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Estuaries in NSW

Wallis Lake
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Smiths Lake Khappinghat Creek
[Image of Estuary] Wallis Lake
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Lake and river

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 1420 km2
Waterway Area 73 km2
Entrance Characteristics Open with twin training breakwaters
Location (Lat-Long) 32.174S ,  152.511E
Distance (from Sydney) 310 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

The Wallis Lake estuary is a complex system of lakes, rivers and interconnecting channels which separate Tuncurry and Forster, coastal towns located north and south of Forster Inlet, respectively. The mean spring tidal range at Greenhill Point within Wallis Lake is 0.3 m while the equivalent range at the entrance, some 10 km downstream, is 1.5 m. Generally, tidal gradients within Forster Inlet indicate hydraulic losses being uniformly spread along the length of the inlet. The mean level of Wallis Lake is typically super-elevated 0.13 m above mean sea level. The Wollamba River is tidal for 30 km from the ocean.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Wallamba River
Coolongolook River
Wallamba Broadwater
Wang Wauk River
Wallingat River
Breckenridge Channel
Shallow Bay
Pipers Bay
Minimbah Creek
Pipers Creek
Pailing Fence Bay
Coomba Bay
Wallis Lake

Population and Holiday Centres

Tuncurry
Forster
Nabiac
Coolongolook

Special Attributes

General

  • Important tourist area.
  • Largest NSW estuarine seagrass area (31 km2) - also extensive saltmarsh areas (4 km2).
  • Largest crustacean producer at 140 t/yr, or 20% of the NSW estuarine total - also major fish (360 t/yr) and very intensive oyster (45 t/km2/yr) producer.
  • Entrance breakwaters, sandbanks and islands are popular for amateur fishing.
  • Booti Booti State Recreation Area (1,084 ha), controlled by the NPWS, is located. south of Forster on the coastal strip east of Wallis Lake.
  • A number of canal subdivisions.

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 1.471 av,ae
Seagrass 33.203 z,p,h,r
Saltmarsh 5.900

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, oyster, port, boating, tourism, extraction

Management Issues

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

Wallis Lake

Current Situation

Great Lake Council has formed the Wallis Lake Estuary Management Committee to prepare a management plan for the Wallis Lake estuary. The Committee has finalised the Process Study and commenced the management study phase.

The Estuary Management Process 2

Process Status Date
Form Estuary Management Committee (EMC) completed
Assemble Existing Data completed
Carryout Process Study completed 1999
Carryout Estuary Management Study completed 2000
Draft Estuary Management Plan completed 2004
Review Estuary Management Plan commenced
Implement Estuary Management Plan none
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process none

Contact Details

Great Lakes Council Gerard Tuckerman
Ph (02) 6591 7274

References

Local Government Areas

Great Lakes

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Nabiac
Forster
Coolongolook
Pacific Palms
Wooton