, DPI, 

Waterways, Fire 

Brigade 

Comments 

The adoption of recent technology that reduces emissions of 2-stroke engines to levels comparable with 4-stroke engines may benefit water quality in areas of Wallis Lake with 

long flushing times. To ensure that this technology is widely adopted, it is recommended that a task force be developed to investigate with Government improving emission 

standards. Members of the taskforce would include, in the first instance, NSW DPI, DEC, Lands, Waterways, and DIPNR. 

A Wallis Lake spill strategy will coordinate the response to accidental point source pollution events by relevant authorities. It should include information of which authorities are to 

be contacted depending on the nature of the spill, and the details and location of equipment available to handle spills. 

26


W.4 



Reduce the leaching of actual ASS products to the estuary, and minimise the risk of new development disturbing potential ASS 

Action 

No 

W.4.1 

Action 

Implement the Darawakh Drainage Management Plan to reduce the leaching of 

acid products into the Wallamba River from Darawakh Creek 

W.4.2 Continue to implement of the acid sulphate soils action plan of the WLCMP In 

WLCMP 

budget 

W.4.3 

Progress the gazetting and implementation of the ASS LEP, and prepare and 

adopt a DCP for all works in high probability ASS areas 

Indicative 

Cost 


$1 million Immediate (C1) GLC, GTCC, 

DIPNR, DEC, 

Midcoast 

$50,000 + 

staff time 


Coordinated by 

WaLI group, 

CMA 

Acquired 340 ha wetland, 

removal of flood gate at 

Darawakh Creek entrance, 

commenced revegetation 

High (B3) GLC LEP adopted by council, 

awaiting completion of GLC 

management manual before 

gazettal 

Comments 

The acid and acid-product discharge from Darawakh Creek is possibly be the biggest threat to the long-term health of the estuary identified during the preparation of this plan. 

The acid products leaching from Darawakh would under any other circumstances be classified as ‘toxic waste’ (Bob Smith pers. comm). Remediation to stop acid discharges from 

Darawakh Creek is a long-term project and will require coordination from many authorities. 

27



[Plate 4.2: Darawakh Creek and Frogalla Swamp showing class 2 ASS areas (NB: Class 2 = work below the ground 

surface and works by which the water table is likely to be lowered requires approval)] 

28


W.5 

Management Area B, D, E, F 


Reduce the risk of septic waste entering the Wallis Lake estuary 

Action 

Action 


No 

Cost 

W.5.1 Continue with septic tank inspections under the Septic√Safe program In GLC Immediate (C1) GLC, land Ongoing 

budget 

owners 

W.5.2 Progress investigations into the most cost effective and environmentally suitable TBD Immediate (C1) MidCoast 

wastewater management scheme for Coomba Park and begin planning for the 

implementation of this scheme 

Comments 

Wastewater management and water supply services are currently inadequate in Coomba Park. This is evident in the high faecal coliform counts of up to 19,000 CFU.100ml -1 

recorded at drain sites in Coomba Park in 2000 (Wallis Catchment Community Waterwatch program, analysed by Forster Environmental Laboratory). 

The Small communities wastewater risk assessment (MidCoastWater, 2000) for the Manning and Great Lakes region ranked Coomba Park as the second highest priority for the 

provision of appropriate effluent services in the Greater Taree and Great Lakes Shires. However, Coomba Park is low on the State Government ranking for funding to provide 

these services. It is recommended that the WLEMIC consider coordinating lobbying efforts to increase the priority of Coomba Park for State Government funding for wastewater 

services. 

MidCoastWater is began conducting detailed stormwater monitoring at Coomba Park during dry, wet and peak period wet weather events in 2004. The results of this testing will 

influence the timeframe within which appropriate effluent services must be provided. The costs associated with this action may be significant (eg $8,910,000 for the option of 

providing sewerage services), therefore it is recommended that MidCoastWater begin planning for appropriate wastewater services as soon as this data is available. 

In recognition of the long flushing times and significant seagrass habitat in the south of Wallis Lake, any options for wastewater management in Coomba Park involving the 

disposal of treated effluent into the Lake are discouraged. 

29


W.6 



Prevent future water quality issues, particularly in areas with long flushing times 

Action 

No 

W.6.1 

W.6.2 

W.6.3 

W.6.4 

Action 

Establish baseline water quality conditions prior to any further major development 

within the catchment 

Implement the Forster/Tuncurry CDS to ensure that buffer zones and water 

sensitive urban design are upheld for all new developments 

Recognise areas with long flushing times sufficient for algal blooms to occur if 

nutrient loading increases in future planning for development 

Continue to maximise opportunities for sustainable water re-use schemes for 

new urban developments in Forster 

Indicative 

Cost 


$15,000 Immediate (A3) GLC Data available from UNSW 

per year 

study 

Staff time High (B3) GLC Ongoing 

Staff time Immediate (B2) GLC 

$50,000 High (B4) MidCoast, GLC Ongoing 

Comments 

The Wallis Lake water body, including Wallis Creek, is an area where baseline water quality information is lacking. This data is required so that monitoring efforts have a 

benchmark for comparison. Samples to be collected include TN, TP, NOx, NH4, PO4, faecal coliform and Chl a, in addition to temperature, salinity, pH and turbidity measurments 

measured at sites identified in Fig. 4.3 during dry weather, low flow conditions. A pilot study should ensure that these sites are consistent with the Australian Guidelines for Water 

Quality Monitoring and Reporting (ANZECC & ARMCANZ 2000). Replicate samples are to be taken at each site and processed at Forster Environmental Laboratory. Use of water 

quality data conducted in 2001/2003 by the University of New South Wales in the Wallamba and Wallingat Rivers, Pipers Bay and Forster Keys (tracers and indicators of 

estuarine nutrients) should be utilised. 

It is envisaged that this strategy will significantly contribute to the GLC policy of ensuring no nett increase in pollutants to Wallis Lake. 

30


[Figure 4.2: Sites for baseline water quality testing. These additional sites will enhance data collected under the NSW 

Shellfish Program conducted by NSW Food Authority] 

31


Management Objective Ensure that phytoplankton blooms are efficiently and responsibly reported and that accurate and comprehensive data on the bloom 

is collected and collated for future reference and planning 

W.7 


Action 

No 

W.7.1 

W.7.2 

Action 

Ensure a coordinated response to the occurrence of phytoplankton blooms by 

clarifying the roles and responsibilities of various authorities 

Facilitate data sharing of phytoplankton counts and water quality analyses for 

monitoring and performance testing purposes 

Indicative 

Cost 


$2,000 High (B3) GLC, DPI, 

MidCoast, DEC, 

DIPNR 

Staff time Medium (B4) GLC, Food 

Authority, local 

oyster growers 

Comments 

W.7.1 may require that a workshop be conducted to clarify the roles and responsibilities of various authorities in response to both toxic and non-toxic phytoplankton blooms. 

At present phytoplankton and water quality data is collected independently by GLC, NSW Food Authority and local oyster growers. The three data sets together may facilitate a 

comprehensive analysis of long-term trends in phytoplankton blooms to assist in future planning and for monitoring and performance testing of other water quality improvement 

strategies. A GLC staff member would be responsible for collating this data and integrating it with action W.6.1. 

32


[Figure 4.3: Sites of monthly water samples for faecal coliform testing by NSW Food Authority] 

[Figure 4.4: Sites of monthly phytoplankton sampling by NSW Food Authority] 

33


W.8 

Management Area C 


Improve flow and water quality in Pipers Creek and Forster Keys 

Action 

No 

W.8.1 

W.8.2 

Action 

Continue investigations into opening up the northern end of Pipers Creek to 

increase flushing and hence water quality in the Pipers Creek and Forster Keys 

area 

Conduct a feasibility study/cost-benefit analysis of opening up the canal under 

King George Parade, Forster Keys, to allow an increased flow between Sailfish 

waterway and the waterway to the north of King George 


Cost 

$10,000 Long-term (E4) GLC, WLEMIC 

$5,000 Long-term (E4) GLC 

Comments 

Initial investigations into opening up the northern end of Pipers Creek were first made in 1993 with the Pipers Creek in Wallis Lake waterway improvement study (Australian Water 

and Coastal Studies Pty Ltd). Three alternative dredging options into Breckenridge Channel, Tonys Bay or Goldens Bay were presented in this report as shown in the diagram 

below. If investigations continue they must include additional public consultation and a comprehensive assessment of any adverse environmental impacts such as erosion and 

sediment transport that the activity of dredging may cause. This would include benthic sediment testing to assess any possible impacts from release of chemicals, heavy metals, 

or nutrients bound in sediments. Any major works involving dredging should consider any possible impacts of increased erosion, sediment transport and flooding. 

The implementation of the Wallis Lake stormwater management plan (W.1.1) in the Pipers Creek and Forster Keys catchments and community change through education 

strategies (C.1) will contribute significantly to improving water quality in the Pipers Creek and Forster Keys area. 

34


GODWIN ISLAND 

Breckenridge 

Channel 

WALLIS 

ISLAND 

Tonys 

Bay 

Goldens 

Bay 

Pipers 

Creek 

BIG ISLAND 

Alternative dredging options to 

improve Pipers Creek flushing 

Channel to consider opening up under King George Parade 

[Plate 4.3: Major works options to improve flow and water quality in Forster Keys and Pipers Creek] 

35


W.9 



Minimise the volume of gross pollutants entering the estuary from littering by visitors 

Action 

Action 


No 

Cost 

W.9.1 All hire boats to have secured garbage bins $10,000 High (B4) Boatshed 

owners 

W.9.2 Encourage visitors to the islands to take their litter away with them by erecting $5,000 High (B4) GLC 

signage at reserve areas 

W.9.3 Add a paragraph to the information/maps supplied by boatshed businesses 

encouraging visitors to the islands in Wallis Lake to take their litter away with 

them, and stating that when visiting islands tourists may be stepping onto 

Nominal High (B4) Boatshed 

owners, Forster 

ALC 

Aboriginal Land and to please respect this by not littering 

Comments 

For action W.9.1 small garbage bins should be attached to the boat. GLC should consider providing boat hire businesses with an extra wheelie bin to contain the additional 

garbage being generated by visitors/tourists when on the water. This option is preferable to providing plastic garbage bags, as these are more likely to be blown into the water. 

The amount of garbage (especially plastic bags and bait bags) entering the estuary through littering increases considerably during peak periods. Hence this strategy is designed 

to target visitors and tourists to the Wallis Lake area 

W.10 



Reduce/prevent the input of nutrient and faecal material to the estuary from blackwater and greywater 

Action 

No 

W.10.1 

W.10.2 

W.10.3 

Action 

Continue to enforce regulations regarding treated effluent discharge from vessels 

in areas close to oyster leases, wetlands, townships etc. 

Continue to ensure that all new houseboats contain greywater holding tanks and 

phase out houseboats (commercial and private) without greywater holding tanks 

(action 10.19 of the WLCMP) 

Progress the development and implementation of a CoP for blackwater and 

greywater for fishing boats when moored at the Wallis Lake Fish Coop in Cape 

Hawke Harbour 

Indicative 

Cost 


Staff time Immediate (B1) Waterways, Ongoing 

GLC 

Staff time High (B3) Waterways, Ongoing 

GLC 

$5,000 High (D1) Fish Coop, 

GLC 

Comments 

In response to continuing community concern following the oyster crisis, it is important that measures taken to reduce faecal pollution to Wallis Lake continue to be enforced. 

36


Management Objective Reduce/prevent groundwater contamination by sewage, acid sulfate product and other pollutants associated with development and 

damage to groundwater dependent ecosystems through unsustainable extraction 

W.11 


Action 

No 

W.11.1 

W.11.2 

W.11.3 

W.11.4 

Action 

Continue to implement the Groundwater action plan of the WLCMP: 

• develop a groundwater risk assessment process 

• assess the potential impacts of all current and future developments on 

groundwater quality and quantity 

• protect the Minimbah aquifer and its recharge area 

• prepare and implement groundwater management guidelines to maintain 

sufficient quantity groundwater for future potable use 

• monitor groundwater quality and groundwater extraction 

• develop and implement a water quality education and awareness program, 

including groundwater quality and quantity protection measures 

Ensure that any future disposal of effluent in domestic and small commercial 

areas underlain by Quaternary sands is sited down gradient from a bore or well 

and is associated with regular inspections and monitoring 

Ensure that any future groundwater extraction complies with the ASS 

Management Guidelines (Stone et al 1998) 

Identify and exclude land use or activities that may alter groundwater hydrology 

and threaten wetland water quality and associated ecosystems 

Indicative 

Cost 

In 

WLCMP 

budget 


High (B3) 

WaLI group, 

CMA, MidCoast, 

DIPNR, GLC 

Staff time Medium (D3) MidCoast, 

DIPNR 

Staff time Medium (D3) GLC, MidCoast, 

DIPNR 

Staff time Medium (D3) GLC, DIPNR 

MidCoast monitoring 

groundwater quality at 

Tuncurry/Hallidays Point 

sewage exfiltration plant 

Comments 

Groundwater can act as a hydraulic link possibly contaminating estuaries with effluent and ASS leachate. This can impact upon groundwater dependent ecosystems including the 

flora and fauna associated with wetlands and could also adversely influence the potability of groundwater used by communities to supplement water supply. 

The management of ASS where lowering of the groundwater table is involved should follow procedures outlined in the ASS Management Guidelines (Stone et al 1998). This 

would include the extraction of groundwater for domestic supply or associated with small developments in high risk ASS. Chemical analysis of groundwater, follow up testing of 

drill cuttings for ASS soil analysis and hydrological assessments may be prescribed where necessary. 

Ongoing 

37


4.2 Ecology 

E.1 



Protect and enhance existing natural wetlands 

Action 

No 

E.1.1 

E.1.2 

E.1.3 

Action 

Progress the development and implementation of a Wallis Lake wetland 

management strategy and ensure that it embraces the recommendations from 

the wetlands action plan of the WLCMP including: 

• applying for RAMSAR listing 

• conducting an inventory and assessment of wetlands 

• acquire or conserve wetlands of high ecosystem services value or where 

threatened by cumulative deterioration on private land 

• adopting and implementing best practice wetland management guidelines 

• developing and implementing revegetation and rehabilitation programs 

• monitoring wetland health (at mangrove and saltmarsh key habitat sites) 

• developing and implementing community education and awareness 

programs 

GLC’s Vegetation and Biodiversity Conservation and Management Framework 

should recognise the Wallis Lake wetland management strategy and all other 

relevant aspects of the WLEMP 

Continue to encourage voluntary property agreements for the conservation of 

significant areas of wetland on private property 

Explore agreements with DEC and DIPNR to acquire and manage areas of 

wetland with significant conservation and ecosystem services value 

Indicative 

Cost 

$140,000 

+ $2.5 

million for 

buy back 



GLC, DEC, 

DIPNR 

Staff time Immediate (B2) GLC Ongoing 

Staff time Immediate (B2) GLC, DEC, 

DIPNR 

135.5 ha wetland protected 

by stock exclusion, 

consultant engaged to 

commence preparation of a 

Wallis Lake wetland 

management strategy 

Comments 

Wetland areas that extend outside of the designated area for an estuary management plan (Plate 2.1) have been included here in recognition of the ecological role they play in 

maintaining water quality. Wetlands of high ecosystem services value or where threatened by cumulative deterioration or development on private land identified for conservation 

and/or acquisition include Big Island, Frogalla Swamp, Duck Swamp, Peach Tree Point, West Swamp, Bullock Swamp and Minimbah Creek. Opportunities for acquisition will be 

limited by funding availability. Development offsets and incentive schemes for the acquisition of these areas of wetland areas should be investigated. 

Threats to natural wetlands that should be considered in the Wallis Lake wetland management strategy include weed invasion, hydrology, filling, grazing pressure from livestock 

and development. Appropriate strategic planning and development assessment tools should be utilised in this plan. 

38


[Figure 4.5: SEPP14 and other wetland areas of Wallis Lake and those with high conservation value, ecosystem services 

value or where threatened by cumulative deterioration or development on private land identified for protection] 

39


E.2 

Management Area A, B, C 


Protect seagrass beds from propeller chop in shallow areas of the estuary 

Action 

No 

E.2.1 

E.2.2 

Action 

Identify ‘proceed with care’ zones for motor vessels in areas of shallow seagrass 

beds, especially beds of Posidonia australis. Areas to consider include: 

• South of Pelican Island 

• Pipers Bay 

• Goldens Bay 

• Tonys Bay 

• Charlotte Bay 

Care should be taken to ensure that ‘proceed with care’ zones are consistent 

with areas being considered under the Estuary General Fishery Management 

Strategy for Wallis Lake and any other relevant planning instruments 

Communicate ‘proceed with care’ zones via signage at boat ramps (including the 

private ramp on Tonys Point Island at Lani’s Caravan Park) and pamphlets for 

Indicative 

Cost 


$10,000 Immediate (B1) WLEMIC, DPI, 

Waterways, 

GLC 

$6,000 Immediate (B1) 

the boating public 

E.2.3 Consider deploying demarcation buoys at ‘proceed with care’ zones $15,000 High (B3) DPI, GLC, 

Waterways 

Comments 

Where beds of Posidonia australis are concerned, scars from boat propellers may be permanent and irreversible as it is currently thought that this seagrass does not readily 

recover and recolonise after damage. 

Signage at boat ramps should be specific to the area most likely visited by boaters using access points to ensure the necessary detail can be communicated effectively. Signage 

should outline other best practice guidelines when on or near seagrass beds eg avoid anchoring if possible, if anchoring remove chain or cover with plastic tubing. Pamphlets 

should be made widely available at all fishing, boating and boat hire businesses, the tourism office and GLC. 

User education is a more desirable strategy as a first step to manage waterway usage in ecologically significant habitat areas as it does not burden authorities with the added 

responsibilities of policing legislative restrictions. If degradation continues, zoning options to manage waterway usage should be considered. 

40


Goldens Bay 

Tonys Bay 

Pipers Bay 

Pelican Island 

Charlotte Bay 

[Figure 4.6: Shallow seagrass beds to consider including in ‘proceed with care’ zones] 

41


E.3 



Protect seagrass beds from being buried by shoaling sand bars or covered/shaded by sediment from stormwater and run-off 

Action 

No 

E.3.1 

E.3.2 

Action 

Consider dredging the sand bar encroaching on Posidonia australis beds 

between Wallis and Tonys Point Islands 

Assess and report impacts of sediment from stormwater and run-off on seagrass 

through the seagrass monitoring project 


Cost 

$250,000 High (D1) GLC, DPI 


Comments 

The sand bar between Wallis and Tonys Point Islands moved south 300 m (5 m.yr -1 ) in the period 1937 to 1997 (Webb, McKeown & Associates 1999). This movement of sand 

threatens to bury beds of Posidonia australis, which does not appear to be recolonising the sand in its wake. Any possible impacts of dredging this sand bar should be adequately 

assessed to ensure that erosion and sediment transport is not exacerbated in other areas of the Lake. 

Sediment cover is a parameter measured for the seagrass-monitoring program, coordinated through the HLP. When sediment cover becomes too great the seagrass cannot 

receive light for photosynthesis. If the health of seagrass is being severely compromised, dredging should be considered. Early results from the SMP suggest the following 

seagrass beds are suffering from sediment and epiphyte cover from stormwater and run-off: 

• Pipers Creek 

• Coomba foreshore 

• Green Point 

• Pacific Palms recreation club 

Implementation of the Wallis Lake stormwater management plan (W.1.1) will also aid considerably in achieving this management objective. 

42


Hellsgate 


Tonys Point 

Island 

Sand bar encroaching 

on Posidonia australis 

bed 

Dago Island 

[Plate 4.4: Location of sand bar encroaching on Posidonia australis bed between Wallis and Tonys Point Islands] 

43


E.4 

Management Area A, C 


Protect seagrass beds from being overgrown and smothered by other aquatic macro-algae 

Action 

No 

E.4.1 

E.4.2 

Action 

Monitor the growth of Microdictyon sp and Chaetomorpha sp as part of the SMP 

at the Paradise Marina and Pipers Creek sites to assess any possible impacts of 

overgrowth of seagrass 

Investigate the possibility of facilitating a ‘Dads navy’ in the Forster Keys and 

Pipers Creek area 

Indicative 

Cost 


Staff + Medium (D4) GLC 

volunteer 

time 

$2,000 Medium (D4) GLC, DPI 

Comments 

Typically the factor that most limits seagrass growth is light availability, whereas nutrient availability is the most limiting factor for macro-algae growth (Chaetomorpha sp and 

Microdictyon sp). As a result of this increases in nutrient availability favour macro-algae over seagrass growth, and this can lead to seagrass beds being overgrown and 

smothered by macro-algae. 

Interest has been expressed by residents in the Forster Keys area to form a ‘Dads navy’ to remove large mats of Chaetomorpha sp that regularly form in Forster Keys, Pipers 

Creek and Pipers Bay in the shallower water and smother seagrass beds. This idea is analogous to the ‘Dads army’ concept that involves volunteers devoting their time to weed 

control and bush regeneration projects on land. For a ‘Dads navy’ to harvest the Chaetomorpha sp the following steps would need to be taken: 

1. gain support from the WLEMIC 

2. obtain a permit from DPI to remove living macro-algae 

3. receive training from DPI/GLC on macro-algae and seagrass identification to ensure only Chaetomorpha sp is removed, and 

identify and seek approval for an appropriate method for disposing the macro-algae. 

44


[Plate 4.5: Chaetomorpha sp bloom in Pipers Creek 2001] 

Mather Island 

Godwin Island 

Breckenridge 

Channel 

Pipers Creek 

Forster Keys 

Big Island 

Pipers Bay 

[Figure 4.7: Sites of Chaetomorpha sp blooms in Pipers Creek and prolific Microdictyon sp growth in Breckenridge Channel] 

45


E.5 



Establish abundance and distribution data for aquatic vegetation within the estuary 

Action 

Action 


No 

Cost 

E.5.1 Continue with Posidonia australis surveys on a regular basis $5,000 + 

staff time 

Medium (B5) GLC First survey conducted in 

2002 

E.5.2 Continue the seagrass monitoring program, coordinated under the HLP In HLP Medium (B5) GLC Ongoing 

budget 

E.5.3 Record the timing, frequency, magnitude, location and species of phytoplankton Staff time High (A5) GLC 

and macro-algae blooms 

Comments 

Posidonia australis surveys conducted approximately biannually will allow a detailed assessment of any changes in the health and size of all Posidonia australis beds in the 

estuary. Whereas the SMP will provide information on any seasonal and long-term changes in health and density for a selection of seagrass beds containing Posidonia australis, 

Zostera spp, Ruppia sp and Halophila sp. 

Sporadic phytoplankton and macro-algae (eg Elodea, Eurasian Watermilfoil, Chaetomorpha sp) blooms that may occur after rainfall events or during Spring when water 

temperatures warm up are likely to be missed during aquatic vegetation surveys. Details on these blooms should be recorded so that any patterns in their occurrence or 

information on the causes of the blooms can be assessed. 

NSW DPI repeated the survey of West et al (1985) in 2004 to accurately determine the current distribution of aquatic habitats and identify and assess any long-term changes. 

This will help identify aquatic habitat areas under threat that require immediate management action. 

46


[Figure 4.8: Location of sites for the seagrass monitoring program] 

47


E.6 



Protect and enhance riparian vegetation 

Action 

No 

Action 

Indicative 

Cost 

E.6.1 Employ a river keeper or other paid worker to maintain and restore vegetation in $80,000 

riparian zones 

per year 

E.6.2 Conduct a riparian vegetation assessment $20,000 + 

staff time 

E.6.3 

E.6.4 

E.6.5 

Concentrate revegetation and restoration efforts in priority areas identified in the 

riparian vegetation assessment 

Develop and execute a control program for weeds of national significance 

including Ground and Climbing Asparagus, Mother of Millions, Lantana, African 

Boxthorn, Pampas Grass, Bridal Creeper and Bitou Bush on Cut, Bells, Mathers, 

Long, Cockatoo, Oaky and Godwins Islands 

Monitor and enforce compliance with SEPP 14, the Native Vegetation Act and 

tree preservation orders to reduce the incidence of illegal clearing of foreshore 

vegetation 

$50,000 + 

staff time 

$10,000 

per year 


Immediate (A3) 

High (B3) 

High (B3) 

High (C3) 

GLC, DIPNR, 

Waterways 

GLC, DIPNR, 

Waterways, 

Lands 

GLC, DIPNR, 

Waterways, 

Lands, Landcare 

Lands, GLC 

Staff time High (D2) GLC + DIPNR Ongoing 

E.6.6 Continue to provide technical support and training to local Landcare groups $50,000 Medium (B5) CMA Ongoing 

per year 

Comments 

There is a very real need for a paid worker to coordinate revegetation and weed control efforts in riparian zones. At present community groups almost solely conduct the 

maintenance of riparian zone habitats. An employed river keeper or other paid worker would be responsible for coordinating efforts to remove environmental and noxious weeds 

from foreshore areas and adjacent bushland of rivers and islands. Effective control of these weeds requires a minimum of 20 hrs manual labour per hectare twice per year plus 

costs associated with transport to and from the islands and appropriate chemicals. If the person employed was a river keeper (a joint Waterways initiative), peak periods would be 

spent on the water in Wallis Lake enforcing boating-related legislation. 

The results of the riparian vegetation assessment should be included in the foreshore management plan for the Wallis Lake foreshores and estuarine islands. The assessment 

should also ensure identify areas where riparian zone wildlife transport corridors have been compromised and areas in need of revegetation/restoration. 

Public reserve areas experiencing considerable illegal clearing are Muddy Creek, Coomba Park, Forster Keys and Pipers Bay. However it is acknowledged that most reserves 

experience this to some degree. The main reasons that this is occurring are to increase/maintain views and gain direct access to the waterway. Regular monitoring and education 

through strategy C.3 will contribute to reducing the occurrence of illegal clearing in reserve areas. 

48


[Plate 4.6: Unauthorised modification and dumping in the riparian zone in Muddy Creek] 

E.7 



Protect important shorebird roosting, nesting and foraging areas 

Action 

No 

E.7.1 

E.7.2 

Action 

Support the findings of the Shorebird assessment and marine values data 

collation program and incorporate into future estuary and foreshore management 

and conservation planning 

Continue to protect migratory birds and bird habitat under JAMBA and CAMBA 

international agreements 


Cost 

Staff time Immediate (A3) DEC, GLC 

Staff time High (B3) All levels of 

Government 

Comments 

Previous studies have reported that the Wallingat State Forest and Wallis Lake Islands (particularly Little Tern, Sand, Godwin, Miles, Sand and Pelican Islands) are important 

areas of bird habitat requiring conservation (Browne & Scott 1985; Carter 1995). The osprey (Pandion haliaetus), little tern (Sterna albifrons) and pelican (Pelecanus 

conspicillatus) have all been identified in these studies requiring special conservation attention. However these studies are in need of updating. 

The Shorebird assessment and marine values data collation program commenced in 2004 and will provide a systematic assessment of shorebird populations, nest sites, foraging 

sites, roosting sites and local movement patterns needed to inform future estuary and foreshore management and conservation planning. 

Ongoing 

49


4.3 Fisheries 

F.1 



Protect and enhance key fish habitat areas essential for spawning, shelter, free passage or other reasons 

Action 

No 

F.1.1 

F.1.2 

Action 

Implement action 10.5 of the WLCMP to facilitate free passage of fish by 

maintaining or constructing fishways at Locketts Crossing, Clarksons Crossing, 

Dargavilles Road Crossing and at the Old Butter Factory Weir at Dyers Crossing 

Evaluate the findings of the Manning bioregional assessment conducted by the 

Marine Parks Authority in consultation with NSW DPI and Department of 

Environment and Conservation 

Indicative 

Cost 


$150,000 Immediate (B1) WaLI group, 

CMA, GLC, 

GTCC, DPI, 

RTA, DIPNR 

Staff time High (A4) WLEMIC, DPI, 

DEC 

Comments 

Fish kills resulting from asphyxiation in the upper Wallamba River have occurred during periods of low flow in summer following algal blooms (see section 2.2.4). Action F.1.1 will 

reduce the risk of fish kills occurring in the future by facilitating free fish passage allowing fish to escape from anoxic waters. Reducing the nutrient load available for algal blooms 

(which cause the anoxic water conditions when they decompose) will also contribute to this action. 

The NSW Government is using a systematic approach to identify new sites for MPAs in NSW waters through a bioregional and site assessment process. The Manning bioregion 

(which includes Wallis Lake) was assessed during 2004 for the progressive development of the NSW representative system of MPAs. The results of this assessment may have 

consequences for MPAs in Wallis Lake. 

The protection of significant wetland areas (see E.1.1) will contribute to this strategy by safeguarding these areas from development pressure and degradation allowing them to 

continue to act as nursery areas for species of juvenile fish and crustaceans. 

50


Dargavilles Road Crossing 

Clarksons Crossing 

Locketts Crossing 

[Figure 4.9: Sites of fishways to be installed (violet ladders) and site of fish kills (red fish) in the upper 

Wallamba River] 

51


[Figure 4.10: MPAs in NSW and boundaries of the Manning Bioregion for the Bioregional Assessment (Source: Marine 

Parks Authority 2001)] 

52


Management Objective Ensure the Wallis Lake commercial estuary general fishery operates in a sustainable manner that is compatible with conservation 

and estuary management objectives 

F.2 


Action 

No 

F.2.1 

F.2.2 

Action 

Ensure that the commercial fishery operates in accordance with the Estuary 

general fishery management strategy (EGFMS) 

Support the development of a code of practice for the NSW estuary general 

fishery and communicate through a workshop 

Indicative 

Cost 


Staff time Immediate (B1) DPI Ongoing 

$2,000 + 

staff time 

High (B3) 

Ocean Watch, 

Fish Coop, DPI, 

WLEMIC 

Comments 

Regulations outlined in the EGFMS include banning fish spikes, clubs or other implements which could harm species which need to be released; banning the discarding of cooked 

prawns; banning all net hauling over beds of Posidonia australis; defining designated landing sites for fish hauling nets in estuaries where seagrass (of any species) exists around 

shoreline areas. 

Ocean Watch is currently preparing a code of practice for the NSW estuary general fishery. Once this code is completed, estuary general fishery Region 4 (within central MAC 

REGION 4) should be considered for a regional supplement referring to specific issues in Wallis Lake. Issues in particular that make the Wallis Lake situation unique and worthy 

of consideration for a regional supplement include the presence of vast shallow seagrass beds, presence of large beds of Posidonia australis at its northern distribution limit and 

the considerable fishing effort (16,087 days 1999/00) and catch (439 tonnes 1999/00) from the Wallis Lake estuary general fishery (NSW DPI 2001). 

Management Objective Ensure that recreational fishing in Wallis Lake operates in a sustainable manner that is compatible with conservation and estuary 

management objectives 

F.3 


Action 

No 

F.3.1 

Action 


Cost 

$200,000 Immediate (A2) DPI, WLEMIC 

Consider conducting a survey of recreational fishing effort in Wallis Lake during 

both peak and non-peak holiday periods 

F.3.2 Evaluate the forthcoming management strategy for recreational fishing in NSW Staff time Immediate (A2) WLEMIC, DPI, 

Comments 

Once the recreational fishing effort is quantified in Wallis Lake, any necessary appropriate measures can be taken to balance recreational and commercial fishing efforts in the 

area and to comprehensively assess the sustainability of Wallis Lake fish stocks. 

On completion of the EIS for the NSW recreational fishery, NSW DPI plan to produce a management strategy for recreational fishing outlining best practice techniques and 

regulations under which recreational anglers should operate. 

53


Management Objective Ensure that local Aboriginal communities have the opportunity to share in the Wallis Lake fisheries resources and participate in 

fisheries resource management issues 

F.4 


Action 

Action 


No 

Cost 

F.4.1 Evaluate the Indigenous fisheries strategy and implementation plan Staff time Immediate (A2) WLEMIC , DPI, 

Forster ALC, 

Comments 

The Indigenous fisheries strategy and implementation plan outlines key strategies to: 

• encourage a broad community understanding of Indigenous traditional cultural fishing issues in NSW 

• ensure that the importance of traditional cultural fishing is acknowledged in fisheries policy and practices, and during discussions on fisheries resources management issues 

• encourage and support the involvement of Indigenous communities in the management of the state’s fisheries resources, and 

• encourage and support the involvement of Indigenous communities in commercial fishing, fishing based eco-tourism, and the emerging aquaculture industry. 

(NSW DPI 2002) 

The Indigenous fisheries strategy and implementation plan represents an important change in the fishing regulations that have previously been imposed on Aboriginal 

communities. However, it does not recognise the different fishing techniques and targeted species particular to certain regions. Hence it is recommended that a regional 

supplement be undertaken to specifically deal with the Wallis Lake region. 

54


4.4 Oyster aquaculture 

O.1 

Management Area A, D, F 


Ensure that oyster aquaculture leases operate in a sustainable manner 

Action 

Action 


No 

Cost 

O.1.1 Support the implementation of OISAS Staff time High (C3) DPI, WLEMIC, 

Food Authority, 


O.1.2 Prepare and implement an Oyster Industry Development Plan for Wallis Lake in 

accordance with the Fisheries Management Act 1994 

TBD High (C3) DPI, WLEMIC, 


O.1.3 Support the Aquaculture Lease Survey Project Staff time Medium (C4) WLEMIC, DPI, 


O.1.4 Maintain water and shellfish sampling through the NSW Shellfish Program in 


Industry 

funded 

High (C2) Oyster 

growers, Food 

Ongoing 

O.1.5 

O.1.6 

O.1.7 

O.1.8 

O.1.9 

Assess derelict oyster aquaculture lease material in Wallis Lake and prioritise its 

removal 

Continue to support research to determine the carrying capacity and sustainable 

stocking densities of oysters in Wallis Lake 

Ensure that oyster aquaculture lease operations remain within the permitted 

designated area 

Continue to encourage the phase out of tar treated timber infrastructure on 

oyster leases and encourage the adoption of environmentally sustainable 

alternatives in Wallis Lake 

Facilitate the disposal of wooden oyster stick waste from Wallis Lake oyster 

growers to the Taree tip 

Authority 

$10,000 Medium (E2) DPI, oyster 

growers, Lands, 

GLC 

$5,000 

per year 

$5,000 + 

staff time 

$2,000 + 

staff time 

$500 + 

staff time 

Medium (C4) 

Medium (C4) 

Medium (C4) 

Medium (C4) 

DPI, WLEMIC 

DPI 

DPI, WLEMIC, 


GTCC, GLC, 


55


Comments for strategy O.1 

The OISAS project is a strategic initiative of the oyster industry and NSW Government designed to ensure the long-term viability and recovery of the oyster industry in NSW, in 

particular the Sydney Rock Oyster. The strategy will include a code of conduct, a compliance strategy for oyster aquaculture leases and environmental monitoring regimes. Priority 

aquaculture zones that are compatible with oyster farming requirements, community concerns and navigation will be identified in Wallis Lake with guidelines for facilitating council 

planning processes for oyster growing area protection measures, water quality objectives and best practice measures. A draft of the OISAS will be available in 2004. 

SEPP62 encourages sustainable aquaculture in NSW. However, in its current form it does not apply to natural water based aquaculture such as oyster farming. An oyster industry 

development plan for Wallis Lake will address any possible environmental consequences associated with intensive oyster farming. 

The Aquaculture Lease Survey Project was designed to enable more accurate system to reliably and precisely determine the boundaries of all aquaculture leases. In addition, this 

project will allow this data to be stored alongside quality assurance and control details in an easily accessible form to NSW DPI and other interests. 

The NSW Shellfish Program aims to ‘protect the health of shellfish consumers through the administration and application of procedures that (i) assess the risk of shellfish 

contamination by pathogenic bacteria and viruses, biotoxins and chemicals derived from the growing area, (ii) control the harvest of shellfish in accordance with the assessed risk, 

and (iii) protect shellfish from contamination after harvesting’ (Source: http://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/pdf/Manual-Shellfish-Program.pdf). This program involves monthly 

sampling of water samples for faecal coliform and oyster meat for Escherichia coli. Every other fortnight NSW Food Authority conducts water and oyster meat testing as well as full 

phytoplankton counts and bio-toxin testing from 3 sites within Wallis lake. NSW Food Authority also conducts metal and pesticide analyses of oyster meat annually. 

Derelict and expired oyster lease material should be identified and assessed by all stakeholders including Waterways and DPI and prioritised for removal. 

GTCC has recently been approved to receive oyster stick waste from the Manning River and Wallis Lake. GTCC and GLC should facilitate the disposal of sticks by developing a 

pamphlet informing oyster growers of the service and outlining correct procedures for using the service. 

56


O.2 

Management Area A, D 


Ensure that the land based components of oyster aquaculture (ie depuration and culling sheds) operate in a sustainable manner 

Action 

No 

O.2.1 

O.2.2 

O.2.3 

Action 

Progress an Oyster Aquaculture Industry Land Assessment to address 

sustainability issues related to land based activities associated with the industry 

Consider depuration requirements for any possible relocations of the land based 

component of the oyster aquaculture industry as a result of O.2.1, and start 

planning and setting aside land in suitable locations immediately 

Consider the compatibility of oyster depuration and culling sheds with other 

activities in foreshore management planning 

Indicative 

Cost 


TBD High (C3) Lands, 

WLEMIC, oyster 

growers 

$10,000 + High (C3) Lands 

staff time 

Staff time Medium (C4) GLC 

Comments 

The Department of Lands plan to conduct an oyster aquaculture industry land based assessment. It is recommended that this assessment address the issues of: 

• oyster industry activities spreading outside lease areas into SEPP14 wetland 

• disposal of shell waste 

• disposal of tar treated timber infrastructure and transition to environmentally sustainable alternatives 

• depuration requirements, and 

• land-based tenure security. 

Land based assessments of the oyster aquaculture industry by Lands and DIPNR must ensure agreement of criteria and be conducted in close consultation with NSW DPI. 

57


4.5 Sedimentation 

S.1 

Management Area A, B & C 


Conduct dredging operations to achieve safe water depths for boat passage in designated navigation channels 

Action 

No 

S.1.1 

S.1.2 

Action 

Conduct a contour study and sediment dynamics modelling analysis of the 

island/entrance area of the lake 

Prepare REF/EIA, obtain all relevant approvals and conduct urgent dredging 

operations in the following prioritised order: 

1. Point Road boat ramp 

2. northern point of Godwin Island 

3. entrance to Pipers Creek 

4. bridge end of Breckenridge channel 

5. southern point of the entrance to Ohmas Bay 

6. north-eastern point of Wallis Island 


Cost 

$70,000 Immediate (B2) GLC, DIPNR 

$1M High (B3) GLC, DIPNR, 

Lands, 

Waterways, DPI 

Comments 

It is important that an initial contour study of the lake be conducted prior to any dredging operations so that the rate of infilling can be monitored for future planning and 

cost/benefit analyses. A sediment dynamics modelling analysis is required in the EIS for the Tern Island sand deposit development (see action S.3.1). However it will also aid in 

understanding the physical processes responsible for causing erosion/shoaling in the island/entrance area, assisting in future planning of dredging operations. 

The contour study should ensure that the mud shoal at the end of Wharf Road, Green Point, is adequately monitored to determine if it is encroaching into the designated area for 

mooring boats or swimming. If this designated area is compromised, dredging of the shoal should be considered. A monitoring program of the shoal will provide a rate of 

movement/growth that will aid in future planning and budgetary requirements if dredging becomes necessary. The cost of such a monitoring program would be minimal and could 

be conducted by residents or community groups with GLC guidance. 

Priority for dredging has been determined in conjunction with Waterways based on the amount of use experienced by the area and if it is a major designated navigation channel 

or the only access point to a region. 

58


[Plate 4.7: Mud shoal at Green Point] 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

[Plate 4.8: Sites for urgent dredging operations (action S.1.2)] 

59


S.2 

Management Area A, C 


Assess and remove excessive sediment build-up at stormwater drain outlets where necessary 

Action 

No 

S.2.1 

S.2.2 

Action 

Conduct an assessment of major stormwater drains to determine where 

sediment build-up is impacting on habitat quality or impeding passage and 

compromising the safety of waterway users 

Dredge or excavate sediment build-up at stormwater drains identified above 

(S.2.1) 

Indicative 

Cost 

$15,000 + 

staff time 


Medium (C4) 

GLC 

TBD Long-term (D5) GLC 

Comments 

Dredging operations or excavation works should not increase the risk to seagrass or other habitat of high conservation value or adversely impact upon water quality. These 

actions should be conducted in concert with stormwater management and community education programs to reduce sediment loads entering the Lake and the need to conduct 

dredging operations in the future. 

[Plate 4.9: Sediment build-up at stormwater outlet in Forster Keys] 

60


Management Objective Consider managing all maintenance dredging activities in Wallis Lake by developing and implementing a Wallis Lake maintenance 

dredging strategy 

S.3 

Management Area A, B & C 

Action 

No 

S.3.1 

S.3.2 

S.3.3 

S.3.4 

Action 

Continue investigations into the development and operation of a permanent sand 

deposit area on Tern Island subject to development approval 

Rehabilitate Godwin and Cockatoo Islands once a permanent sand deposition 

area is operational 

Prepare a Wallis Lake maintenance dredging strategy by: 

• adapting the Wallis Lake oyster lease maintenance dredging protocol to 

form Chapter 1 

• developing protocols for the maintenance of major navigation channels 

ensuring safe depths for water vessel passage to form Chapter 2, and 

• developing protocols for the removal of sediment build-up at major 

stormwater drains to form Chapter 3 

Conduct periodic hydro-surveys to monitor the rate of infilling of dredged areas 

from action S.1.2 

Indicative 

Cost 


$1 million High (B4) GLC, DIPNR, EIS completed (Webb, 

Lands 

McKeown and Associates 

2004) 

$350,000 High (B3) GLC, DIPNR, 

Lands 

$40,000 Medium (B5) GLC, DIPNR, 

Lands 

$20,000 Medium (B5) DIPNR 

Comments 

The Tern Island project is a problem solving and not a profit making exercise. Any surplus funds arising from the operation of the project will be reinvested into the environmental 

maintenance of the estuary. 

Maintenance dredging of oyster leases undertaken in accordance with the Wallis Lake oyster lease maintenance dredging protocol requires consent from one authority (GLC) due 

to a recent amendment to the EP&A Regulation 2000 under the EP&A Act 1979. 

S.3.2 will involve removing excess sand that has been dredged up onto Cockatoo and Godwin Islands and rehabilitating the wetlands on these islands. 

Protocols for the maintenance of navigation channels and stormwater drains should include criteria that must be met to be eligible for the strategy. These criteria must consider 

sediment stability, cost/benefit, habitat value, navigation and public safety issues. For navigation channels, these criteria may determine the number of times within 6 months a set 

minimum depth is breached at high tide. A 6-month time frame is a reasonable time frame to wait for the occurrence of a flood event to naturally scour the channel. The depth the 

channel is to be dredged should be determined after consultation with the various user groups to ensure equitable access. 

All dredging undertaken in the Wallis Lake maintenance dredging strategy should ensure that dredging operations do not increase the risk to seagrass, mangrove, saltmarsh or 

other areas of high conservation value or adversely impact upon water quality and should consider any possible adverse impacts upon recreational and commercial fishing 

activities. 

61


4.6 Foreshore management 

M.1 



Ensure a strategic and sustainable approach to all future foreshore development proposed by public and private landholders 

Action 

No 

M.1.1 

M.1.2 

M.1.3 

M.1.4 

M.1.5 

Action 

Follow action 10.1 of the WLCMP to develop and implement a foreshore 

management plan for the Wallis Lake foreshores, estuarine islands and coastal 

beaches 

Develop and implement a Wallis Lake private jetties and foreshore structures 

management strategy and DCP to manage the future development of all new 

private pontoons, boat ramps, jetties and moorings. The DCP should outline best 

practice techniques for all works associated with the Wallis Lake foreshores 

Maintain conservation zonings on islands to ensure protection from development 

pressure, and ensure that only low key environmentally sustainable development 

occurs near foreshores and on islands eg Wallis Island, Tonys Point Island. 

Be aware of the unauthorised construction of foreshore structures via regular 

foreshore reviews and order their subjection to the Development Approval 

process or their removal as appropriate 

Continue investigations into the construction of an environmentally friendly and 

educational foreshore boardwalk for Pipers Creek 

Indicative 

Cost 


$50,000 High (B3) WLEMIC, GLC, Wallis Lake Foreshore Plan 

DEC, DIPNR, in progress 

DPI, Lands 

$40,000 Immediate (A2) GLC, DIPNR, 

Lands, DPI, 

Waterways 

Staff time Immediate (B2) GLC Ongoing 

$10,000 Medium (D3) Lands, GLC 

$200,000 Medium (D3) GLC, Lands Feasibility study completed 

in 2005 

Comments 

A foreshore management plan for the Wallis Lake foreshores, estuarine islands and coastal beaches is essential to ensure protection of natural and cultural values and scenic 

amenity in areas of largely undisturbed foreshore in a holistic manner. Scenic amenity here is a combination of both landscape attributes and water quality. Areas of high natural 

and/or cultural value and/or with high scenic amenity should be identified with the community for conservation/enhancement. A protocol to assess Aboriginal sites should be 

included in this plan to ensure the protection of Aboriginal sites on the foreshore and immediate estuary. It is also recommended that a foreshore boardwalk along Little Street be 

considered in this foreshore plan of management. 

A Wallis Lake private jetties and foreshore structures management strategy would provide a pro-active strategic approach to assessing applications for the development of 

foreshore structures on an estuary-wide basis. It may involve zoning the foreshore into ‘no new approval’ areas or ‘conditional approval’ if the structure complies with any agreed 

management plans and meets NSW DPI and Waterways requirements for low impact environmentally friendly designs. It is recommended that this strategy consider preventing 

the construction of jetties that extend more than 50 m from the foreshore. 

Full use should be made of GLC planning instruments, the Rivers and Foreshores Improvements Act 1948, the Coastal Protection and Management Act 1995, SEPP 14 and 

SEPP 71. 

62


[Plate 4.10: Environmentally friendly mesh jetty walkway reducing shading of seagrass] 

[Plate 4.11: Example of an unauthorised foreshore structure in Muddy Creek] 

63


Tonys Point 

Island 


Big Island 

Zone 7 (a) 

Zone 7 (b) 

[Figure 4.11: Conservation zonings 7a and 7b on the islands and Wallis Lake foreshores] 

64


M.2 

Management Area A 


Develop appropriate methods to manage island erosion 

Action 

No 

M.2.1 

M.2.2 

M.2.3 

Action 

Assess and quantify island erosion using historical charts * and aerial 

photography 

Determine the likelihood and severity of future erosion of the islands from the 

sediment dynamics modelling analysis (see action S.1.1) 

From M.2.2, investigate installing appropriate bank protection measures where it 

is deemed necessary 


Cost 

$15,000 Medium (C4) WLEMIC 

$10,000 + 

staff time 

Medium (C4) GLC 

TBD Medium (C4) Lands, GLC, 

DIPNR 

Comments 

Past dredging, construction of entrance training walls, reclamation and oyster lease development has substantially altered the sediment dynamics of the island/entrance area. 

This has resulted in some of the islands experiencing considerable erosion, such as Cut, Mather, Wallis and Regatta Islands. Patterns in island erosion should be quantified from 

1965 when construction of the training walls was complete. 

If no bank protection measures are to be constructed, parts of the islands would be allowed to continue to slowly erode and this would be factored into the future design and 

management of foreshore facilities. 

* Mr Bruce Parsons of Forster holds historical charts of the island/entrance area available for studies. 

65



Cut Island 

Tern Island 

Miles Island 

Cockatoo Island 

Mather Island 

Godwin Island 


Hadleys Island 

Tonys Point Island 

Regatta Island 

Big Island 

[Figure 4.12: Areas on islands experiencing considerable erosion] 

66


Management Objective Effectively control and mitigate erosion of foreshore reserves; Pipers Creek foreshore reserve, Rest Point Road reserve, John 

Wright Memorial Park, Darawakh Reserve, Oxley Park 

M.3 

Management Area A, C, D 

Action 

No 

M.3.1 

M.3.2 

M.3.3 

M.3.4 

Action 

Conduct a bank assessment of foreshore reserves and identify and prioritise 

bank protection structures in need of repair, and areas in need of further 

protection from erosion 

Conduct repairs on retaining walls identified in M.3.1, and consider constructing 

new bank protection structures where necessary as identified in M.3.1 

Formalise access areas to the estuary at Rest Point Road reserve by 

constructing at least two sets of steps leading to the water and transplant Juncas 

sp (Tussock Rush) to stabilise the surrounding bank 

Formalise an access area to the estuary at Darawakh reserve ( ie. platform) and 

encourage revegetation and bank protection of the surrounding foreshore area 

by mangroves and casuarinas 


Cost 

$15,000 Medium (D3) GLC 

TBD Medium (D3) GLC 

$20,000 High (D2) GLC 

$50,000 High (D2) GLC, 

Waterways, 

DIPNR 

Comments 

Erosion is still active at some foreshore reserves where retaining walls have been constructed. In addition to being a source of sediment to the lake, this has lead to undercutting 

of the retaining walls and has caused footpaths to slump creating trip hazards. 

For Darawakh and Rest Point Road reserves, formalising access points and revegetation of the foreshore is the most appropriate method to stabilise the bank and prevent further 

erosion. It is recommended that signage be constructed at these areas outlining the objectives of the revegetation efforts and requesting that people avoid trampling the newly 

planted vegetation. The recommended works for Darawakh reserve will prevent boats from being launched at the area, which is contributing further to erosion, as there is no 

formal boat launching facility at the reserve. If a platform is considered for Darawakh Reserve, NSW DPI and the Wallis Lake Fish Coop should be carefully consulted to ensure 

that existing fishing grounds are not adversely affected. 

67


Darawakh 

reserve 

John Wright 

Memorial Park 

Rest Point 

Road reserve 

Oxley Park 

Pipers Creek 

foreshore reserve 

[Figure 4.13: Location of foreshore reserves; Pipers Creek foreshore reserve, Rest Point Road reserve, 

John Wright Memorial Park, Darawakh Reserve, Oxley Park] 

68


[Plate 4.12: Collapsing retaining wall, Oxley Park] 

[Plate 4.13: Base of collapsing retaining wall, Oxley Park] 

[Plate 4.14: Erosion at Oxley Park] 

[Plate 4.15: Erosion at Rest Point Road reserve. Note area where 

Juncas sp has colonised, buffering erosion] 

69


Rest Point Road 

The Lakes Way 

Carpark 

erosion 

Construct formalised steps 

Juncas sp plant out areas 

[Plate 4.16: Suggested works for Rest Point Road reserve] 

Construct platform 

Structural protection as per the 

Wallamba River rivercare plan and 

revegetate 

[Plate 4.17: Suggested works for Darawakh reserve] 

70


M.4 

Management Area A, B, C, D 


Ensure that public foreshore reserve areas are adequately identifiable, maintained and serviced 

Action 

No 

M.4.1 

M.4.2 

Action 

Assess signage on islands marking the location of toilets and ensure that 

signage can be easily sighted from the waterway 

Ensure that foreshore reserve areas are regularly maintained for general tidiness 

and lawn mowing 

Indicative 

Cost 


$1,000 + Long-term (E5) GLC, DEC 

staff time 

Staff time Long-term (D5) GLC Ongoing 

Comments 

If signage on islands marking the location of toilets cannot be easily sighted from the waterway, installation of new larger signs should be considered. 

M.5 

Management Area A, B 


Control erosion of unsealed foreshore roads and prevent excess sediment from entering the Lake 

Action 

No 

M.5.1 

M.5.2 

M.5.3 

M.5.4 

Action 

Restrict vehicle access to the informal foreshore road from the end of Wharf 

Road to Green Point Drive, Green Point, by constructing boom gates at either 

end to ensure that it is accessed by approved user groups only 

Assess and remediate drainage problems on the eastern edge of the informal 

foreshore road from the end of Wharf Road to Green Point Drive, Green Point 

Seal the Paradise Marina car park on Little Street, Forster, to prevent erosion 

and the input of sediment into Breckenridge Channel 

Identify and prioritise areas of erosion and sediment input to the Lake and detail 

steps required to stabilise and repair such areas 


Cost 



$60,000 High (D3) GLC 

(engineering) 

$10,000 High (D3) GLC 

Comments 

The informal foreshore road from the end of Wharf Road to Green Point Drive was originally only intended as a walkway and to allow emergency services access to the foreshore 

in case of fire. Current use of this unsealed road exceeds this with a number of private vehicles using the road increasing erosion pressure and the risk of introducing weed 

species. Approved user groups to have access to the road may include GLC staff, Fires Brigade and the Green Point Landcare group. Additionally, the road experiences drainage 

problems after periods of heavy rainfall. Water tends to pool on the eastern edge of the road and becomes stagnant creating ideal conditions for mosquitos and a source of foul 

odours. 

Initial cost estimates to seal the Paradise Marina car park are $45,000 for resurfacing and $15,000 for a necessary retaining wall. 

71


GREEN POINT 

Foreshore road 

‘Public garden 

and recreation 

space’ 

Green 

Point Drive 

Sea Breeze Parade 

Wharf Road 

[Figure 4.14: Informal foreshore road at Green Point] 

[Plate 4.18: Area with drainage problems on the eastern edge of the informal foreshore road, Green Point] 

72


M.6 

Management Area D 


Prevent further erosion and degradation of riparian vegetation and regenerate shoreline in the Wallamba River 

Action 

No 

Action 

Indicative 

Cost 

M.6.1 Implement the Lower Wallamba River rivercare plan $50,000 

per year 


Immediate (C1) 

GLC, DIPNR, 

Waterways, 

private land 

holders 

M.6.2 Continue to maintain and enforce no-wash zones to avoid unnecessary erosion Staff time High (C3) Waterways Ongoing 

Comments 

The Lower Wallamba River rivercare plan comprehensively addresses management issues, particularly erosion, along the tidal section of the Wallamba River. A River Keeper 

(action E.6.1) could coordinate many of the management strategies recommended in this plan. 

Erosion on the lower Wallamba River has caused undercutting of the riverbank and large Blackbutt trees to lean substantially into the estuary. To prevent large trees from falling 

into the estuary, tree lopping may be considered provided it is consistent with the objectives of the Lower Wallamba River rivercare plan and the relevant approvals are obtained. 

73


M.7 



Reduce the impacts of stock in the riparian zone 

Action 

No 

M.7.1 

M.7.2 

M.7.3 

Action 

Encourage and facilitate sustainable stock management practices in riparian 

zones 

Evaluate the findings of the Crown Land assessment at Wallis Lake and the 


Consider the complete removal of stock from riparian zones in the foreshore 

Crown Reserve pending the results from M.7.2 

Indicative 

Cost 


Staff time Immediate (B2) Lands, GLC, 

DIPNR 

Staff time Immediate (B2) Lands, GLC, 

DIPNR 

TBD Immediate (B2) Lands, GLC, 

DIPNR 

Comments 

Fencing and providing alternative shade, as well as promoting revegetation/regeneration of riverbanks with native indigenous trees, shrubs and grasses can reduce the impact of 

stock in the riparian zone. By then employing a controlled ‘pulse grazing’ technique, weeds can be effectively controlled. The impacts of stock permanently grazing in the riparian 

zone can be severe and through grazing and trampling can: 

• deplete the banks of reinforcing vegetation making banks more prone to erosion 

• prevent young vegetation from growing 

• directly expose bank material to erosion 

• compact soil reducing infiltration, root growth and overall plant production 

• diminish the overall diversity of plant species and provide more favourable conditions for weeds, and 

• contribute excessive nutrients to waterways by concentrating nutrients derived from cattle dung. 

[Lower Wallamba River rivercare plan] 

The Department of Lands is currently conducting a comprehensive Crown Lands assessment. This review could see the development of terms and conditions attached to permits 

and leases to ensure the protection of ecologically significant riparian areas. It is recommended that based on the results of this assessment, the complete removal of stock from 

these areas in the foreshore Crown Reserve * be considered. 

Implementation of the Lower Wallamba River rivercare plan (action M.6.1) will also aid considerably in achieving this management objective. 

* Crown Reserve extends approximately 30 m around the foreshore of the Wallis Lake estuary 

74


[Plate 4.19: Erosion on the Wallamba River exacerbated by stock permanently grazing in the riparian zone] 

75


M.8 



Ensure that all possible measures are taken to maintain and improve safety at public foreshore areas 

Action 

No 

M.8.1 

M.8.2 

M.8.3 

Action 

Reduce trip hazards by repairing foreshore footpaths that are worn or have 

slumped as a result of undercutting bank erosion 

Assess the height of signage at public foreshore areas and ensure that minimum 

heights are maintained 

Consider constructing a viewing area behind the Wallis Lake Fish Coop on Leo 

Amato Close, Tuncurry, to reduce conflict between the public and fishermen 

when unloading catches from fishing vessels 


Cost 

TBD Medium (E2) GLC 

$5,000 Medium (E2) GLC, 

Waterways, DPI, 

RVCP 

TBD Medium (E2) GLC, Fish Coop 

Comments 

Over time the amount of signage at public foreshore areas has increased, and this has resulted in signs being attached at lower heights on existing posts rather than erecting new 

posts. Further, the amount of weight supported by existing posts has increased causing some subsidence and lowering the height of the signs. This has compromised safety 

standards and could cause significant injury if pedestrians accidentally walk into the edges of the signs. For signs that overhang a footpath a minimum height of 2.5 m is required 

(Australian Standard AS1742.5 – 1997), and for signs that are in a footway area but do not overhang a footpath a minimum height of 2 m is recommended. However, if a sign is 

situated such that pedestrians cannot walk into it (eg in a garden bed) then only 1.5 m is required (Australian Standard AS1742.6 – 1990). 

During peak periods such as Christmas, New Year and Easter, there can be considerable conflict between the public and commercial fishermen behind the Wallis Lake Fish Coop 

when catches are being unloaded from fishing vessels. This is particularly an issue when large fish such as tuna or sharks are being unloaded attracting a large crowd and 

requiring a forklift to move the big boxes of fish onto awaiting trucks. It is recommended that some form of viewing area be formalised to ensure that the public remains a safe 

distance from forklift operations to reduce the risk of an accident occurring. 

76


[Plate 4.20: Worn footpath on walkway-bridge at 

Oxley Park] 

[Plate 4.21: Foreshore signage breaching minimum 

height requirements] 

Leo Amato Close 

Area to consider 

constructing 

viewing platform 

Area where 

forklift and 

trucks 

manoeuvre 

Vessel 

unloading area 

Fish Coop 

Ray Street 

Plate 4.22: Area behind Fish Coop where conflict occurs between public 

viewers and commercial fisherman when unloading catches 

77


4.7 Waterway usage 

U.1 



Facilitate safe and sustainable recreational waterway usage of the Wallis Lake estuary 

Action 

No 

U.1.1 

U.1.2 

U.1.3 

U.1.4 

Action 

Develop and implement a Wallis Lake boating plan of management (to update 

the Great Lakes waterway recreation strategy study) including surveying user 

needs and addressing: 

• pump-out facilities 

• public moorings (including the provision of deepwater moorings) 

• public jetties 

• public boat launching facilities 

• equitable use of paddle craft and motor vessels 

• appropriate recreational use in particular areas of the estuary eg kite surfing 

in the island/entrance area, jet skiing at high speeds during peak periods in 

the island/entrance area and conflicts with swimmers 

The Wallis Lake boating plan of management should recognise areas of 

seagrass, mangrove, saltmarsh and other ecologically significant areas in the 

estuary and ensure appropriate boating use in these areas 

Consider erecting signage at boat launching areas (particularly Point Road 

Tuncurry and Forster regional boat ramp) advising motor vessels of best 

practices when passing paddle craft on the waterway 

Consider providing dinghy storage racks at the Oxley Park and Pipers Bay 

foreshore reserves 

Take the necessary steps to effect that the Green Cathedral (Tiona) is no longer 

a navigation hazard 

1. Investigate heritage value 

2. If of heritage value, demarcate as appropriate including a lit marker 

3. If not of heritage value, consider removal 

Indicative 

Cost 


$40,000 High (B3) Waterways, 

GLC, DPI, 

WLEMIC 

$1,500 Medium (D3) GLC, 

Waterways 


TBD Medium (E2) GLC, 

Waterways 

78


Comments for Strategy U.1 

When assessing the adequacy of pump-out facilities for the Wallis Lake boating plan of management, smaller houseboats should be considered. At present the smaller 

houseboats that have less powerful engines (~15 hp) must pass under the Forster/Tuncurry bridge and negotiate the strong currents to reach the pump-put station at Forster 

marina. Therefore it is recommended that any additional pump-out stations be constructed south of the bridge in an area protected from strong tidal currents (eg Point Road). The 

Wallis Lake boating plan of management will be specific to Wallis Lake and will replace the Great Lakes waterway recreation strategy study which included Myall Lakes, Northern 

Port Stephens, Smiths Lake, Wallis Lake and Elizabeth Beach. 

Further, when assessing boat launching facilities for the Wallis Lake boating plan of management issues to consider are presented in section 13.8. 

Dinghy storage racks allow large numbers of dinghies to be secured without obstructing foreshore recreation areas and creating safety hazards. In other local government areas of 

NSW, they are rented to resident ratepayers at a rate of approximately $100 per year and slightly higher for non-resident ratepayers. 

The heritage value of the Green Cathedral, Tiona, was investigated as part of a heritage study in the Wallis Lake region during 2004. When the results of this study are finalised, 

appropriate action should be taken to reduce this navigation hazard. 

[Figure 4.15: Location of the Green Cathedral (Source: Boating map for Wallis Lake, 

Smiths Lake, Coolongolook, Wallingat and Wallamba Rivers, Waterways)] 

79


U.2 



Assist waterway navigation for all users of the estuary 

Action 

No 

U.2.1 

U.2.2 

U.2.3 

U.2.4 

Action 

Erect signage on prominent points of Cut Island, Wallis Island, Pitchford Island 

(Shallow Bay) and at Junction Point (Coolongolook/Wallingat confluence) 

Ensure that channel markers are maintained and replaced promptly when 

damaged 

Consider providing channel markers (1 or 2) to demarcate the shallow area on 

the southern side of Bandicoot Island 

Consider providing lit channel markers in the Wallamba Broadwater (3) and at 

Hells Gate (1) 

Indicative 

Cost 


$3,500 High (B3) GLC, DEC, 

Waterways 

In 

High (B3) Waterways Ongoing 

Waterways 

budget 

$1,000 Medium (D3) Waterways 

$20,000 Medium (D3) Waterways 

Comments 

Navigation by novice boaters or recreational boaters unfamiliar with the estuary is hampered by the lack of signage identifying the islands. Signs at prominent points on the 

islands that can be clearly seen from a distance of at least 50 m, especially where the high rises of Forster are no longer visible, will increase chart reading skills. The materials 

and format of the signage must be consistent with existing signage and meet GLC and DEC requirements. NSW DPI and the Wallis Lake Fish Coop should be consulted on the 

proposed location of channel markers to ensure that they do not directly interfere with existing hauling grounds. 

80



Wallamba broadwater 

Junction Point 


Cut Island 

Bandicoot Island 


Hellsgate 

Pitchford Island 

Shallow Bay 


[Figure 4.16: Suggested locations for signage identifying islands and for additional channel markers] 

81


U.3 

Management Area D, E, F 


Reduce the contribution of power boat activities (waterskiing and wakeboarding, jetskiing) to riverbank erosion 

Action 

Action 

No 

U.3.1 Ensure commitment to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) finalised in 2004 

to restrict waterskiing and other power boat recreational activities on the 

Wallamba River to the area between Mill Road, Failford, and Gereeba Island 

U.3.2 

U.3.3 

Protect the Wallingat River upstream of the broadwater and the Coolongolook 

River from the impacts of any possible increase in waterskiing and wakeboarding 

activity as a result of the restrictions in action U.3.1 

Investigate restricting damage from wakeboarding and wakeboarding boats or 

prohibiting as required on the Wallamba River 

Indicative 

Cost 

$200,000 

+ staff 

time 

$5,000 + 

staff time 


Immediate (C1) 

High (B4) 

GLC, WLEMIC, 

caravan parks, 

waterways, 

waterskiers 

GLC, WLEMIC, 

Waterways 

Staff time Medium (C4) WLEMIC, 

Waterways 

Comments 

Many of the waterways of Wallis Lake are narrow and in areas where power boat recreational activities are intense and/or riparian vegetation is lacking severe erosion can result. 

This is particularly exacerbated during wakeboarding activities, which require vessels to create a large wake. 

Ongoing 

82


Mill Road 


Darawakh reserve 

Gereeba Island 

Millers 

Mistake 

Creek 

[Figure 4.17: Area where waterskiing and other power boat recreational activities are restricted 

to operate on the Wallamba River. Wakeboarding activities are currently under review] 

83


4.8 Community education 

C.1 



Raise community awareness to reduce stormwater pollutant loads at the source 

Action 

No 

C.1.1 

Action 

Report pollutant loads (gross and suspended solids) removed from SQIDs to the 

community via SoE reports, local media etc 

C.1.2 Continue to hold stormwater and wetland community education days on a regular In HLP 

basis providing information on the operating principles of SQIDs and best budget 

practice techniques for fertiliser usage, car washing, pet and garden waste 

disposal 

C.1.3 Continue to provide educational signage at locations of all new SQIDs $2,000 

per new 

SQID 

C.1.4 

C.1.5 

Utilise community group newsletters and meetings and local media to increase 

awareness of the link between high nutrient concentrations in stormwater and 

estuarine algal blooms and disseminate information on best practice techniques 

for fertiliser usage, car washing, pet and garden waste disposal 

Expand and follow up on best practice audits for businesses as part of the 

Healthy lakes business program 


Cost 

Staff time High (B4) GLC 

$500 + 

staff time 

In HLP 

budget 

High (B4) GLC 3 held in 2003, 1 in 2004 

High (B4) 

High (B4) 

Medium(B5) 

Comments 

All opportunities to convey an educational message about stormwater pollutant control using local media should be utilised. 

Educational signage for new SQIDs will need to be provided at the Boronia Park, Pioneer Drive and Kularoo Drive constructed wetlands. 

GLC 

GLC 

GLC 

84


[Plate 4.23: Educational signage at the site of a constructed wetland] 

85


C.2 



Raise community awareness in farming areas to reduce pollutant loads in rural run-off 

Action 

No 

C.2.1 

C.2.2 

C.2.3 

Action 

Continue to encourage rural nutrient management strategies as described in 

action 7.3 of the WLCMP including: 

• developing nutrient management plans for individual properties 

• ensuring appropriate zoning and planning provisions to protect water quality 

in floodplains 

• implementing best practice floodplain management guidelines to reduce 

sediment and nutrient input to waterways 

• installing dairy effluent management systems 

• continuing the dung beetle release program 

• conducting soil testing to identify appropriate nutrient needs 

• using appropriate application of fertilisers 

• using slow release fertilisers 

Continue to work with community groups / Landcare groups / sub-catchment 

management committees to disseminate information on soil and nutrient 

management strategies 

Prepare educational material on soil and nutrient management and distribute to 

landholders in the Wallis Lake catchment 

Indicative 

Cost 

Catchment 

Officer 

Staff time 


High (B4) 

WaLI group, 

CMA, NSW Ag, 

Landholders 

Staff time High (B4) WaLI group, 

CMA 

$2,500 High (B4) WaLI group, 

CMA 

Comments 

Educational material should clearly identify a catchment officer available to contact for assistance to effect rural soil and nutrient control strategies. 

Ongoing 

Ongoing 

86


[Plates 4.25 & 4.26: Deep drains transporting sediment and nutrients from grazing land into the Wallamba River] 

87


Management Objective Increase awareness of the role of estuarine habitats such as mangroves, saltmarshes, seagrasses, wetlands and riparian 

vegetation and the link provided by groundwater 

C.3 


Action 

No 

C.3.1 

C.3.2 

C.3.3 

Action 

Hold community education field days on a regular basis with talks and guided 

tours of local areas with significant habitat value 

Utilise community group newsletters and the GLC website to disseminate 

information on the physical features and ecological roles of estuarine habitats 

and groundwater 

Prepare an education information pack or similar on the physical features and 

ecological roles of estuarine habitats and distribute to residents around the 

estuary 

Indicative 

Cost 


$1,500 Medium (B5) GLC, DPI 

per year 

Staff time Medium (B5) GLC 


Comments 

Educational material should identify the following attributes of mangrove, saltmarsh, seagrass, wetland and riparian vegetation habitats: 

• physical and structural features (eg soft versus hard substrate, vegetated versus unvegetated, sub-tidal versus inter-tidal) 

• ecological role and biological processes (eg recycling of nutrients, bank stabilisation, provision of juvenile habitat, source of organic matter), and 

• weeds versus native species. 

[See NSW DPI 1999 for information] 

In response to community concern in regards to wetland areas, information should be provided on natural mosquito control and on smell. Information should also be provided on 

seagrass ecology including shedding of leaves. 

NB: This strategy augments action 2.7 of the WLCMP to ‘develop and implement a community education program to highlight the value of wetlands’. 

88


[Figure 4.18: Example of an educational diagram illustrating the ecological importance of seagrass beds as a food source and as habitat for juvenile fish (Source: NSW DPI 1999)] 

89


C.4 



Increase community awareness of best practice guidelines and legislation for interactions between humans and dolphins 

Action 

No 

C.4.1 

C.4.2 

Action 

Develop and distribute a pamphlet outlining best practice guidelines for humandolphin 

interactions specific to dolphins (see section 13.7) 

Consider erecting signage summarising boat operator guidelines when dolphins 

are encountered at the Forster Harbour and Point Road (Tuncurry) boat ramps 


Cost 

$5,000 High (C2) DEC, WLEMIC 

$1,500 High (C3) DEC, WLEMIC 

Comments 

Pamphlets should be available from all boat hire and cruise boat businesses as well as the Forster/Tuncurry tourism office. 

C.5 



Enhance community participation in decision making and planning for the estuary and foreshore 

Action 

No 

C.5.1 

C.5.2 

C.5.3 

C.5.4 

C.5.5 

Action 

Ensure advanced notification of public meetings to allow holiday home owners in 

the area sufficient time to plan attendance (eg in quarterly notices), and utilise 

local media to advertise upcoming meetings and plan review periods 

Provide opportunities for individual consultations with community members on 

estuary and foreshore plans 

Ensure adequate feedback is given for all submissions received on estuary and 

foreshore plans 

Ensure the WLEMIC is familiar with all estuary and foreshore plans and 

encourage representatives to report back to their represented stakeholder groups 

Identify the Natural Systems and Estuaries Branch of GLC for public contact on 

environmental matters 

Indicative 

Cost 


Staff time High (A5) GLC 

+ $600 ∗ 

meeting 

Staff time High (A5) GLC 

Staff time Medium (C5) GLC Responses provided to all 

submissions regarding the 

WLEMP 

Nil Medium (C5) WLEMIC 

$500 Medium (C5) GLC 

Comments 

Considerable support and praise was received for providing the opportunity for individual consultations as part of this WLEMP in addition to public meetings. In response to this it 

is recommended that all future estuary and foreshore planning continue to provide this opportunity where staff time and resources are available. 

Direct council contact persons within the Natural Systems and Estuaries branch of GLC for environmental matters should be widely publicised in local phone directories and the 

GLC website. Contacts should be given under particular environmental themes such as stormwater control, tree preservation, estuary management, catchment management 

∗ This is an indicative cost only for advertising in The Extra and The Advocate 

90


C.6 



Provide information to the community (both residents and visitors) on all estuary management initiatives 

Action 

No 

C.6.1 

C.6.2 

C.6.3 

C.6.4 

Action 

Report monitoring information through SoE, GLC website and local media and 

organise media coverage of all on ground estuary and foreshore management 

works 

Make all plans that form the planning framework for the maintenance and 

improvement of estuarine health (see Figure 8.1) available to the public over the 

internet and at GLC 

Make educational pamphlets available at motels, boatsheds and real estate 

agents etc 

Continue to coordinate community education efforts under the Healthy Lakes 

Program 

Indicative 

Cost 



Staff time Medium (C5) GLC 

$2,500 Medium (B5) GLC, WLEMIC 


Comments 

The need for a concerted effort to be made to educate visitors as well as residents has been identified through the consultation process of this plan. Motels, boatsheds and real 

estate agents were thought to be the best avenues to target tourists and provide educational material. 

91


5 Implementation 

5.1 How to implement this plan 

The implementation of this plan is a shared responsibility amongst stakeholders and relies on the participation and 

agreement of all levels of government and the community. It is proposed a Statement of Joint Intent (SOJI) be 

developed through negotiation and agreement of all parties to formally acknowledge the commitment of major 

stakeholders in implementing the plan. Although this document is non-binding, it sends an important message to 

the community about the intentions of stakeholders to work together towards achieving the goals set out in the plan, 

and signals support for and acceptance of the recommended actions. 

Stakeholder 

Responsibilities 

Local Government authorities • where relevant, implement actions outlined in plan 

• nominate or employ an accountable personnel to report to and 

participate in quarterly meetings of the implementation committee 

to oversee coordination and implementation of the plan 

• write implementation of the Wallis Lake Estuary Management 

Plan into the position description and role accountabilities of key 

agency personnel 

• provide feedback to organisations represented on the progress of 

implementation and issues arising 

• enforce legislation and water quality guidelines 

State Government agencies and public • where relevant, implement actions outlined in plan 

authorities: 


• Department of Infrastructure, 

Planning and Natural 



Resources 

• write implementation of the Wallis Lake Estuary Management 

• Department of the 

Environment and 

Plan into the position description and role accountabilities of key 

agency personnel 

Conservation 

• provide feedback to organisations represented on the progress of 

• NSW Department of Lands implementation and issues arising 

• MidCoast Water 

• enforce legislation and water quality guidelines as outlined in the 

• NSW Department of Primary plan 

Industries 

• include specifications in contracts and leases requiring 

• MSB Waterways 

contractors/leasers to adopt relevant guidelines 

• Hunter/Central Rivers 

Catchment Management 

Authority 

Local industry groups: 

• Wallis Lake Fishermen’s 

Cooperative 

• Oyster Growers 

• Tourism 

Local community groups: 

• Forster Local Aboriginal Land 

Council 

• Great Lakes Environment 

Association 

• Landcare groups 

• Progress associations 

• where relevant, implement actions outlined in plan 




• participate in environmental monitoring 

• assist with implementation of actions outlined in the plan 

• demand meaningful engagement with the relevant management 

agencies and processes 

• involvement in the implementation committee to oversee 

coordination and implementation of the plan 

[Table 5.1: Shared responsibilities for implementing the WLEMP (Modified from the WLCMP)] 

92


I.1 



Successfully implement the Wallis Lake estuary management plan 

Action 

No 

I.1.1 

Action 

Achieve full stakeholder sign-off on WLEMP and formalise agreement in a SOJI. 

This will ensure that all stakeholders agree to and are aware of their 

responsibilities under the plan 

Indicative 

Cost 

WLEMC 

time 



All stake 

holders 

identified in 

Table 5.1 

I.1.2 Form the Wallis Lake estuary management implementation committee (WLEMIC) Nil Immediate (A1) WLEMC 

I.1.3 Appoint a project coordinator to oversee the implementation of the plan $70,000 Immediate (A1) WLEMIC 

per year 

I.1.4 Develop a detailed project budget plan – to be overseen by the WLEMIC Project 

coordinator 

staff time 

Immediate (A1) WLEMIC 

I.1.5 Work towards cooperative resourcing of estuary works by all levels of 

government and the community 

WLEMIC 

time 

I.1.6 Ensure adequate and ongoing funding WLEMIC 

and project 

coordinator 

staff time 

I.1.7 

I.1.8 

Ensure commitment to the monitor and review process to measure the success 

of the management actions and modify as necessary 

Implement the plan review process ensuring community participation to facilitate 

continuing improvement 

WLEMIC 

time 

WLEMIC 

and project 

coordinator 

staff time 



High (A4) 

High (A4) 

Comments 

This action plan outlines the key steps necessary to ensure that the WLEMP is successfully implemented and adequately reviewed. 

WLEMIC 

WLEMIC 

WLEMIC 

WLEMIC 

93


The WLEMC that has supervised the development of the WLEMP will be re-elected and become the Wallis Lake 

Estuary Management Implementation Committee (WLEMIC). It may be necessary to recruit representatives from 

new stakeholder groups to the committee eg. to represent the Hunter/Central Rivers CMA. The WLEMIC will be 

responsible for guiding the implementation of management actions. It is recommended that an investment strategy 

is developed upon formal adoption of the WLEMP for actions requiring ongoing annual funding, and a detailed 

implementation program is developed for each financial year in consultation with the relevant government bodies. 

Funding should be sought to employ a project coordinator to oversee the implementation of the plan. This person 

would be based at Great Lakes Council in the Natural Systems and Estuaries branch and would be responsible for 

liaisons between stakeholders and data acquisition and management for performance assessments of the 

recommended strategies. This will ensure coordinated action in implementing the plan by all levels of government 

and the community. 

5.2 Order of implementation 

The priority rank designated to each action determines the approximate timeframe in which the actions are to be 

implemented (see section 3.2). However, some of the actions represent a stepwise progression towards achieving 

an overall outcome and therefore the order in which they are implemented is important. The following diagrams 

illustrate the order in which these actions must be implemented. 

W.2.2 U.3.1 M.7.1 

Continue to provide incentive Ensure ongoing commitment to Encourage sustainable stock 

schemes to protect and enhance MOU restricting waterskiing and management practices in 

riparian vegetation power boat activities on the Wallamba River riparian zones 

It is important that a coordinated effort be made to implement actions W.2.2, U.3.1 and M.7.1 in concert. This is 

because landholders are reluctant to fence if waterskiing and power boat activities continue to exacerbate erosion, 

resulting in the fences having to be moved back from the shoreline in the near future. Sustainable stock 

management practices will need to be adopted to ensure riparian vegetation is free from trampling and grazing by 

stock. 

E.1.1 E.7.1 W.6.1 

Develop Wallis Lake wetland Develop Shorebird assessment Establish baseline water 

management strategy and marine values data quality conditions 

compilation program 

M.1.1 

Management plan for the foreshores, 

estuarine islands and coastal beaches 

The results of actions E.1.1, E.7.1 and W.6.1 will strongly influence the foreshore management plan for the Wallis 

Lake foreshores, estuarine islands and coastal beaches (action M.1.1). 

94


E.2.1 

Identify ‘proceed with care’ zones in 

areas of shallow seagrass beds 

E.2.2 

Communicate ‘proceed with care’ zones 

via signage at boat ramps and pamphlets 

E.2.3 

Consider deploying demarcation buoys 

at ‘proceed with care’ zones 

U.1.1 

Develop and implement a Wallis Lake 

boating plan of management 

The ‘proceed with care’ zones (actions E.2.1-3) will contribute to the development of the Wallis Lake boating plan of 

management (action U.1.1). 

E.3.2 

Assess impacts of sediment from 

stormwater and run-off on seagrass 

W.1.4 

Assess recently constructed SQIDs 

and the need for any new SQIDs 

If nearby stormwater drains (action E.3.2) are shown to be compromising the health of seagrass beds, then these 

areas should be considered when assessing the need for any new SQIDs (action W.1.4). 

M.3.1 M.3.2 M.8.1 

Identify and prioritise bank protection Conduct repairs on retaining walls and Repair foreshore paths that 

in need of repair and identify areas construct new bank protection structures have slumped as a result of 

in need of further protection where necessary undercutting bank erosion 

Bank protection structures should be identified (M.3.1) and repaired (M.3.2) prior to any repairs to footpaths that 

have slumped as a result of undercutting bank erosion (M.8.1). 

95


E.6.1 

Employ a river keeper or other paid worker 

to maintain and restore vegetation in riparian zones 

E.6.2 E.6.3 M.6.1 

Conduct a riparian Concentrate revegetation and restoration Implement the Lower 

vegetation assessment efforts in priority areas identified in E.6.2 Wallamba River rivercare plan 

It is preferable (but not essential – indicated by the dashed lines here) that a river keeper be employed (action 

E.6.1) to coordinate efforts to assess (E.6.2) and revegetate/restore (E.6.3) riparian vegetation and to implement 

the Lower Wallamba River rivercare plan. 

C.4.1 

Develop best practice guidelines 

for human-dolphin interactions 

C.4.2 

Consider erecting signage summarising boat 

operator guidelines developed in C.4.1 for 

when dolphins are encountered 

Best practice guidelines for human-dolphin interactions, including persons in water and in powered vessels (action 

C.4.1), need to be developed and adopted prior to their communication via signage at major boat ramps (action 

C.4.2). 

S.1.1 

Conduct a contour study of 

the island/entrance area 

S.1.2 

Prepare an REF/EIS and conduct 

urgent dredging operations 

It is important that an initial contour study of the lake (action S.1.1) be conducted prior to any dredging operations 

(action S.1.2) so that the rate of infilling can be monitored for future planning and cost/benefit analyses. 

S.2.1 

Assess stormwater drains 

for impacts of sediment build-up 

S.2.2 

Dredge or excavate sediment build-up 

at stormwater drains identified in S.2.1 

Stormwater drains must be assessed and prioritised (action S.2.1) prior to dredging or excavation works (action 

S.2.2) to remove excess sediment build-up that is impacting upon aquatic habitat. 

96


S.3.1 

Continue investigations into establishing 

a permanent sand deposit area on Tern Island 

S.3.2-3 

Prepare maintenance dredging protocols for 

oyster leases, navigation channels and stormwater 

drains AND rehabilitate Cockatoo and Godwin Islands 

Before any maintenance-dredging program is developed (actions S.3.2-3), a permanent sand deposit area must be 

operational (action S.3.1) to accommodate the dredged material. 

M.2.1 M.2.2-3 

Assess and quantify island erosion 

Predict future island erosion and investigate 

installing appropriate bank protection structures 

An assessment of current patterns of island erosion (action M.2.1) will provide a benchmark against which to 

assess any possible benefits of future bank protection structures (actions M.2.2-3). 

97


6 Monitor and review process 

The WLEMIC will be responsible for directing the monitor and review process. This process will assess the 

performance of the WLEMP and ensure it is continually updated and improved. Table 6.1 proposes an integrated 

monitoring and assessment program showing the relationships between recommended actions, performance 

indicators to be monitored, data interpretation methodology, and targets for actions where baseline data is 

available. 

Upon formal adoption of the plan, the WLEMIC will be required to develop and fully cost a more thorough 

and detailed monitoring and review program consistent with NHT/CMA reporting protocols clearly defining 

estuary and management targets and, where possible, providing a cost-benefit analysis for each action. 

This may result in the designated priority of actions being reassessed to incorporate their cost 

effectiveness. 

A standardised reporting format should be utilised on an annual basis to briefly evaluate the progress of the plan 

and the efficiency and effectiveness of management actions implemented over each annual reporting period. The 

results of the monitoring program should become part of routine SoE reporting and also reported to the wider 

community via local media, GLC’s web page and community newsletters. 

Every 5 years a formal review of the WLEMP should identify any new issues and conflicts concerning the Wallis 

Lake estuary and ensure their incorporation into a revised plan. A program for the following 5 years should be 

developed by designating priority to any new actions and reassigning priority to the remaining actions. Commitment 

by the signatories to the SOJI should also be renewed and should include any new signatories where necessary. 

The review process should assess the progress of implementation, expenditure and performance indicators of the 

WLEMP. Where possible, a cost-benefit analysis of implemented actions should be conducted during the review to 

reflect their cost effectiveness and their contribution to achieving estuary management targets. The development of 

catchment/estuary functional models configured for the Wallis Lake estuary would greatly assist in the review 

process by guiding future planning/development activities and would also allow for optimisation assessment of 

management actions. 

The revised WLEMP should recognise any decision support tools for management of the Wallis Lake estuary that 

may not have been available at the time of the initial plan development. 

98


Table 6.1: WLEMP monitoring overview 

Strategy/Outcome Actions Monitoring and performance indicator Data interpretation Target Comments Progress 

Minimise stormwater 

pollutants entering the lake 

W.1.1, 

W.1.2, 

W.1.4, 

W.1.5, 

W.1.6 

A monitoring program to assess the 

effectiveness of SQIDs would involve 

‘upstream’ and ‘downstream’ sampling of 

drainage lines. Indicators to be measured 

include; total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus 

(TP), oxidised nitrogen (NOx), ammonia (NH4), 

filterable reactive phosphate (PO4), dissolved 

oxygen and turbidity. 

Replicate samples should be collected during 

wet weather events when stormwater is 

flowing. A thresh hold should be decided upon 

to ensure consistency of the magnitude of the 

wet weather events ie. 50 mm rain in 24 hours. 

Samples to be processed at Forster 

Environmental Laboratory. 

An example of a monitoring design to assess 

the effectiveness of artificial wetlands on the K- 

leg drainage line is given in Fig. 6.1. 

Each wetland is a replicate 

unit for water filtration and 

treatment (n=4). 

Conventional t-tests or 

single factor ANOVA could 

be used to compare 

upstream and downstream 

data from one off sampling, 

or two factor ANOVA could 

be used to compare 

upstream and downstream 

data from multiple sampling 

events. 

N/A This monitoring 

program would 

allow the cost 

effectiveness of 

artificial wetlands to 

be assessed and 

would contribute to 

the management 

decision-making 

framework 

regarding future 

construction of 

such SQIDs. 

Waterwatch sampling is currently active at 

Forster Keys, Tuncurry Boat Ramp, Darawakh 

Memorial Park and the Nabiac Weir, 

Pennington Creek and Dunnes Creek. 

Sampling is conducted by trained community 

volunteer groups and coordinated by DIPNR. 

Indicators measured include; temperature, pH, 

total dissolved solids, turbidity and dissolved 

oxygen. 

Once data is uploaded to 

the Waterwatch website, 

graphs are automatically 

created and displayed 

allowing a visual 

interpretation of trends at 

each site. 

N/A 

Data available at 

www.waterwatch.ns 

w.gov.au 

99


Pioneer Dr 

Wetland 

Upstream sampling site 

Downstream sampling site 

Kularoo Dr 

Wetland 

Goldens Rd Nth 

Wetland 

Goldens Rd Sth 

Wetland 

To Wyuna Canal 

[Figure 6.1: Schematic diagram of the artificial wetlands on the K-leg drainage line. Each wetland would act a s a replicate unit for water 

filtration and treatment (n=4). Sampling would occur when stormwater is flowing after wet weather events at each upstream and 

downstream sampling site. The average difference between measurements of turbidity, nitrogen and phosphorus at upstream and 

downstream sites will indicate the filtering and treatment efficiency of the wetland] 

[Figure 6.2: Sites of annual shellfish samples for pesticide and metals testing by NSW Food Authority. Leases sampled are shown in black] 

100



Determine baseline water 

quality in the Wallis Lake 

estuary 

W.6.1 

N/A 

Reduce rural land use 

impacts on water quality in 

the Wallis Lake estuary 

W.2.1, 

W.2.2 

Indicators to be measured include; total 

nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), oxidised 

nitrogen (NOx), ammonia (NH4), filterable 

reactive phosphate (PO4), chlorophyll a, faecal 

coliform, temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved 

oxygen and turbidity. Sampling to occur at sites 

identified in Fig. 4.3 during dry weather, low 

flow conditions. 

A pilot study should ensure that these sites are 

consistent with the Australian Guidelines for 

Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting 

(ANZECC & ARMCANZ 2000). 

Replicate samples are to be taken at each site 

and processed at Forster Environmental 

Laboratory. 

Repeating the monitoring program developed 

to establish baseline water quality conditions 

on a regular basis each year would allow for 

actions designed to improve water quality to be 

continually and regularly assessed for their 

effectiveness. 

Data to be assessed 

against set numerical 

guidelines in the Australian 

and New Zealand 

guidelines for fresh and 

marine water quality 

(ANZECC & ARMCANZ 

2000). 

Data analysis to be 

consistent with the study 

design and to be 

determined in conjunction 

with site selection. 

Data analysis as decided 

above. 

Targets to 

be set once 

baseline 

conditions 

determined 

This baseline 

information is 

necessary to set 

realistic future 

water quality 

targets. 

Commitment to the 

monitoring program 

will allow for time 

series analysis for 

any trends ie. 

improving or 

deteriorating water 

quality. 

Regular monitoring 

in urban areas 

would also allow an 

assessment of the 

effectiveness of 

actions to reduce 

impacts of 

stormwater on 

water quality. 

101



Minimise point source 

chemical pollutant inputs 

to the Wallis Lake estuary 

NSW Food Authority conducts shellfish testing 

for pesticides and metals on an annual basis in 

the island/entrance area of the lake. 

Time series analysis of 

data. 

TBD 

W.3.1, 

W.3.2, 

W.3.3, 

W.3.4 

Review of this 

program should 

analyse trends in 

the pesticide and 

metal 

concentrations of 

shellfish and set 

realistic targets for 

reducing the input 

of these pollutants. 


Reduce the leaching of 

ASS products to the Wallis 

Lake estuary 

W.4.1, 

W.4.2, 

W.4.3 

Compliance rates with ASS provisions of LEPs, 

DCPs and other relevant Environmental 

Planning Instruments. 

GLC SoE reporting. 100% DCP to be gazetted 

Rehabilitate 

Darawakh/Frogalla 

Swamp wetland to reduce 

acid products entering the 


W.4.1 

Follow up survey of fish and aquatic 

invertebrates of Darawakh Creek (see Curlew 

Biological Services, 2000). 

Comparison of before and 

after rehabilitation data for 

abundances and 

biodiversity of fish and 

aquatic invertebrates. 

TBD 



analyse the fish 

and aquatic 

invertebrate survey 

conducted prior to 

rehabilitation and 

set realistic targets 

for increased 

abundances and 

biodiversity of 

organisms. 

Water sampling 

(pH in particular) in 

Darawakh Creek 

could be used by 

GLC as a more 

regular, 

inexpensive 

assessment of 

rehabilitation. 

102



Reduce the risk of septic W.5.1 Compliance rates from inspections conducted GLC SoE reporting. 100% 

waste from entering the 

under the Septic√Safe program. 

Wallis Lake estuary W.5.2 Results of MidCoastWater stormwater 

monitoring at Coomba Park (see comment for 

Strategy W.5). 

TBD TBD Monitoring was 

developed and 

coordinated by 

MidCoastWater. 


Sampling has 

begun. 

W.10.1, 

W.10.3 

NSW Food Authority conducts monthly water 

sampling for faecal coliforms in the 

island/entrance area of the lake (Fig. 4.4). 


data. 

TBD 


Faecal coliform 

data is an 

indication of 

effluent 

contamination. 

However, it is not 

specific to human 

effluent. To 

complement this 

data water should 

be sampled for 

faecal sterols, 

which specifically 

indicate human 

effluent. This 

additional sampling 

should include sites 

outside of the 

island/entrance 

area. 

103



Minimise the input of gross 

pollutants to the Wallis 

Lake estuary 

W.9.1, 

W.9.2, 

W.9.3 


standardised data. 

TBD 

If Wallis Lake were a surveyed site for rubbish 

collected during the annual Clean Up Australia 

Day, data would be available for the average 

number of items collected from waterfront and 

river/creek areas and this could be compared 

among years. 

Site coordinators would initiate rubbish surveys 

when registering for their Clean Up site. 

(www.cleanup.com.au/). 

Data should be 

standardised to the 

number of tourists 

visiting Wallis lake 

over the reporting 

period (from Visitor 

Information 

Centre), the 

Forster/Tuncurry 

population (census 

data) and the 

number of people 

participating locally 

in each annual 

Clean Up Australia 

Day. 


Protect and enhance 

natural wetlands 

E.1.1 The inventory and assessment of wetlands to 

be conducted under the Wallis Lake wetland 

management strategy should be designed and 

documented to allow for follow up surveys to 

be conducted at regular intervals to monitor 

wetland health, distribution and abundance. 

TBD TBD Assessment of 

wetland health 

should include 

attributes identified 

by WetlandCare 

Australia such as 

connectivity, 

human 

disturbance, ASS, 

E.1.2 

Annual reporting of percentages of significant 

wetland areas with high conservation and 

ecosystem service value (Figure 4.5) protected 

under voluntary property agreements, Property 

Agreements (CMA), Voluntary Conservation 

Agreements (DEC) or in public ownership. 

Progress reports. 100% 

and bank condition. 

104



Protect seagrass from 

propeller damage, 

sedimentation and 

overgrowth by other 

aquatic algae 

E.2.1, 

E.2.2, 

E.2.3, 

E.3.1, 

E.4.1, 

E.4.2 

The Seagrass Monitoring Program (SMP), 

established since 2002, involves seasonal 

assessment of seagrass density and 

distribution at sites within Wallis Lake. 

TBD – but likely to involve 

non-parametric statistical 

analyses for seagrass 

density measurements at 

each site. 

TBD Microdictyon sp 

and Chaetomorpha 

sp abundance and 

distribution should 

be assessed as 

part of the revised 

SMP (action E.4.1). 

Biannual Posidonia australis surveys (action 

E.5.1). 


spatial trends in data and 

density measurements. 


Protect and enhance E.6.2, Action E.6.2 to conduct a riparian vegetation TBD 

TBD 

riparian vegetation E.6.3, 

E.6.4, 

E.6.5 

assessment should be designed and 

documented to allow for follow up surveys to 

be conducted at regular intervals. 

Monitoring during biannual weed control 

programs (action E.6.4) to be conducted on 

islands. 

TBD 

TBD 

Compliance rates with SEPP14, the Native 

Vegetation Act and tree preservation orders. 

GLC SoE reporting. 100% 


TBD 

105


7 Funding requirements and sources 

The total cost of implementing the 45 strategies recommending 151 actions addressing 9 general management 

themes (including implementation; Table 7.1) is $11,411,500. This cost may be considerably larger if the most cost 

effective and environmentally suitable wastewater management scheme for Coomba Park is to provide sewerage 

services, estimated at $8,910,000, and bringing the total cost of implementing the WLEMP to $20,321,500. Table 

7.2 distinguishes between the priority of the actions and includes a breakdown of expenditure. Some actions require 

an ongoing commitment from existing staff rather than the outlay of expenditure and this is noted as ‘Time’. For 

other actions an approximate costing is not yet possible (TBD), however the financial implications of implementing 

these actions may be substantial. 

Code Management theme # Strategies # Actions 

W Water quality and flow 11 36 

E Ecology 7 21 

F Fisheries 4 7 

O Oyster aquaculture 2 12 

S Sedimentation 3 8 

M Foreshore management 8 26 

U Waterway usage 3 11 

C Community education 6 22 

I Implementation 1 8 

[Table 7.1: Total number of actions and strategies for each management theme] 

Some recommended actions require significant capital costs, especially where large-scale works are involved such 

as dredging and foreshore protection structures. To finance these actions funding from alternative sources outside 

of council budgets will be necessary. 

Use of the full suite of funding opportunities is encouraged so that the objectives of the WLEMP can be realised. In 

addition to funds from GLC budgets and recurrent funds from DIPNR, DEC, Waterways and DPI, other potential 

funding sources include the Recreational Fishing Trust, the National Heritage Trust and the Hunter/Central Rivers 

CMA. 

The Hunter/Central Rivers CMA was formed in 2004 to report directly to the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and 

Natural Resources on natural resource management issues in the Hunter/Central Rivers catchment region. Funds 

can be obtained from the CMA for projects in the region addressing vegetation and biodiversity, riparian and water 

quality, salinity, soils and acid sulfate soils. 

Continuation of the GLC environmental levee is critical to the implementation of this plan. The levee was first 

enforced mid 2001. Many actions in this plan have resulted from recommendations from studies conducted with 

funds from the first 3 years of the levee. If the Levee were to continue for 10 years it would allow these actions to be 

implemented. 

106


Immediate High Medium Long-term 

Action Cost Action Cost Action Cost Action Cost Action Cost Action Cost 

W.1.1 200,000 W.1.2 25,000 O.2.2 10,000 W.1.3 40,000 5,000 M.2.1 15,000 W.8.1 10,000 

W.2.1 Budgeted W.3.1 10,000 S.1.2 1,000,000 W.1.4 20,000 M.2.2 10,000 W.8.2 5,000 

W.2.2 200,000 W.3.2 Staff time S.3.1 1,000,000 W.1.5 10,000 M.2.3 TBD S.2.2 TBD 

W.3.5 20,000 W.3.3 2,000 S.3.2 350,000 W.1.6 Staff time M.3.1 15,000 M.4.1 1,000 

W.4.1 1,000,000 W.4.3 50,000 M.1.1 50,000 W.3.4 5,000 M.3.2 TBD M.4.2 Staff time 

W.4.2 Budgeted W.6.2 Staff time M.3.3 20,000 W.7.2 Staff time M.5.1 5,000 TOTAL $16,000 

W.5.1 Budgeted W.6.4 50,000 M.3.4 50,000 W.11.2 Staff time M.5.2 5,000 

W.5.2 TBD W.7.1 2,000 M.5.3 60,000 W.11.3 Staff time M.8.1 TBD 

W.6.1 15,000 W.9.1 10,000 M.5.4 10,000 W.11.4 Staff time M.8.2 5,000 

W.6.3 Staff time W.9.2 5,000 M.6.2 Staff time E.3.2 25,000 M.8.3 TBD 

W.10.1 Staff time W.9.3 Nominal U.1.1 40,000 E.4.1 Staff time U.1.2 1,500 

E.1.1 2,640,000 W.10.2 Staff time U.2.1 3,500 E.4.2 2,000 U.1.3 15,000 

E.1.2 Staff time W.10.3 5,000 U.2.2 Budgeted E.5.1 5,000 U.1.4 TBD 

E.1.3 Staff time W.11.1 Budgeted U.3.2 5,000 E.5.2 Budgeted U.2.3 1,000 

E.2.1 10,000 E.2.3 15,000 C.1.1 Staff time E.6.6 50,000 U.2.4 20,000 

E.2.2 6,000 E.3.1 250,000 C.1.2 Budgeted O.1.3 Staff time U.3.3 Staff time 

E.6.1 80,000 E.5.3 Staff time C.1.3 2,000 O.1.5 10,000 C.1.5 Budgeted 

E.7.1 Staff time E.6.2 20,000 C.1.4 500 O.1.6 5,000 C.3.1 1,500 

F.1.1 150,000 E.6.3 50,000 C.2.1 Staff time O.1.7 5,000 C.3.2 Staff time 

F.2.1 Staff time E.6.4 10,000 C.2.2 Staff time O.1.8 2,000 C.3.3 15,000 

F.3.1 200,000 E.6.5 Staff time C.2.3 2,500 O.1.9 500 C.5.3 Staff time 

F.3.2 Staff time E.7.2 Staff time C.4.1 5,000 O.2.3 Staff time C.5.4 Nil 

F.4.1 Staff time F.1.2 Staff time C.4.2 1,500 S.2.1 15,000 C.5.5 500 

S.1.1 70,000 F.2.2 Staff time C.5.1 600 S.3.3 40,000 C.6.1 Staff time 

M.1.2 40,000 O.1.1 Staff time C.5.2 Staff time S.3.4 20,000 C.6.2 Staff time 

M.1.3 Staff time O.1.2 TBD I.1.7 Staff time M.1.4 10,000 C.6.3 2,500 

M.6.1 50,000 O.1.4 Budgeted I.1.8 Staff time M.1.5 200,000 C.6.4 Staff time 

M.7.1 Staff time O.2.1 TBD TOTAL $967,500 

M.7.2 Staff time TOTAL $3,157,000 

M.7.3 TBD 

U.3.1 200,000 

I.1.1 Staff time 


I.1.3 70,000 




TOTAL $7,271,000 

TOTAL COST $11,411,500 

[Table 7.2: Expenditure for the WLEMP sorted according to priority. Shaded boxes represent actions that require ongoing funding on an annual basis. In these cases the amount 

shown is an approximate value per year and the total cost tallied at the bottom of the table represents the cost of implementing that action over 5 years. After this time the WLEMP 

will be formally reviewed] 

107


8 Relationship with other plans, strategies and studies 

The WLEMP is an important accompanying plan to the WLCMP, which was completed in draft form in 2001 and 

formally adopted in 2004. Numerous other advisory and regulatory plans feed into the WLCMP and WLEMP to form 

the planning framework for the maintenance and improvement of estuarine health (Figure 8.1). Sound scientific 

information forms the basis for these plans due to the suite of targeted scientific investigations conducted in the 

Lake. A brief outline of these plans and investigations can be found in section 13.1. 

Many of these advisory and regulatory plans were designed and implemented before the preparation of the 

WLCMP and WLEMP, making the Wallis Lake situation somewhat unique. Ordinarily these plans would be the 

outcome of recommended actions from the WLCMP and WLEMP, however the instantaneous need for 

management actions arising from the Wallis Lake oyster crisis in 1997 resulted in the preparation of the plans being 

bypassed to address issues of more immediate concern. The WLEMP was then put on hold from 1999 when 

funding was first obtained to await completion of the WLCMP due to a lack of resources to complete both plans 

simultaneously. 

[Plate 8.1: Cover page of the WLCMP, volume 2]. 

108


MANAGEMENT RELATED SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS 

• Identification of urban and rural inputs to sediments in 


• Benthic nutrient fluxes in Wallis Lake 

• The Wallis Lake catchment assessment – Water quality 

program 

• Nutrient tracing and performance testing of water quality 

for catchment management in NSW estuaries 

• Seagrass change assessment using satellite data for 


• Wallis Lake estuary processes study 

• Floodplain management studies 

Scientific input 

to plans 

ADVISORY AND/OR REGULATORY PLANS AND PROGRAMS 

• Lower Wallamba River rivercare plan 

• Great Lakes waterways recreation strategy 

• Wallis Lake stormwater management plan 

• Wetland management strategy 

• Foreshore management plans 

• Darawakh drainage management plan 

• Healthy lakes program 

• Estuary general fishery management strategy 

• Forster/Tuncurry conservation and development strategy 

• Forster/Tuncurry, Wallamba River and Wallis Lake foreshore 

floodplain management plans 

Review as necessary 

WALLIS LAKE 

ESTUARY 

MANAGEMENT 

PLAN 

WALLIS LAKE 

CATCHMENT 

MANAGEMENT 

PLAN 

Figure 8.1: The planning framework for the maintenance and improvement of estuarine health adopted by the WLEMC. Note however that 

rather than existing as stand alone documents, many of these plans and strategies are integrated. 

109

110 

[Figure 9.1: Legislation, policies and conventions that make up the natural resource planning framework and can be used as 

tools to implement the WLEMP and WLCMP (Modified from the WLCMP)] 

International Environmental 

Conventions to which 

Australia is a signatory 

__________ 

Wetlands of International Importance 

International Trade in Endangered 

Species of Wild Flora and Fauna 

Japan Australia Migratory Bird 

Agreement 

China Australia Migratory Bird 

Agreement 

Conservation of Migratory Species of 

Wild Animals 

Prevention of Marine Pollution by 

Dumping of Wastes and Other 

Matter 

Agenda 21 

International Convention on 

Biological Diversity 

Framework Convention on Climate 

Change 

Protection of the Ozone Layer 

National Environmental 

Strategies and Programs 

__________ 

National Strategy for Ecologically 

Sustainable Development 

National Strategy for the 

Conservation of Australia’s Biological 

Diversity 

Endangered Species Protection Act 

Environmental Protection and 

Biodiversity Conservation Bill 

Framework for Water Reform 

Intergovernmental Agreement on the 

Environment 

National Groundwater Protection 

Plan 

National Weed Strategy 

National Wetlands Program 

National Feral Animal Control 

Program 

National Principles for the Provision 

of Water for Ecosystems 

National Water Quality 

State and Regional Strategies and Plans 

__________ 

Natural Resources Management Bill 

Catchment Blueprint; 

Water Act 

Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 

Fisheries Management Act 

National Parks and Wildlife Act 

Native Vegetation Act; 

Noxious Weeds Act 

Groundwater Quality Protection Policy 

NSW Wetlands Management Policy 

Protection of the Environment (Operations) Act 

Rivers and Foreshores Improvements Act 

Threatened Species Conservation Act 

NSW Biodiversity Strategy 

NSW Coastal Policy 

State Rivers and Estuaries Policies 

Lower North Coast Catchment Management Plan 

NSW Coastal Flood Prone Lands Policy 

Wallis Lake Estuary 

Management Plan 

and Wallis Lake 

Catchment 

Management Plan 

__________ 

The WLEMP and WLCMP 

are regional plans that 

have a statutory basis 

A number of existing legislation, policies and international conventions interact with the WLEMP and WLCMP, and 

by utilising these where appropriate the management objectives of the WLEMP are more likely to be realised. A 

detailed summary of the legislation, policies, strategies, principles and plans relevant to the WLEMP is given in 

Appendix 1 of the WLCMP. 

9 Existing legislation, policies and conventions 

Wallis Lake Estuary Management Plan


10 Acronyms and abbreviations 

ANZECC Australia New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council 

ASS Acid Sulfate Soils 

CAMBA Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the People's Republic of 

China for the Protection of Migratory Birds and their Environment 

CDS Conservation and Development Strategy 

Chl. a Chlorophyll a 

CMA Hunter/Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority 

CoP Code of Practice 

CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 

DCP Development Control Plan 

DEC Department of Environment and Conservation * 

DPI 

Department of Primary Industries 

EGFMS Estuary General Fishery Management Strategy 

EIS 

Environmental Impact Statement 

Fish Coop Wallis Lake Fishermen’s Cooperative Ltd 

Food Authority NSW Food Authority 

Forster ALC Forster Local Aboriginal Lands Council 

GLC Great Lakes Council 

GPT Gross Pollutant Trap 

GTCC Greater Taree City Council 

HLP Healthy Lakes Program 

JAMBA Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Japan for the Protection 

of Migratory Birds in Danger of Extinction and their Environment 

Lands NSW Department of Lands 

LEP Local Environment Plan 

LNCCMB Lower North Coast Catchment Management Board 

MidCoast MidCoast Water 

MPA Marine Protected Area 

NH4 Dissolved Ammonia 

NOx Oxidised Nitrogen (nitrates and nitrites) 

NSW Ag Agriculture NSW 

Ocean Watch Ocean Watch Australia Ltd 

OISAS Oyster Industry Sustainable Aquaculture Strategy 

PO4 Filterable Reactive Phosphorous 

QAP Quality Assurance Program 

RVCP Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol 

SEPP14 State Environmental Planning Policy No. 14 – Coastal Wetlands 

SEPP35 State Environmental Planning Policy No. 35 – Maintenance Dredging of Tidal Waterways 

SEPP62 State Environmental Planning Policy No. 62 – Sustainable Aquaculture 

SEPP71 State Environmental Planning Policy No. 71 – Coastal Protection 

SMP Seagrass Monitoring Program 

SoE State of the Environment 

* The Environment Protection Authority and National Parks and Wildlife Service both now operate under the Department of Environment 

and Conservation 

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sp 

A single species 

spp 

Multiple species belonging to the same genus 

SQID Stormwater Quality Improvement Device 

TN 

Total Nitrogen 

TP 

Total Phosphorous 

WaLI group Wallis Lake Catchment Management Plan Implementation Group ** 

Waterways MSB Waterways Authority 

WLCMP Wallis Lake Catchment Management Plan 

WLEMC Wallis Lake Estuary Management Committee 

WLEMIC Wallis Lake Estuary Management Implementation Committee 

** The WaLI group is represented by NSW DPI, DIPNR, and GLC 

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11 Glossary 

Aesthetic: 

Acid Sulfate Soil: 

Aquaculture: 

Biodiversity: 

A theory as to what is beautiful or appealing. In this plan the aesthetic amenity of the 

estuary is a combination of scenic attributes and water quality. 

‘Soils containing materials that are rich in sulfides, primarily pyrite, which when oxidised 

produce acidity in excess of the sediments capacity to neutralise the acidity resulting in 

soils of pH 4 or less’ (LNCCMB, 2002). 

‘Farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants’ 

(LNCCMB, 2002). 

‘The variety of life forms, the different plants, animals and microorganisms, the genes they 

contain and the ecosystems they form’ (LNCCMB, 2002). 

Catchment: ‘The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries’ (LNCCMB, 2002). 

Commercial: 

Cultural: 

Denitrification: 

Ecosystem: 

Pertaining to business related activity resulting in profit. 

In reference to values pertaining to the Aboriginal community including language, songs, 

art, customs, beliefs and environmental knowledge; and physical attributes such as 

artefacts, scar trees, carvings and burial and ceremonial places. 

The microbial reduction of nitrate to di-nitrogen gas. 

‘Communities of organisms and their physical environment interacting as a unit’ (LNCCMB, 

2002). 

Effluent: ‘Human and animal waste in a liquid form’ (LNCCMB, 2002). 

Environmental: 

Estuary: 

Eutrophication: 

Faecal coliforms: 

Relating to the natural world including the physical, chemical and biological components 

and the way in which they interact. 

‘The tidal portions of river mouths, bays and coastal lagoons, irrespective of whether they 

are dominated by hypersaline, marine or fresh water conditions’ (Hutchings & Collett 

1977). Included in this definition are inter-tidal wetlands, where water levels can vary in 

response to the tidal levels of the adjacent waterway, together with perched freshwater 

swamps, as well as coastal lagoons that are intermittently connected to the ocean. 

The collapse of a marine, estuarine or aquatic ecosystem due to excessive algal blooms, 

accumulation of nutrients in sediments, and low levels of dissolved oxygen. 

‘Bacteria which inhabits the intestines of humans and other animals, and are present in 

faeces. Their presence in water quality testing indicates faecal contamination of water and 

that other more serious pathogens may also be present’ (LNCCMB, 2002). 

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Filamentous: 

Hydrodynamics: 

Hydrographic: 

Riparian vegetation: 

Recreational: 

Social: 

Long and thread-like. 

The study of fluids in motion. 

Of or relating to the studies of the Earth’s surface waters. 

‘Vegetation situated on or belonging to a river or a streambank including mangroves’ 

(LNCCMB, 2002). 

Activities undertaken for enjoyment, pleasure and/or relaxation including games and 

sports. 

Activities in which people meet each other for enjoyment. In the context of the WLEMP, to 

improve the social values of Wallis Lake is to enhance the enjoyment of groups of people 

who meet informally on and around the estuary. 

Water Sensitive Urban Design: ‘A design approach that endeavours to highlight stormwater treatment and use as 

a primary urban design feature' (LNCCMB, 2002). 

Wetlands: 

‘Land areas along fresh and salt water courses that are flooded all or part of the time, 

leading to the development of a characteristic suite of plant and animal communities and 

determining the type and productivity of soils’ (LNCCMB, 2002). 

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12 References 

ANZECC (2000) Australian national guidelines for cetacean observation and areas of special interest for cetacean 

observation. Environment Australia. 

ANZECC (2002) Australian and New Zealand water quality guidelines. ANZECC. 

Australian Water and Coastal Studies Pty Ltd (1993) Pipers Creek in Wallis Lake waterway improvement study, 

Report 93/15 March 93, Prepared for Great Lakes Council, Forster, NSW. 

Browne G. and Scott P. R. (1985) Wallis Lake and estuarine foreshore study and outline plan. Prepared for the 

Wallis Lake and estuarine foreshores interdepartmental advisory committee. 

Carter G. (1999) Beyond the courtroom – Wallis Lake catchment assessment program, in proceedings of the 9 th 

Annual NSW Coastal Conference, NSW Coastal Council, NSW. 

Carter S. (1995) Coastal resource atlas for oil spills from Crowdy Head to Port Stephens. Prepared for the 

Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Environment Protection Authority, Chatswood, NSW. 

Curlew Biological Services (2000) Survey of fish and aquatic invertebrates of Darawakh Creek, north of Forster. 

Prepared for Great Lakes Council, Forster, NSW. 

Dekker A. G., Anstee J. M. and Brando V. E. (2003) Seagrass change assessment using satellite data for Wallis 

Lake. CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, Technical Report 13/03. 

Frohoff T. and Frohoff J. (1995) Summary of workshop on small cetacean/human interactions: research and 

management. Website: http://www.oceania.org.au/soundnet/information/dolconf.html 

Great Lakes catchment management steering committee (2001) Wallis Lake catchment management plan. Great 

Lakes Council, Forster, NSW. 

Great Lakes Council (1999) The Great Lakes community profile, Forster, NSW. 

Great Lakes Council (2003) Forster/Tuncurry conservation development strategy. 

Great Lakes Council (2003) Lower Wallamba River, rivercare plan. 

Harris G. (2001) Wallis Lake and its catchments: An overview and synthesis of existing data, in the Wallis Lake 

Catchment Management Plan. Great Lakes Council, Forster, NSW. 

Jelliffe Environmental (1998) Great Lakes waterways recreation strategy study. Prepared for Great Lakes Council, 

Forster, NSW. 

Jelliffe Environmental and Institute for Sustainable Futures (1999) Wallis Lake stormwater source control study. 

Prepared for Great Lakes Council, Forster, NSW, and The Commonwealth Government. 

115


Logan G. A., MacPhail M., Fredericks D., Smith C. and Heggie D. (2001) Identification of urban and rural inputs to 

sediments in Lake Wallis. Australian Geological Survey Organisation Professional Opinion No. 2001/02. 

Lower North Coast Catchment Management Board (2002) Integrated Catchment Management Plan for the Lower 

North Coast. Published by NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources. 

Marine Parks Authority (2001) Developing a representative system of marine protected areas in NSW – an 

overview. Summary document, Sydney, NSW. 

Marr N. (2000) Aboriginal history of the Great Lakes District, in Great Lakes community profile, Great Lakes 

Council. 

MidCoastWater (2000) Small communities’ wastewater risk assessment. MidCoastWater, Taree, NSW. 

New South Wales Government (1992) Estuary management manual. 

NSW DPI (1999) Policy and guidelines: Aquatic habitat management and fish conservation. (Eds. A. K. Smith and 

D. A. Pollard) NSW DPI, Port Stephens Research Centre, NSW. 

NSW DPI (2001) New South Wales commercial fisheries statistics 1999/00. (Eds. M. Tanner and G. W. Liggins) 

NSW DPI, Cronulla, NSW. 

NSW DPI (2002) Draft habitat protection plan (No 6) Wallis Lake. NSW DPI, Port Stephens Research Centre, NSW. 

NSW DPI (2002) Draft Indigenous fishing strategy and implementation plan. NSW DPI, Cronulla, NSW. 

Smith C. S. and Heggie D. T. (2003) Benthic nutrient fluxes in Wallis Lake, NSW – Feb 2003. Geoscience Australia 

Record 2003/XX. 

Smith C. S., Heggie D. T., Fredericks D. J., Palmer D. W. and Logan G. A. (2000) Benthic nutrient fluxes in Wallis 

Lake. Australian Geological Survey Organisation professional opinion No. 2000/35. 

Steffe A. S. and Chapman D. J. (2003) A survey of daytime recreational fishing during the annual period, March 

1999 to February 2000, in Lake Macquarie, New South Wales. NSW DPI, Cronulla, NSW. 

Stone Y., Ahern C. R. and Blunden B. (1998) Acid sulfate soils management guidelines. Acid Sulfate Soil Manual. 

Published by the Australian Acid Sulfate Soil Management Advisory Committee, Wollongbar, NSW, Australia. 

Webb, McKeown & Associates (1999) Wallis Lake estuary processes study. Prepared for Great Lakes Council, 

Forster, NSW. 

West R. J. Thorogood C., Walford T. and Williams R. J. (1985) An estuarine inventory for New South Wales, 

Australia. Department of Agriculture, NSW. 

Wetland Care Australia (2003) Darawakh drainage management project. Prepared for Great Lakes Council, Forster, 

NSW. 

116


White I. (2001) Safeguarding environmental conditions for oyster cultivation in New South Wales. For NSW Healthy 

Rivers Commission. 

Willing & Partners (1997) Wallamba riverbank erosion management plan. Prepared for Great Lakes Council, 

Forster, NSW. 

Willing & Partners Pty Ltd (1996) Wallis Lake data compilation study. Prepared for Great Lakes Council, Forster, 

NSW. 

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13 Appendices 

13.1 A summary of existing plans, strategies and studies related to the WLEMP 

13.1.1 Wallis Lake catchment management plan 

The WLCMP advocates an integrated catchment management approach to ‘protect and enhance the natural 

resources and biodiversity of the Wallis Lake catchment and estuary’. Integrated catchment management 

recognises the inextricable link between land use and water quality and aims to provide holistic solutions that are 

concurrent with the goals of maintaining estuarine health, human health and local industries. The motto ‘healthy 

catchment = healthy seagrass = healthy future’ is born from this philosophy. 

The broad objectives of the WLCMP are to ensure that: 

• productive capabilities of the catchment are maintained for the long term 

• ecosystem services continue to operate in the long term, and 

• water is of a suitable water quality for all its uses. 

A major concern identified by the catchment community is declining water quality, especially problems associated 

with increased nutrient and sediment loads to the Lake. Current nutrient loads are unsustainable in the long term 

and thereby have the potential to adversely impact on estuary functioning in the future resulting in increased 

occurrences of algal blooms and fish kills. 

Other pressures on the sustainable use and ecological functioning of the catchment and estuary identified in this 

plan include faecal contamination, acid sulfate leachate, habitat loss, weed invasion, sedimentation of waterways 

and erosion. 

Some of the resultant actions from the WLCMP include: 

• implementation of waterskiing and wakeboarding restrictions on the Wallamba River 

• an oyster lease maintenance dredging program is close to completion 

• establishment of a riverbank erosion program on the lower Wallamba River 

• water and sediment quality studies during spring and summer months 

• development of a seagrass monitoring program 

• ensuring all new houseboats contain greywater holding tanks 

• increasing community awareness of estuarine biodiversity conservation (through avenues such as the 

HLP) 

• mapping of catchment vegetation 

• development of property agreements for areas of regionally significant vegetation or habitat 

• implementation of the Wallis Lake stormwater source control study, and 

• providing financial assistance to landholders to fence off cattle from riparian zones through a devolved 

grant system. 

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13.1.2 The Lower Wallamba River Rivercare plan 

The Lower Wallamba River Rivercare plan, 2003, is designed to assist landholders with the restoration and 

sustainable management of the estuary for future generations. Recommendations for on-ground works for each 

property and broad estuary management strategies and options are communicated for the ~27 km of estuary and 

surrounding land the plan covers. 

This plan aims to address existing problems along the Wallamba River and assist landholders in making educated 

property management decisions that are consistent with the objectives of the business as well as the long term 

ecological health of the estuary. More specifically, the plan seeks to identify strategies to restore, rehabilitate and 

maintain the estuarine environment by: 

• reducing the impact of stock on the riparian zone by fencing and providing alternative shade 

• determining best management practices of foreshore reserves to improve and protect natural values of 

the river and lake system 

• recommending GLC investigate the possibility of dedicating all foreshore reserves for environmental 

protection 

• recommending Waterways develop a boating management plan 

• assessing the long term impacts of waterskiing and wakeboarding on the Wallamba River and 

mitigating these effects as necessary, and 

• improving fish passage in the Wallamba River. 

All stakeholders from the community, local government and state authorities were involved in the development of 

the plan and hence implementation of the plan is a collaborative effort from all of these groups. Every 5 yrs the plan 

will be formally reviewed by GLC to assess the effectiveness of the rivercare planning process. This plan will 

replace the Wallamba River Bank Erosion Management Plan that was prepared in 1997. 

13.1.3 Wallis Lake foreshore management plan 

The Wallis Lake foreshore management plan was commenced in 2005 to manage the Wallis Lake foreshore on an 

estuary wide basis. As recommended in the WLCMP, a holistic approach to foreshore management is required for 

Wallis Lake to protect important habitat areas such as mangroves, salt marshes and areas susceptible to erosion. 

Foreshore management plans already in existence for certain areas of the Lake would be reviewed and become 

chapters of the Wallis Lake foreshore management plan. 

13.1.4 Great Lakes waterways recreation strategy study 

The Great Lakes waterways recreation strategy study was conducted to coordinate recreational use and the 

provision and maintenance of infrastructure to facilitate recreational waterway usage. This strategy aimed to: 

• establish an inventory of existing facilities 

• identify present and future demand for recreational boating facilities 

• determine the adequacy of the current facilities, and 

• determine suitable sites for new facilities. 

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The ‘facilities’ managed in this strategy were public boat launching ramps and jetties, and the ancillary facilities 

associated with these including: lighting, toilets, play areas, car parking, fish cleaning tables, taps, signs, picnic 

tables, BBQs, shelters, rigging areas and fish weighing structures. In addition to this the issues of dredging for 

navigation or access purposes, pumpout facilities and the provision of moorings were addressed. 

With boat ownership and population growth increasing and road conditions improving from major city centres, 

demand on these facilities and use of the Lake is set to increase especially during peak periods. An important 

action to emerge from this strategy for Wallis Lake was to determine the sustainable carrying capacity of the Lake 

for recreational boat usage. Once this is known recreational boat usage can be managed at a sustainable level by 

limiting facilities such as ramp parking space and controlling overflow parking during peak periods. 

The Parks and Recreation Department of GLC are currently updating this strategy, which will become the Wallis 

lake boating plan of management. 

13.1.5 Wallis Lake stormwater management plan 

The Wallis Lake stormwater management plan was determined how best to allocate council funds in addition to the 

$400,000 grant provided to GLC by the Commonwealth Government under the Commonwealth Coasts & Clean 

Seas Program. This plan recognises that in addition to ‘end-of-pipe’ stormwater pollution control measures at the 

Lake interface, management must occur at the source for long term significant reductions in stormwater pollutants 

to occur. 

The overall objectives of this plan are: 

• to identify and rank land uses and sub-catchments which are significant contributors of pollutants to 

sensitive waterways, and 

• to identify, evaluate and rank stormwater quality control options for reducing pollution from subcatchments 

identified as being significant contributors of pollution. 

The Wallis Lake stormwater source control study helped to rank and prioritise sub-catchments for stormwater 

management purposes. For this study the export of nitrogen, phosphorous, sediments and Escherichia coli from 

various sub-catchments was determined using the catchment model AQUALM-XP. 

Special priority was given to ecologically significant areas and areas where the receiving waters had considerably 

long residence times. Long residence times mean that organisms are exposed to pathogenic and heavy metal 

pollution for a longer period of time, and that nutrient pollution is biologically available for a longer period of time 

increasing the risk of excessive plant growth in receiving waters. 

Areas of highest priority for stormwater quality management were sub-catchments in Forster that drain the more 

densely developed parts of Forster, including the golf course. These sub-catchments drain into Breckenridge 

Channel and Pipers Creek, which are areas used for primary contact recreation and oyster growing and with 

confined flow respectively. 

Recommendations made in this plan include major and minor-engineered measures, economic and community 

based measures and infra-structural measures. 

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Actions that were a direct or integrated result of this plan include: 

• the construction of artificial wetlands at Townsend Street, Bramble Parade, Goldens Road and Kularoo 

Drive 

• installation of GPTs in Pipers Creek, and on Little Street in Breckenridge Channel 

• the employment of a stormwater education Officer, and 

• development of a stormwater strategy for the Pipers Creek catchment L leg. 

It is recommended in this plan that stormwater pollution in Wallis Lake that is diffuse (or non-point) in origin is best 

managed by following the actions of the WLCMP. 

This plan is due to be updated by GLC in 2005. 

13.1.6 Healthy Lakes program 

The healthy lakes program was initiated by GLC in mid 2001. The program was initially designed as an educational 

tool for the entire community to convey information on the health of the catchment and estuarine system. It has 

since evolved into a partnership between the community and council and now oversees a number of self-sustaining 

community-run projects designed to monitor, maintain and improve water quality in the Wallis Lake estuary system. 

The program is primarily directed at businesses, builders and residents, as a coordinated approach to 

environmental best practice by these community groups could potentially result in considerable improvements to 

water quality. 

At present there are approximately 120 participants in the healthy lakes business program (HLBP) that is designed 

to assist a range of businesses in developing and implementing best environmental management strategies. 

The development of residential sub-catchment programs has facilitated the dissemination of information regarding 

the environmental issues of individual sub-catchments. Residents are educated on the areas within their subcatchment 

that need addressing and the possible impacts that activities of individual households can have on Wallis 

Lake water quality. Workshops run by council concerning issues such as gardening practices, residential carwash 

and revegetation programs are to begin in 2004 with the aim of providing each group with the tools to manage their 

own sub-catchment. 

As part of the HLP, members of the building and development industry are working with GLC to produce a DCP 

regarding water sensitive urban design. The plan will cover the scale from the entire development to the individual 

allotment. The need to produce a DCP that is workable with the industry is recognised and has resulted in regular 

site tours and training groups by council. Further, both internal and external reference groups have been set up as 

part of this process and collectively decisions will be made on the type of DCP and what it will include. 

An extension of the HLP is the seagrass monitoring program initiated in 2002. Seagrass is a very sensitive indicator 

of pollution and hence serves as a barometer of catchment health. This program is coordinated by GLC and has 

overseen the training of members of the community, industry, Great Lakes Environmental Association and GLC in 

techniques and equipment to monitor seagrass beds within Wallis Lake on a seasonal basis. 

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In addition to the above mentioned programs and projects a number of constructed works and services are also 

coordinated under the HLP, such as the provision of litter baskets and construction of artificial wetlands and gross 

pollutant traps. 

13.1.7 Darawakh drainage management plan 

The Darawakh drainage management plan was recently drafted in September 2003 to improve water quality 

discharges which are adversely affecting the estuary ecology, recreational amenity, oyster aquaculture and fishing 

industries. Past drainage works in the Darawakh wetland and Frogalla swamp have disturbed ASS, exporting acid 

products and resulting in severe water acidity in the mid to upper reaches of the Darawakh drainage system 

(Curlew Biological Services, 2000). This water, along with large quantities of iron mobilised by the acid, ultimately 

makes its way into the Wallamba River, which is significantly impacted especially during periods of heavy rain and 

hence high flow. 

This project was critical in providing landholders with an understanding of the water quality issues they currently 

face. Community engagement was an integral part of this plan in order to gain knowledge of local drainage patterns 

and drainage requirements and devise a range of remediation works and management strategies that will be 

embraced by landholders. Much of the outcomes of this plan rely on voluntary landholder adoption of the 

recommended management strategies, therefore emphasis was placed on developing ‘home-grown’, low cost and 

low impact solutions over highly engineered, costly measures. 

Some of the proposed management actions are to: 

• block the flow of acid groundwater leaving the study area via the constructed drains 

• reinstate the natural overland flows of surface water leaving the study area via the original channel and 

floodway of Darawakh Creek 

• reinstate tidal exchange and natural flood flows through the lower reaches of Darawakh Creek by 

removing the derelict floodgate headwall at the mouth 

• remove all cattle from the wetland 

• consolidate the wetland into a single landholding for environmental management purposes, and 

• establish a process whereby landholders can achieve increased development entitlements on the 

dryland parts of their holdings as an equitable offset for dedicating their wetlands to Great Lakes 

Council for acid drainage remediation purposes. 

However, in addition to the above actions it was acknowledged in the plan that the most cost-effective option in the 

long term may be land acquisition or some other means of transferring use rights. 

13.1.8 Estuary general fishery management strategy 

The estuary general fishery management strategy was prepared by NSW DPI in 2003 to comprehensively manage 

the State’s commercial estuarine general fishery. This fishery targets around 80 species using 17 different types of 

fishing gear in approximately 100 estuaries that are either permanently open or temporarily open and closed on the 

NSW coast. The long term goal of this strategy is: 

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To have a more profitable Estuary General Fishery with a smaller number of operators which provides the 

community with fresh local seafood and bait, and uses fishing gear in an ecologically sustainable manner. 

Although not specific to Wallis Lake, many of the recommendations in the strategy will significantly affect the 

manner in which the Wallis Lake fishery is conducted due to the habitat values in the area. Fore example, it is 

recommended that a code of conduct be developed for activities operating on or near seagrass, saltmarsh or 

mangrove habitat. Given that Wallis Lake contains 20% of the State’s seagrass and 7% of the State’s remaining 

saltmarsh communities, a recommendation such as this will more greatly affect the Wallis Lake general fishery. 

This strategy comprehensively addresses many of the issues faced by the commercial estuary general fishery, 

however at this stage very little is known about the recreational fishery. Recreational anglers target many of the 

same species as commercial fishers, yet the recreational fishing effort and catch is not known. This will need to be 

assessed in Wallis Lake and the rest of the State’s estuaries in the near future to holistically manage the resource. 

13.1.9 Forster/Tuncurry conservation and development strategy 

The conservation and development strategy represents a 20 year framework for future development in the Wallis 

Lake area. Drafted in September 2003, it aims to: 

• identify and protect significant environmental assets (the conservation framework) 

• identify land suitable for future urban growth (urban development strategy), and 

• provide a framework for providing orderly, efficient and qualitative growth. 

This strategy was strongly influenced by the principles of ecologically sustainable development. Hence it presents a 

vision for urban growth to occur within the limits of the regional carrying capacity and for all community members 

now and in the future to maintain and improve their quality of life. In the Wallis Lake context, future urban growth 

must also be concurrent with the GLC policy of ensuring no nett increase in pollutants to Wallis Lake. 

Land suitable for future growth was identified by a stepwise process of first removing areas of significant 

conservation value such as National Park; State Forest; corridors; key, high and medium habitat value areas; 

aquifer and recharge areas; SEPP 14 and SEPP 26 areas. Then the land left over from this step was assessed for 

its suitability for development based on the location or capacity to provide community services and infrastructure. 

Based on this process, areas with high potential for future development are: 

• Nabiac 

• Point Road, Tuncurry 

• Pipers Creek, Forster 

• South Forster 

• Green Point, and 

• Smiths Lake. 

This strategy will ensure that any future development that occurs in these identified areas will be strategic in terms 

of the timing of release of land and design to ensure maintenance of green areas, thus preventing urban sprawl. 

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Recommendations from the conservation strategy were employed in the CDS, however this will soon be replaced 

by the biodiversity strategy that is currently being prepared. When this occurs it is recommended that the 

conservation zones of the CDS be reviewed. 

13.1.10 Forster/Tuncurry Floodplain Management Plan 

The Forster/Tuncurry Floodplain Management Plan, finalised in 1998, provides the ‘basis for future management of 

flood liable lands and the management of development within the Forster and Tuncurry floodplain areas’. Structural 

(ie. levees and dredging) as well as non-structural (effective flood warning and evacuation systems) options were 

investigated and evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing flood damages. Non-structural options were deemed 

to be most cost-effective, and the following key measures were recommended: 

• flood forecasting system 

• preparation of a detailed evacuation plan 

• flood awareness and public education 

• voluntary house raising, and 

• planning and development controls. 

13.1.11 Wallamba River Floodplain risk management plan for Nabiac, Failford and 

Minimbah areas 

The Wallamba River floodplain risk management plan concentrates on extent of flooding from the Wallamba River 

only and the risk to surrounding buildings where data is available. The document proposes methods of dealing with 

existing, future and continuing flood risk. In summary, six prioritised actions were proposed: 

• updating development controls to manage future flood risk 

• flood planning, education, awareness and data collection to manage continuing flood risk 

• timely review this floodplain risk management plan following completion of investigations into the 

tributaries or at a maximum of 5 year intervals 

• upgrading of access issues in key areas as identified in emergency management planning including 

Willow Point Road at Failford and Glen Ora Road at Minimbah 

• voluntary house raising to manage existing flood risk, and 

• voluntary purchase to manage existing flood risk where dwellings cannot be raised. 

13.1.12 Wallis Lake wetland management strategy 

GLC aims to begin preparing a wetland management strategy in 2005 to addresses the recommendations made in 

the wetlands action plan of the WLCMP. The anticipated goals of this plan will be to identify the wetland areas in 

Wallis Lake, apply for RAMSAR listing of the wetlands under the international convention, and then implement best 

practice management guidelines and management criteria under the RAMSAR convention to conserve and 

enhance existing wetlands. 

13.1.13 Identification of urban and rural inputs to sediments in Wallis Lake – Chief 

Investigators: Logan G. A., MacPhail M., Fredericks D., Smith C. and Heggie D. (2001) 

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This study was conducted in response to the identification of nutrient and animal faecal pollution in areas of Wallis 

Lake during the estuarine processes study (Webb, McKeown and Associates). In order for adequate management 

controls to be implemented addressing this issue more information was required on the sources and sinks of this 

pollution. This is typically a difficult task due to the physical processes of tides and run-off as well as other climatic 

and biological factors contributing to the complex movement of pollutants once they have entered the estuarine 

environment. 

Lipid biomarkers and pollen analysis were used in this study as tracers of nutrient and faecal pollution. Lipid 

biomarkers are of biological origin and can be very specific to groups of organisms such as types of phytoplankton 

or terrestrial plants. In addition to this certain biomarkers can be used to assess the source and degree of faecal 

contamination. 

Different types of pollen can be visually distinctive, and can therefore be traced back to the parent plant or plant 

communities. This allows an indication of various sediment sources and sedimentation rates within Wallis Lake. 

The composition of lipid biomarkers and pollen in sediment samples at potential end members of rural and urban 

inputs was assessed. The lipid biomarkers and pollen composition was found to be indicative of certain catchments, 

thus allowing the input of organic matter into the Lake from these areas to be mapped. 

No evidence of faecal input was found at any of the sites surveyed. However, herbivore faecal contamination was 

detected in sediments at the end member sites of the Wallamba and Coolongolook/Wang Wauk Rivers. 

This study identified a number of indicators that can be used to monitor faecal contamination in sediments and 

sedimentation rates. These indicators will prove to be very useful when assessing any potential benefits from 

implementation of estuary and catchment management programs for erosion or nutrient/faecal pollution control. 

13.1.14 Benthic nutrient fluxes in Wallis Lake – Chief Investigators: Smith C. S., Heggie D. T., 

Fredericks D. J., Palmer D. W. and Logan G. A. (2000 and 2003) 

Benthic nutrient fluxes are a measure of the transport of nutrients between the bottom sediments and the overlying 

water column. By quantifying these transports we can calculate the denitrification efficiency of benthic sediments. 

Denitrification is an important natural way for estuaries to cleanse themselves of excess nitrogen. It is a process by 

which nitrogen from plant organic material is converted to nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria and lost to the 

atmosphere. If this process is not operating efficiently, the organic nitrogen is instead converted to dissolved 

inorganic forms (nitrate, nitrite and ammonia) and is available for plant growth. 

If the dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentration exceeds the assimilative capacity of the system, eutrophication can 

occur. Eutrophication is a process of excess plant growth resulting in algal blooms, particularly of phytoplankton and 

free floating macroalgae. This is particularly detrimental to seagrasses, which can then be out-competed due to 

shading. 

Therefore by measuring the benthic nutrient fluxes of Wallis Lake sediments assessments can be made on the 

trophic state of the water body and risk of eutrophication at specific study sites. 

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Two studies were conducted whereby the benthic nutrient fluxes were measured under winter conditions (June 

2000) and summer conditions (Feb 2003) at 6 sites in total (Pipers Creek, Wallis Creek and Central Basin, Muddy 

Creek, Coolongolook and Wallamba Rivers). In winter sediments from all sites were found to have high 

denitrification efficiencies (66-100%), especially in comparison with other Australian estuaries. However, during 

summer the denitrification efficiencies measured were reduced with higher amounts of ammonia being released 

from sediments. This was particularly the case at the Pipers Creek site with a summertime denitrification efficiency 

of just 38%. This value is below the 40% value that is thought to be an important indicator of deteriorating water and 

sediment quality. 

A number of processes are thought to influence denitrification efficiencies in sediments including the oxygen 

concentration of the overlying water, irrigation by infauna, carbon loads to the sediments and the presence of 

benthic algae and vascular plants. In Wallis Lake, particularly at Pipers Creek, it is likely that one or more of these 

factors is altered under summertime conditions and detrimentally affects denitrification efficiencies. 

Therefore during summer there is a greater flux of ammonia out of the sediments into the water column increasing 

the risk of algal blooms and eutrophication. This risk is enhanced even more with the warmer water temperatures 

experienced during summer. 

13.1.15 The Wallis Lake catchment assessment – Water quality program – Chief 

Investigator: Carter G. (1998 – ongoing) 

This study was designed and is conducted by DIPNR to assess water quality entering the Wallis Lake estuary 

system from the freshwater catchment. The program involves sampling the freshwater end point of the 

Coolongolook, Wang Wauk and Wallamba Rivers for nutrient, sediment and faecal material on a monthly basis. 

Event based sampling is also conducted to assess the water quality entering the system during periods of heavy 

rainfall. 

Under dry base flow conditions, water quality parameters meet the criteria of the ANZECC (2002) guidelines and 

faecal coliform levels are low. During periods of heavy rainfall total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations 

double and faecal coliform levels increase by up to ten fold that of base flow conditions. The two more agriculturally 

developed catchments, the Wallamba and Wang Wauk, demonstrated the highest values. 

This program provides a valuable long-term data set to characterise baseline conditions of water quality. It will also 

serve as a useful monitoring program to assess improvements in water quality resulting from the implementation of 

remedial measures in the catchment. However, at this stage the program does not allow determination of the 

nutrient, sediment and faecal coliform dynamics once they have entered the estuarine system. 

13.1.16 Tracers and indicators of estuarine nutrients – Chief Investigators: Moore S. K. and 

Suthers I. M. (2005) 

Water quality in estuaries is a major component of all Estuary Management Plans, with implications for tourism and 

human health. The aim of this collaborative project with the University of New South Wales was to develop water 

quality testing methods to assess nutrient flows under flood and low flow regimes, and thereby develop general 

tools for assessing environmental rehabilitation efforts. 

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The project focuses on identifying nutrient sources in impacted catchments and determining the extent to which 

these nutrients are entering the estuarine food chain. The flow of nitrogen has been traced using a technique called 

stable isotope analysis. This technique uses the ratio of the heavy to light isotopes of nitrogen ( 15 N: 14 N) to provide a 

‘marker’ to trace energy transfers through food chains. Being stable, the isotopes do not degrade, are not 

radioactive and occur naturally in the environment. 

To determine the contribution of nutrients from the Wallamba River catchment to the estuarine food chain, the 

Pygmy mussel is used as a biological indicator. The nitrogen stable isotope ratio for various man-made nutrient 

sources is compared with that of the Pygmy mussel. It has been found that dense beds of Pygmy mussels are 

acting as a sink for much of the nutrient load entering the river. Both the stable isotope work and the results of a 

simple coupled physical-biological model developed for the Wallamba River support this. Therefore the Pygmy 

mussel could be playing a substantial role in the ability of the Wallamba River to assimilate much of the nutrient 

loads entering the estuary from this sub-catchment. 

The development of the Pygmy mussel as a biological indicator will be beneficial for the cost/benefit of the 

rehabilitation and preventative management of Wallis and Smiths Lakes by GLC. 

This project also used zooplankton size frequency distribution as an indicator for nutrient enrichment in Wallis Lake. 

Zooplankton are microscopic animals, mostly crustaceans, that live in the water column and have little control over 

their position in the water column. As a result of their poor swimming ability they are largely at the mercy of the tides 

and currents. 

13.1.17 Seagrass change assessment using satellite data for Wallis Lake – Chief 

Investigators: Dekker A. G., Anstee J. M. and Brando V. E. (2003) 

Seagrasses are important in maintaining the healthy functioning of estuarine ecosystems. Nutrient cycling, provision 

of habitat for larval fish and crustaceans and stabilisation of sediments are just some of the benefits of seagrass 

beds. Seagrasses are also very sensitive indicators of pollution and are hence considered to be a barometer of 

catchment health. 

Before the distribution of various seagrass species can be used in the ongoing assessment of catchment and 

estuarine health the natural variability in seagrass coverage must be known. To assess this long term data sets are 

required to achieve this as seagrass coverage can change naturally following wet years with higher frequencies of 

storms. This increases sediment loads to the seagrass causing shading and scouring. 

This study used 14 years of satellite imagery of Wallis Lake to assess long term changes in seagrass communities 

due to both natural and anthropogenic causes. Landsat satellite images are ‘calibrated’ with advanced processing 

methodologies using in situ field data to achieve optical closure. 

Between 1988 and 2002, there seems to be a gross loss Zostera spp, and little change in coverage of other 

seagrass species such as Posidonia australis, Ruppia sp and Halophila sp. Therefore future management and 

research efforts should be invested in determining the reasons for this change, be it natural or anthropogenic. This 

methodology is now a valuable tool in estuarine management and can be used to assess and predict any effects of 

current and future management practices. 

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13.2 The Wallis Lake Estuary Management Committee 

The following is a list of the major stakeholder groups represented by the Wallis Lake Estuary Management 

Committee as of April 2005. 

Amateur and Recreational Anglers 

Boatland Marine 

Booti Booti National Park 

Community 

Department of Environment and Conservation 

Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources 

Department of Lands 

Forster Local Aboriginal Lands Council 

Great Lakes Council representatives 

Great Lakes Environment Association 

Landcare 

Mid Coast Water 

MSB Waterways 

NSW Department of Primary Industries 

Oyster Farmers Association 

Wallis Lake Commercial Fishermen’s Cooperative 

Wallis Lake Shellfish Program & Graham Barclay Oysters 

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13.3 Submissions and consultations 

Stakeholder consultations 

Adrian Clayton Pacific Palms Kayak Tours Pacific Palms 

Andrew Read NSW DPI Taylors Beach 

Anna Kaliska Midcoast Water Taree 

Anthony Sciacca Sciacca MW & EA P/L Oyster Farmers Tuncurry 

Ashley Love National Parks and Wildlife Service Coffs Harbour 

Bill Amaroo Cruises Forster 

Bob Watson Boatshed No 1 Forster 

Bob Williamson MSB Waterways Forster 

Brian Brooker Manager Environmental Services, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Brian Hooper Community Representative Coomba 

Brian Salvia Community Representative Tuncurry 

Brian Semple Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Taree 

Bruce Nelon NSW Food Authority Newington 

Cam Cocchini Department of Lands Taree 

Charlie Hewitt Oceanwatch Pyrmont 

Chris Atchison Department of Lands Taree 

Chris Maconachie Forster Marina Harbour Master / Forster Beach Caravan Park Foster 

Col Worth Wang Wauk Landcare Group Coolongolook 

Colin Malakou Tikki Boatshed Forster 

Damian Ogburn Principal Manager Aquaculture, NSW DPI Taylors Beach 

Dave Rissik Estuaries Branch, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Sydney 

Resources 

David Bortfield Manager Parks and Recreation, Great Lakes Council Forster 

David Turner Department of the Environment and Conservation Booti Booti 

Deb Dixon Economic Development Manager, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Don Scifleet Community Representative Tuncurry 

Don Sheffield Forster Keys Progress and Ratepayers Association Forster 

Donna Donovan Community Representative Coomba 

Fay Logan Community Representative 

Geoff Foster Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Taree 

Gerard Tuckerman Manager Natural Systems, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Glenn Handford Director Planning and Environmental Services, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Graeme Watkins Midcoast Water Taree 

Greg Donovan Community Representative Coomba 

Greg Golby Community Representative Forster 

Gus Pelosi Estuaries Branch, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Sydney 

Resources 

Ian Andrews Community Representative 

Janet Hardacre Green Point Landcare Group / Green Point Progress Association Green Point 

Jim Hamilton Shalimar Ski and Caravan Park Tuncurry 

Jolanda Nayutah Forster Local Aboriginal Lands Council Forster 

John Martindale National Parks and Wildlife Service Coffs Harbour 

John Murrell Forster Keys Progress and Ratepayers Association Forster 

Kath Smith Great Lakes Environment Association Forster 

Kerrie Simmons Parks Officer, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Lynn Duffy Recreation Officer, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Malcolm Thompson Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol Forster 

Martin Angle District Inspector, NSW DPI Foster 

Mathew Bell Environmental Officer, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Matt Periera Wallis Lake Fishermen’s Cooperative Tuncurry 

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Peter Free Spirit Cruises Forster 

Phil Foggerty Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Taree 

Richard Bath Department of the Environment and Conservation Newcastle 

Richard Pratten Paradise Marina Forster 

Rob Yettica Forster Local Aboriginal Lands Council Forster 

Roger Busby Manager Strategic Planning, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Ross Bowen Great Lakes Environment Association Charlotte Bay 

Scott Carter NSW DPI Taylors Beach 

Stacey Tyack Stormwater Project Officer, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Steve McCorrie NSW DPI Taylors Beach 

Steve Verdich Verdich MS & Sons P/L Oyster Farmers Tuncurry 

Vicki Simpson Coomba Progress Association Coomba 

Warren Ireland Wallamba Ski Lodge Tuncurry 

Registered oral submissions during public meeting 

Bob Porter Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

Bruce Parsons Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

Bryon Boyd Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

Danny Elliott Wallis Lake Fishermen’s Cooperative representative Tuncurry 

Don Sheffield Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

Garry Cain Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

George Beverly Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

Gerard Tuckerman Manager Natural Systems, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Greg Golby Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

John Weate Councillor, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Kath Smith Great Lakes Environment Association Forster 

Naomi Stephenson Assistant Environmental Officer, Great Lakes Council Forster 

Phil Baker Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

Ronald Cook Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

Ross Betts Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

Thomas Keys Community representative Forster/Tuncurry 

Registered written submissions 

Greg Graham Community representative Coomba 

Jim Fletcher Community representative Failford 

Roy Simon Community representative Forster 

Jolanda Nayutah Forster Local Aboriginal Lands Council Forster 

Trevor Cooper Community representative Green Point 

Jacqui Keats Great Lakes Environment Association Inc. Forster 

Graeme Watkins Mid Coast Water Taree 

Matthew Pereira Wallis Lake Fishermen’s Cooperative Tuncurry 

Ross Cooke Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources Newcastle 

Scott Carter NSW Department of Primary Industries Nelson Bay 

Richard Pratten Paradise Marina Forster 

David Heyes BRP Australia Pty Ltd 

Richard Ellery Wallis Lake Shellfish Program Forster 

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13.4 Letter to landholders 

Contact: Ms Stephanie Moore 

Telephone: (02) 6591 7301 

Dear Sir/Madam 

21 November 2003 

RE: WALLIS LAKE ESTUARY MANAGEMENT PLAN 

Great Lakes Council is currently developing an Estuary Management Plan for Wallis Lake. This plan will be undertaken in 

partial fulfilment of the New South Wales Government’s Estuary Management Policy (1987) which aims to achieve 

integrated, balanced and ecologically sustainable use of the State’s estuaries. 

The Wallis Lake Estuary Management Plan will serve as a framework to guide all ‘on- and in- water’ and water edge 

management actions for the Lake and its associated tributaries. 

The ultimate goal of the plan is to produce a schedule of workable management strategies that have been developed with and 

are endorsed by all stakeholders in the Lake including the community, local government and state authorities. For this goal to 

be achieved it is important that consultation occurs so that any community concerns regarding the social, environmental, 

recreational and commercial amenity of the Lake can be dealt with in the Estuary Management Plan. 

All values and users of Wallis Lake are to be considered when developing strategies to achieve the following objectives: 

• conservation of aquatic and other wildlife habitat 

• conservation of the aesthetic values of estuaries and wetlands 

• prevention of further estuary degradation 

• repair of damage to the estuarine environment, and 

• sustainable use of estuarine resources, including commercial and recreational uses as appropriate. 

[New South Wales Government (1992) Estuary Management Manual] 

As a business-owner or property-owner with land bordering the Wallis Lake estuarine area, Great Lakes Council invite 

submissions and/or the opportunity for direct consultation with Environmental Officers on matters relevant to the 

development of the Estuary Management Plan. 

If you would like to meet with consultants to discuss matters relevant to the plan please contact us before Monday 29 

December 2003. 

Regards, 

Stephanie Moore 

Environmental Officer, Natural Systems & Estuaries 

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13.5 Issues raised during public meeting and with Forster Local Aboriginal 

Land Council 

Public meeting: 

• community education on natural resource management 

• presentations 

• local media and using community groups 

• schools 

• education opportunities to be made available within council 

• facilitation of more community groups eg Dads Army 

• employ a permanent estuary officer to implement WLEMP 

• natural resources council contacts to be clearly identified in phone book etc. 

• signage at specific foreshore sites outlining best practice waterway usage, and 

• increase communication between government authorities. 

Meeting at Forster Local Aboriginal Lands Council: 

• degradation of the tool site near the bridge at Forster from tourist interference and nearby construction works (in 

particular, trucks have been parking and driving over the site) 

• tourists leaving considerable amounts of rubbish on the islands 

• concern over any possible impacts on water quality in the estuary of the proposed Minimbah tip 

• concern over the sustainability of the aquifer on Aboriginal Land near the Wallamba River if it is mined 

• concern that the grey clay that has appeared at the Little Street bath in Forster in late December 2003 is 

causing skin rashes on children who regularly swim in the area, and that the weed growing inside the bath may 

be a safety risk to children swimming 

• concern that the Aboriginal Land at the end of Point Road, Tuncurry, handed over to GLC as a reserve may 

succumb to development pressure in the future 

• the desire for access from the Wallamba River waterway to the nursery run by the Forster Local Aboriginal 

Lands Council through the construction of a jetty 

• conflict between swimmers and jet skis in the island/entrance area of Wallis Lake 

• lack of compliance with 4 knot zones in Breckenridge Channel increasing risk of injury to swimmers 

• cruise boats creating large wash and causing conflict with swimmers in Breckenridge Channel 

• lack of a formalised area in Breckenridge Channel in which boats can tie to 

• need for a regional supplement to the Indigenous Fishing Strategy, and 

• the opportunity for staff at the Forster Local Aboriginal Lands Council to secure employment implementing the 

on-ground works for the WLEMP and WLCMP. 

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13.6 Background to the Wallis Lake region 

13.6.1 History of Wallis Lake and cultural significance 

Two Aboriginal tribes are known to have inhabited the Wallis Lake region prior to European settlement; the Biripi, 

who occupied the area between Tuncurry, Taree and Gloucester, and the Worimi, who occupied the land between 

Barrington Tops and Forster and Maitland and the Hunter River in the south. The local Aboriginal groups were first 

disturbed by early exploring European timber cutters at the beginning of the nineteenth century after permission 

was granted to remove cedar from the Great Lakes region in 1816. At this stage no attempt was at settlement and 

the interaction between the early explorers and Aboriginal people was favourable, with the Aboriginal people 

guiding some of the explorers over the mountains on occasions. 

In 1826 the Australian Agricultural Company trialed a variety of agricultural activities on one million acres of land 

selected by the Director, John Macarthur, entirely encompassing the Great Lakes district. Many of these trials were 

unsuccessful due to the moist coastal conditions and in 1832 much of this land, including the Wallis Lake 

catchment, was surrendered to the Crown in exchange for grazing land in the Tamworth district. 

Land was first granted in Nabiac in 1855, and the area was established as a timber shipping site. Land grants 

occurred in Forster in 1856 and in Tuncurry in 1875, with the area supporting the early industries of fishing, timber 

cutting and milling, and boat building. The local Aboriginal people contributed a considerable workforce to these 

early industries in the late 1800s and early 1900s, especially the sheep, cattle, fishing and timber industries. Much 

of this early Aboriginal workforce was coordinated through missions and stations and wages were paid into 

accounts controlled by successive Governments. But much of this money never actually went to its rightful owners 

and the whereabouts of this trust is yet to be located and is currently the subject of a court case between Aboriginal 

Elders and the Governments of New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria. 

After a brief, albeit unsuccessful attempt at mining gold in the area in 1876, harvesting of natural oyster beds and 

leasing of cultivating territories became an important industry for the local economy in the early 1880s. Oyster 

aquaculture remains a valuable industry in Wallis Lake today. 

Early tourism began in the area in the 1930s with the local Aboriginal people showing European residents in the 

Forster/Tuncurry area where to dive for lobster and abalone. The tourism industry has since experienced rapid 

growth, especially following the construction of the Forster/Tuncurry road bridge replacing the punt in 1959. The 

tourism and retirement industries now dominate the local economy (Marr 2000). 

Today over 100 Aboriginal sites have been identified by the Forster Local Aboriginal Lands Council along the 

waterway and foreshore areas of Wallis Lake. These sites include scarred trees, shell middens, fish traps, 

campsites, burial sites and tool sites. However, a complete heritage study of the area is necessary to fully realise 

the rich Aboriginal cultural significance of the Wallis Lake region and foreshores and to formulate protocols with the 

Aboriginal community to best protect these areas from future developments. 

Sites of significant European heritage in the Wallis Lake catchment and foreshores are currently being assessed by 

GLC through a heritage study to be completed in 2004. 

The coastal and estuarine area is highly valued by Forster/Tuncurry residents and visiting tourists alike, and 

continues to feature prominently in the local Aboriginal culture. 

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For a more detailed summary of the cultural history of the Wallis Lake region see The Great Lakes Community 

Profile produced by Great Lakes Council (1999). Alternatively, consult the following references: 

Doust J. Past days around Wallis Lake, its rivers and villages. Great Lakes Historical Society, Tuncurry. 

McMaster D. E. John Wright the settler. Produced by the Wallamba District Historical Society. 

Wright J. The history of Forster – Tiona, Pacific Palms, Smiths Lake, Coomba, Bungwahl. Great Lakes Historical 

Society, Tuncurry. 

13.6.2 Natural significance 

The Wallis Lake region is of considerable natural significance due to the presence of large areas of diverse 

terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 20% of the State’s seagrass beds are located in Wallis Lake, representing the 

largest single area in New South Wales at 30.8 km 2 in 1985 (West et. al. 1985). Seagrasses play a major role in the 

estuarine processes of nutrient cycling, stabilisation of sediments and in the provision of habitat for many 

commercial species larval fish and invertebrates. Therefore the presence of such large beds of seagrass in Wallis 

Lake is most certainly an asset that must be protected and enhanced. 

In addition to the presence of significant beds of seagrass, Wallis Lake is home to 7% of the remaining saltmarsh in 

NSW, 0.786 km 2 of mangroves and 70 areas of SEPP 14 wetlands (West et. al. 1985). These areas play a very 

important role in filtering sediments and nutrients from land based run-off before it enters the estuary, stabilising 

coastal sediments, provision of detrital matter for coastal food chains, and as habitat for many species of birds, fish 

and invertebrates. 

An extremely diverse community of bird life can be found in Wallis Lake with over 140 species being regularly 

observed. Of these 12 species are classified as vulnerable and 2 as endangered under the Threatened Species 

Conservation (TSC) Act (1995). A further 52 species are protected under the international agreements of the 

Japanese Australia Agreement for the Protection of migratory Birds, Birds in Danger of Extinction and their 

Environment (JAMBA) (1974), and the Agreement between Australia and the People’s Republic of China for the 

Protection of Migratory Birds and their Environment (CAMBA) (1986) (Webb, McKeown and Associates 1999). 

In addition to the vulnerable bird species of Wallis Lake, 2 species of reptiles and 9 species of mammals that 

regularly use the Wallis Lake estuary adjacent land are identified as vulnerable under the TSC Act 1995 (Webb, 

McKeown and Associates 1999). A further 2 plant species are classified as vulnerable and 1 plant species listed as 

endangered. 

13.6.3 Industry 

The aquaculture, fishing, and tourism industries continue to grow in the Wallis Lake area. As of 2001 the local 

commercial fishing industry was valued at $2 million pa, oyster aquaculture industry at $8 million pa, the dairy 

industry at $3 million pa, beef production at $1.5 million pa, and the tourism industry in excess of $124 million pa 

(Great Lakes Catchment Management Steering Committee 2001; Australian Bureau of Statistics). Most of these 

industries directly depend upon the health of the Lake system. 

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Further to these industries, urban development remains a growth area for the region meeting the needs of the 

growing population. As of the 2001 census, the population of the twin towns of Forster/Tuncurry and the 

surrounding villages was 21,000 and growing at rate of 2.1% pa. One of the goals of this plan will be to allow the 

growth of all of these industries to continue in a sustainable way with no nett increase in pollutants to the Lake. 

13.6.4 Estuary Productivity 

There are 327 oyster leases in Wallis Lake contributing 30.3% (or 20,691 bags) of NSW’s oyster production for the 

period 1995 to 2000, making Wallis Lake the top producing area in the state (White 2001). For the period 1968 to 

2000, the average yield for Wallis Lake is 50.3 bags.ha -1 * (±14 standard deviation), 250% greater than the state 

average (White 2001). The peak in 1991/92 is likely due to a temporary shift to selling younger, lower value oysters. 

[Figure 12.4.1: The trend in yield of oysters in Wallis Lake for the period 1968/69 to 1999/2000 (Source: White 2001)] 

Approximately 8% (or 437 tonnes) of the annual commercial estuarine catch of fish and crustacea in NSW comes 

from Wallis Lake, making the area the 3 rd most productive in the state and supporting 84 registered commercial 

fishermen (NSW DPI 2001). This catch is mostly comprised of sea mullet (90,904 kg), dusky flathead (46,384 kg), 

luderick (33,741 kg), blue swimmer crab (85,703 kg) and school prawn (36,919 kg). 

Recreational fishing is a popular activity in the area, especially during the peak Christmas/New Year period. 

However, although the recreational harvest in Wallis Lake is likely to be quite substantial it is largely unknown. In 

Lake Macquarie for example, the daytime recreational harvest is 295 tonnes.yr -1 , 21 tonnes.yr -1 less than the 

declared commercial production (excluding prawns, pipis and cockles) (Steffe & Chapman 2003). 

* These figures are slightly biased as an uncertain amount of oysters are transferred to the lake for ‘finishing-off’ and are reported as a 

product of Wallis Lake. 

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13.7 Best practice guidelines for human - dolphin interactions 

13.7.1 In water guidelines 

• maintain a small number of people to dolphins in the water 

• do not enter the water abruptly when dolphins nearby 

• keep activity minimal, especially if dolphin nearby 

• no loud noises or sudden movements 

• no touching dolphins – if touch is inevitable avoid touching blowhole, eyes/face, genital region, flippers, dorsal 

fin, flukes, and don not wrap arms around or restrict dolphin movement in any way 

• never chase dolphins 

• leave the water immediately if dolphin exhibits sexual or agonistic behaviour directed at humans 

• do not present inorganic objects or rope to dolphins, and absolutely no feeding 

• no flash from camera, sunscreen, repellent or jewellery 

13.7.2 Vessel operator guidelines (eg motor boats, yachts, kayaks, canoes, surfskis, 

inflatable craft) 

• do not travel faster than dolphins when within caution zone of 150m 

• do not approach closer than 50m to any dolphin 

• no sudden increase or decrease in speed 

• no cast fishing lines or setting nets nearby 

• do not operate twin engines in opposite directions 

• watch for dolphins before engaging in gear 

• do not cut off dolphins (ie no leap frogging to get ahead of animals) parallel or behind follows are recommended 

• do not permit more than one boat near a group of dolphins in order to minimise underwater acoustic 

disturbance 

• special care should be taken if a calf is observed with the group, as a dolphin calf cannot dive well to avoid 

collision with a boat 

13.7.3 Craft prohibited for dolphin interactions 

• personal motorised craft (jetskis and similar craft), hovercrafts and parasails are prohibited for all cetacean – 

human interactions 

• if using a prohibited craft and a person finds him/herself in the vicinity of a dolphin, he/she should slow down 

and avoid the dolphin, giving 300m distance between the vessel and the cetacean 

• a person on a surfboard should not approach a cetacean within 30m for safety reasons 

(Frohoff T. and Frohoff J., 1995; ANZECC, 2000) 

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13.8 Considerations for assessing boat launching facilities 

Tuncurry Point Road 

• Progress upgrading as per the Tuncurry public boat ramp precinct redevelopment 

Forster Regional 

• Sealing of trailer parking area 

Little Street 

• Investigate provision of reserve area 

• Sealing of trailer parking area 

• Manage conflicts with pedestrian access 

• Manage conflicts with swimmers 

• Investigate provision of better lighting 

Forster Keys 

• Investigate provision of better lighting 

Green Point 

• Maintain gravel access road and ramp (DEC) 

• Provide adequate recreational facilities 

• Council approved BBQ 

• Picnic tables 

It is recommended that this facility remain gravel and informal due to the shallow waters immediately adjacent to the 

ramp. A concrete ramp would encourage larger boats to use the facility and this would then require a channel to be 

dredged through shallow seagrass beds for access. 

Pacific Palms 

• Excavate sediment that has built up directly in front of the ramp 

This sediment has likely built up as a result of the practice of driving boats onto trailers. The propeller pushes sand 

out from the ramp and piles it up immediately off the ramp causing a deeper hole and then a small shallow ‘bar’. 

This is restricting the size of the boats that can use this facility at present. If the work is done it may decrease the 

pressure on the Tuncurry Point Road and Forster Regional boat ramps. It is thought that the amount of sediment to 

be removed is less than 1000m 3 therefore an EIS would not be required (SEPP35). 

• Erect a sign advising people to avoid driving boats onto trailers 

Coomba 

• Provide a fish cleaning area 

• Upgrade toilet facilities 

The toilets currently at Coomba were relocated from the Forster sports ground and were intended to be a temporary 

facility only. At present they are overdue for upgrade. 

Manns Road 

• Maintain gravel ramp 

Darawakh Riverview Road 

• Repair concrete blocks on ramp that are buckling 

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13.2 The Wallis Lake Estuary Management Committee - Great Lakes ...

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