Who is responsible for the estuary?
The main body is the Lower Hawkesbury Estuary Management Committee, which meets quarterly and is made of representatives from Hornsby Shire Council, Central Coast City Council, NSW Government, Boat Owners Association, commercial fishers, community representatives, local marina operators, commercial oyster farmers and Sydney Water Corporation.
The committee’s main objective is to improve the overall health of the estuary. This includes the chemical, physical and biological health, as well as the economic, recreational and aesthetic values.
The committee’s guiding document is the Lower Hawkesbury Estuary Management Plan, which was adopted in 2009. Its strategies include:
- Planning – ensuring planning instruments include best practice and provisions for sustainable development;
- Research – undertaking programs to monitor estuarine health and prepare for climate change;
- Education –engaging local communities and schools through estuary awareness activities;
- Compliance – encouraging riverside settlements to implement sustainable practices;
- On-ground works – installing infrastructure and undertaking regeneration programs to protect estuarine assets.