FAQs

Oyster Bay’s waterways are valuable assets to the community and provide important habitat for aquatic species. Council is preparing a waterways management plan to for the holistic and sustainable management of the catchment and waterways to ensure that the waterway health is maintained and remains enjoyable for all.

The study area for the Plan encompasses Oyster Bay, Oyster Creek and Kareela Creek, as shown in the study area map. 

Based on initial evaluation of survey data, charts and information provided by the community, it appears that sediments are transported down the creeks and into the bay. In combination with other factors such as historic land use change and other activities that impacted the circulation and tidal flows within the bay, this is thought to have led to sedimentation within the bay.

The study being undertaken by Council intends to investigate these issues and identify the key sources and causes of sedimentation.

The build-up of sediment in Oyster Bay has adversely impacted boating, kayaking and other recreational activities, with members of the public having been stranded on the mudflats as the water retreats at low tide. The fine, muddy material in these shallow flats is extremely difficult to walk through, making it challenging to access stranded people. In other locations, although the bed is not exposed over the low tide, the shallowing of the Bay has limited navigational access, even for small watercraft.

In addition, the sedimentation appears to have encouraged proliferation of mangroves through the tidal delta areas. Although these protected species have an important ecological function, it is thought they have in some locations displaced other conservation significant vegetation such as saltmarsh. 

Dredging is the process of removing sediment build-up from a waterway. It is usually carried out with specialised dredging vessels or excavators may be undertaken for purposes of navigational access or environmental reasons. 

There are alternative options that may address the accumulation of sediments in the Oyster Bay waterways, which include catchment-based strategies that target the sources of sediments.

The alternative solutions may include water quality treatment devices, which capture eroded sediments and other pollutants or water sensitive urban design features which may better suit sensitive catchments. Community feedback gathered during the project will assist in identifying and evaluating potential management options.

In developing the Oyster Bay Waterway Management Plan, the Council will explore management strategies to enhance waterway health based on scientific data, community input, and user feedback, including measures to reduce sedimentation. 

The Oyster Bay Dredging Management Plan will also be developed, focusing on dredging options, assessing continuous maintenance strategies for the bay and its upstream waterways, and evaluating implementation feasibility in line with our Dredging Policy. 

Both plans will be prepared concurrently and presented together to provide a comprehensive approach to managing Oyster Bay.

The Project Team will consider a number of sources of information that will be used to gain an understanding of the key issues affecting the Oyster Bay waterways and the potential causes of observed issues, including:

• Historical aerial imagery and navigation charts,
• Previously obtained survey data and flood studies.
• Community and user feedback, information and data which has been collected.

Additionally, as part of this Project, some specialist investigations will be undertaken, including:

• Survey of the Oyster Bay waterways to map the current bed levels;
• An assessment of sedimentary contamination to inform any potential dredging options;
• Catchment modelling of water quality and hydrology to estimate annual sediment loads entering the Bay.

The input from the community will play a crucial role in helping the study team interpret the data collected. By incorporating local observations and feedback, the team can better understand the changes in the waterways over time.

The study team will be identifying and evaluating available water quality data. Additionally, computer-based modelling to identify potential sources of pollutants in the catchment.

Council manages stormwater quality through several mechanisms. This includes stormwater treatment devices such as Gross Pollutant Traps, which are designed to capture litter, organic matter and sediments.

Additionally, regulates development and compliance of residential construction activities in the catchment. 

Council is currently seeking community and user information and feedback, which is aimed at understanding how the community uses the Oyster Bay waterways, their observations of change in waterway condition over time, and the key values they would like to see protected and improved in future.

The community can participate in this process:

Online – by completing our survey or key location activity contained within the Join the Conversation page.

In-person - by attending a drop-in session on 13 March at Oyster Bay Community Hall between 4pm to 7pm.

Phone or Email - to speak to a member of the project team during the survey period, you can get in touch with us via:

• Telephone at 0448 127 672
• Email at oysterbaywaterway@rhelm.com.au 

The draft Oyster Bay Waterways Management Plan is expected to be publicly exhibited in late 2025. You will be able to view a copy of the Plan and provide feedback on the draft plan at this time. 

Council will assess the recommendations outlined in the Waterways Management Plan when the plan is finalised. Actions in the endorsed Waterways Management Plan will be considered for incorporation into Council’s capital works and stormwater management programs.