A Management Plan has just been released by Great Lakes Council to guide future action and the health of the Karuah River Catchment.

The Plan is a blueprint for maintaining and improving water quality and ecological health from the top of the catchment at Barrington Tops through to the Port Stephens Estuary.

“Council has prepared the Plan in recognition of the importance of the environment to our way of life and economy, as well as for its inherent values.

“Rather than taking our beautiful waterways and landscape for granted, we want to ensure that good management protects our waterways well into the future,” said Mayor Cr Jan McWilliams.

How the Karuah Catchment is managed impacts beyond the boundaries of the Great Lakes, in particular influencing the overall condition of Port Stephens Estuary.

The Karuah River Catchment is quite unique.  Productive rural industries operate successfully within a varied landscape of mountains, rivers, flood plains, wetlands, estuarine and marine environments.

A diverse range of nationally significant plants and animals are present and whilst there is room for improvement water quality is reasonable.

Teaming with the people of the Karuah Catchment, Council has prepared the Plan utilising local knowledge in combination with scientific data to incorporate actions within three themes: Water; Landscape, Production and Community; and Resilient Ecosystems.

Management actions within the Catchment Management Plan cover a range of topics such as water pollution management, wetlands and acid sulfate soil management, agriculture – production and environment, landscape and habitat connectivity, and research and monitoring.

The true measure of the Plan will be its implementation.

With this in mind Council is currently commencing implementation within the Catchment to address the immediate priorities of the Plan.

If you would like further information or wish to become involved into the future please contact Debbi Delaney at Great Lakes Council on debbi.delaney@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au or 6591 7222.