Estuary and catchment management The MidCoast region contains six major estuarine areas including river, lake and creek estuaries. These estuaries are fed by rivers including the Manning, Wallamba, Coolongolook, Wallingat, Myall and Crawford Rivers. Estuaries are unique and important natural environments that contain a wide range of habitats and ecosystems and support a diversity of plants and animals. Estuaries are the most intensively used areas of the MidCoast. They have significant environmental, cultural, recreational and commercial value. Rivers in the MidCoast region mainly flow through natural and agricultural landscapes. They supply potable water for our community as well as water for irrigation and stock. Rivers are enjoyed for their scenery, tranquillity and recreational activities such as swimming, fishing and boating. They provide important habitat corridors for wildlife dispersion. Land use throughout their catchments impacts on water quality and ecosystem health. Manning River Estuary and Catchment Management Program MidCoast Council has worked together with stakeholders and the community to develop the Manning River Estuary and Catchment Management Program (ECMP), adopted in July 2021. It sets out a 10-year action program for Council, our community and partner organisations to improve the health and resilience of the Manning River and estuary. The MidCoast community has a strong attachment to the Manning River, which provides water for drinking, stock, irrigation, oyster farming and recreation. Generations of Gathangspeaking Aboriginal people have been engaged in the river through fishing and swimming. They hold knowledge of those places along the river with special meaning. It is important for them to maintain spiritual and close connection to the water. The Manning River ECMP takes a whole-of-catchment approach aiming to protect and improve the ecological health of the Manning estuary and its catchment, and in doing so support the social, cultural and economic values of the region. In all, over 300 people were involved in development of this program with representatives from the beef, dairy and oyster industries, Purfleet-Taree Local Aboriginal Land Council, Landcare, Coastcare and government agencies. Actions are grouped around eight themes: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Stewardship Water quality and ecosystem health Climate change Biodiversity Aboriginal custodianship Social and economic values Land use planning Governance
It presents opportunities for mobilising existing partners such as HLLS and MidCoast2Tops Landcare, community and industry groups and landholders to help look after this valuable natural asset. In Council’s Delivery Program (2018-21) and Operational Plan (2020-21), development of the Manning River ECMP contributes to Strategy 7.3: “Protect, maintain and restore water quality with our estuaries, wetlands and waterways.” It fulfils focus reference 7.3.2 “Develop a Manning River Coastal (catchment and estuary) Management Plan (CMP)”.
State of the Environrment Report 2021
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