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Estuaries in NSW

Cudgen Lake and Creek
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Cudgera Creek Tweed River
[Image of Estuary] Cudgen Creek
[Image of Estuary] Cudgen Lake
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Coastal lake and creek

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 66 km2
Waterway Area 1.4 km2
Entrance Characteristics Open with twin training breakwaters
Location (Lat-Long) 28.258S ,  153.584E
Distance (from Sydney) 840 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

A high littoral transport rate of approximately 500,000 m3/yr passes the entrance from south to north. Cudgen Lake drains into Cudgen Creek which follows a generally northerly, meandering 9 kilometre course to its ocean entrance at Kingscliff. Cudgen Lake is a shallow (1-2metres deep) perched tidal lagoon covering an area of 160 hectares. It drains a catchment of approximately 66 sq. km. with two main creeks, Reserve and Clothiers feeding into the lake. The lake is contained within the Cudgen Nature Reserve gazetted in 1995, and is under the care and control of NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Cudgen Creek
Cudgen Lake

Population and Holiday Centres

Kingscliff
Bogangar

Special Attributes

General

  • Residential and holiday resort of Kingscliff lies adjacent to the Cudgen Creek entrance.
  • Cudgen Lake and the upper part of Cudgen Creek lie within Cudgen Nature Reserve. This area is of significant ecological value.
  • Education Institutions (primary, secondary and tertiary) use Camp Wollumbin on the eastern foreshores of Cudgen Lake for ecological and environmental studies.
  • Extensive areas of SEPP 14 wetland.
  • Major urban residential and tourist developments at Cassuarina and SALT at South Kingscliff to the east of Cudgen.
  • Saltmarsh areas, mangrove areas.
  • Substantial sugar cane and exotic pine plantations within the catchment.
  • Cudgen Creek and lake have a passive recreational use.

Estuarine Vegetation

The spatial data is reproduced from NSW Fisheries(2006/7) studies, whilst the species makeup is from the West et al.(1985). This map shows the spatial extent of the Estuarine Vegetation.

Type Area Species 1
(km2)
Mangroves 0.139 av
Seagrass 0.009 z
Saltmarsh 0.052

References

R.J. Williams, G. West, D. Morrison and R.G. Creese, (2006),
"Estuarine Resources of New South Wales",
prepared for the Comprehensive Coastal Assessment (DoP) by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens.

R.J. West, C.A. Thorogood, T.R. Walford and R.J. Williams. (1985).
"An Estuarine Inventory for New South Wales, Australia".
Fisheries Bulletin 2. Department of Agriculture, New South Wales.

Estuary Commerce

fishing

Management Issues

This estuary falls in the area covered by Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority.

Cudgen Lake and Creek

General Issues - Cudgen Lake

  • Acid runoff from disturbed acid sulfate soils in the catchment above Cudgen Lake.
  • Entrance shoaling inhibits navigation for recreational boating.
  • Major urban and tourist developments at Cassuarina Beach and SALT at South Kingscliff and their effects on estuarine health.
  • River bank erosion.
  • Soil erosion from intensive vegetable growing area of Cudgen plateau.
  • Public foreshore access to lower reaches of Cudgen Creek adjacent to Moss Street, Kingscliff.

An estuary management plan for the coastal estuaries of Cudgen, Cudgera and Mooball Creeks was developed in 1997 under Tweed Shire Council by the then Tweed Coast Estuary Committee, the study area being the tidal waters of the three creeks, apart from Cudgen Lake. Implementation Commenced in 1998/99 and is continuing. A formal plan audit, review and revision is underway in 2004.

The recently formed Tweed Coastal Committee will be responsible for ongoing management of the study area and for implementation of the plan, which has outlined a number of strategies including

  • preservation and enhancement of valuable habitat areas
  • enhancement of passive recreational activities
  • protection and enhancement of creek water quality
  • maintenance or improvement of tidal flushing
  • reduction of unnatural bank erosion
  • rehabilitation and re-vegetation of degraded areas
  • improvement of boating access and navigability where appropriate

Specific action stategies have been proposed for each estuary, including :

  • establishment of buffer areas adjacent to waterways
  • improved treatment and monitoring of stormwater and wastewater
  • riverbank management plan
  • regular water quality monitoring
  • revegetation and weeding programs
  • improved management of foreshore access, boat speed limits

In addition for Cudgen lake, in 1996 Tweed shire Council established the Cudgen Lake Restoration Steering Committee, its main objectives being to ensure the lake's viability as a prawn and fish breeding area, and to reverse the impact of acid runoff on the lake through community based initiatives.

A draft plan of management for Cudgen Lake Nature Reserve was developed by NPWS in 1997. Submissions received by NPWS raised a number of concerns over the condition of Cudgen Lake, including issues of flooding, siltation, water quality decline, nutrient influx, acid sulphate runoff and increased pressure from recreational activity, and the impact of these on the lake's aquatic ecosystem. NPWS has commenced studies towards a Cudgen Lake Management Plan.

The Estuary Management Process 2

Process Status Date
Form Estuary Management Committee (EMC) completed
Assemble Existing Data completed
Carryout Process Study completed
Carryout Estuary Management Study completed
Draft Estuary Management Plan completed
Review Estuary Management Plan completed 1997
Implement Estuary Management Plan commenced 1998/99
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process commenced 2004

Contact Details

Tweed Shire Council Coordinator: Ms Jane Lofthouse
ph: (02) 6670 2 577 fax (02) 6672 0429

References

Local Government Areas

Tweed

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Cudgen