Estuary study to take three years

Peninsula residents may see a number of boats out in various locations of Brisbane Water at night over the next three years, as scientists take samples for the Brisbane Water Estuary Process Study.

The study commenced in January this year is claimed to be the most comprehensive study of Brisbane Water ever undertaken and will take three years to complete.

The Estuary Process Study will be followed by an Estuary Management Study, an Estuary Management Plan and then implementation of the plan.

All up the whole process is expected to take until 2008.

Gosford Council's natural resources officer Dr Peter Freewater said the estuary process study would take three years to complete, being finalised by the end of 2006.

"After that, it has to be reviewed by various stakeholders, such as NSW Fisheries, National Parks, Waterways, the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, and community organisations.

"Everybody will have the opportunity to comment and we'll go back and make changes."

He said he expected the estuary management study and estuary management plan would be prepared together and take the following 12 to 18 months to complete.

Following that, the plan should have both short term and long term plans to be implemented over time.

"At the end of it, there will be guidelines for the sustainable management of Brisbane Water," Dr Freewater said.

He said it would look at the continuing health of Brisbane Water Estuary.

The study will include recreational use by fishermen and boats, environmental hotspots such as Correa Bay, the canals on St Huberts Island, to the sand movements at Ettalong.

"All of the foreshores of Brisbane Water will be looked at, (including) boatramps, jetties," Dr Freewater said.

"But places like Ettalong also have their own studies done by Council, the Ettalong Foreshore Plan of Management looks at issues like the sand movements and impact of a fast ferry.

"This study takes an holistic approach."

Scientists will be using a number of methods in a variety of locations for different aspects of the study.

These locations will include St Huberts Island, Woy Woy Bay, Box Head, Ettalong Beach.

An information evening was held by scientists working on the project on Thursday, July 1.

Scientists studying aspects of the estuary from the phytoplankton to the saltmarshes gave presentations on how their research will contribute to the study as a whole.

Dr Freewater said the community would have the chance to contribute to the project throughout the whole process.

"The information evening was a night where people could register to receive updates on the progress of the study.

"All comments that are received are logged, so none are disregarded.

"We will also be canvassing the community over the entire process by writing to them and various community organisations will be given opportunity to comment at the end.

Anyone wishing to make a comment for the study or register to receive updates can do so by visiting www.gosford.nsw.gov.au or consultants Lawson and Treloar's website at www.lat.com.au.

Alison Branley, July 9