The NSW Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) has formulated an Estuary Management Policy to foster better management of the estuaries of NSW. The objectives of the Policy are to protect and restore estuarine habitats and ecosystems, and to prepare and implement a balanced, long term management plan for the sustainable use and ecological improvement of estuaries. The framework for the Policy is Total Catchment Management, which is the basis for resource management policy in NSW.

The Estuary Management Process is described in the State Government Estuary Management Manual and consists of eight steps:

form an Estuary Management Committee; assemble existing data; carry out Estuary Process Study; carry out Estuary Management Study; prepare a draft Estuary Management Plan; review Estuary Management Plan; adopt and implement Estuary Management Plan; and monitor and review the management process.

For Brisbane Water, the Estuary Management Process has begun and Gosford City Council has formed an Estuary Management Committee through its Coastline Management, Lagoon Management and Coastal Planning (CLP) Committee. The Brisbane Water Data Compilation Study has also been completed and in December 2003, Lawson and Treloar Pty Ltd were commissioned to undertake the Brisbane Water Estuary Process Study. The project is being managed by Council's Natural Resource Officer, Dr Peter Freewater, whom won the award for Coastal Research at the NSW Coastal Conference, 2003.

The study is to provide a comprehensive report on the existing physical, chemical and biological condition of the Estuary and those processes and interactions that influence the condition of the Estuary.
In broad terms, the scope of works is to;

Review, digest and synthesize the Data Compilation Study. Assess any additional data necessary to aid the preparation of the processes study and the subsequent stages of the estuary management process. Assess historical conditions and/or practices, whether natural or anthroprogenic, and identify the roles they have had on estuarine processes and the rate of change within the Estuary, including any linkages. Assess and document the physical, chemical and biological condition of the Estuary and related processes and interactions through investigation and data collection. Canvass community input to assist in the determination of the range of hydraulic and biological issues relevant to the Estuary Management Process. Quantify the extent of management and community issues identified above, and where appropriate, discuss the estuarine processes which are impacting on those issues.

Whilst estuary process studies have been undertaken for other NSW estuaries, the Brisbane Water Estuary Process Study is considered to be unique because of the scope and complexity of the study. The study will follow the hydro-ecology framework, which can be defined as a process incorporating three stages:

Catchment characterisation - the initial stage whereby data is compiled for key catchment characteristics such as land-use, climate, geology and geography. Hydrological modelling - catchment characteristics are used to model key hydrological processes such as rainfall and runoff, stream flow, mobilisation and transport of stormwater pollution to the estuary, estuarine circulation and pollutant transport within the estuary. Ecological investigation - hydrological phenomena provide a foundation for better experimental design to link anthropogenic or natural disturbance to estuarine ecology.

The study will consider estuarine processes at a variety of temporal and spatial scales. For example, seaonal changes, flood and drought conditions, during sever storms and the longer term effects of climate change and potential sea-level rise.

A comprehensive set of hydrological models will be developed, calibrated and integrated with other data for Council's Geographical Information System. These models will provide Council with tools to predict and assess the environmental implications of land-use and other management options. The Process Study will be used to develop the Brisbane Water Estuary Management Plan, which will be the major planning instrument for Brisbane Water and it's foreshores as well as the integrated planning of its catchments.

All research will be undertaken at the highest technical level and outcomes will be presented to professional bodies for publication. The project will be concluded in December 2006.

Regularly updated information on the Process Study can be obtained from the Lawson and Treloar website at www.lat.com.au.