2014 Sarina Inlet Water Quality Improvement Plan 2014 2021
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Water Quality Improvement Plan 2014 - 2021
Sarina Inlet
2014
F T
R A ]
P1
D
Mackay | Whitsunday | Isaac
Bakers Creek Sarina Inlet Receiving Waters
MAP 1: LANDUSE
Sandy Creek
Sarina
Beaches
Alligator Creek C A B B A GE T R E E
CR
E EK
I N A IN L E T
AR
S
K
EE
CR
AN
E
P2 PL
Plane Creek
EK
R CR E
A TO
L IG
AL
Cape
Key to land use Creek
National park or reserve
Grazing or forestry
Crop land (cane and horticulture)
Rocky Dam
Intensive use (rural residential, transport corridors)
Creek
Urban
Dam or reservoir
Wetland
Catchment boundary
Highway
Watercourse
HEV
Data:
GBRMPA.
0 2 4 6 State of Queensland (Department of
Science, Information Technology,
Kilometres Innovation and the Arts) 2014
2014 WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2014 - 2021
Sarina Inlet 6
[
The Sarina Inlet receiving waters stretch from Freshwater Point north to Hay Point. The subcatchments
draining into Sarina Inlet are Sarina Beaches and Plane Creek, which have high proportions of grazing
and sugarcane landuses.
Urban centres within the subcatchments include [ Ecosystem Health Rating
Sarina and Hay Point, and the coastal villages of
Very Good Good Moderate Poor Very Poo r
Sarina Beach, Campwin Beach, and Grasstree
Beach.
The Port of Hay Point in one of the largest coal export VG
[ FRESHWATER
ports in the world. The port is made up of two coal
G Ecosystem Health
terminals, Dalrymple Bay Terminal and Hay Point
Terminal, as well as connecting rail infrastructure. Sarina Inlet freshwater
Other major industrial facilities of the area are Sarina
M ecosystems received an overall
Sugar Mill and Ethanol Distillery. score of Moderate.
VP P
Current Condition Report
Freshwater/ Terrestrial
]
The receiving waters of Sarina Inlet have received
VG
[ MARINE P3
an overall score of Moderate for the condition
G Ecosystem Health
of the connected freshwater ecosystems. Both
subcatchments received scores of Poor for event Sarina Inlet marine ecosystems
water quality, and Good for ambient water quality M received an overall score of
condition. Poor.
VP P
Both Plane Creek and the Sarina Beaches
subcatchments received ecosystem health indicator
scores of Moderate for fish community health and
riparian vegetation. Sarina Beaches received a [ Subcatchments Total Area by Landuse
score of Good for flow, while Plane Creek received
a Moderate. Barriers to fish migration is a particular
issue within both subcatchments (Plane Creek scored
Sugarcane
Very Poor and Sarina Beaches scored Poor), where Production
there are many significant barriers including major
3853 ha
weirs located on Plane Creek.
Horticulture
and Cropping
Marine 94 ha
The receiving waters of Sarina Inlet received an
overall condition score of Poor. Poor event water
quality has resulted in much of the receiving water Grazing and
area of Sarina Inlet being mapped as High risk by the Urban and Forestry
Marine Risk Index. Intensive 14161 ha
Uses
The Sarina Inlet waters contain little coral, however
2460 ha
of the coral that does exist 14% is in High risk. In
contrast, 20% of the region’s seagrass grows in the
Sarina Inlet, and all of it is located in areas that have
a High to Very High risk from water quality. National Parks
Wetlands and
and Reserves
Waterways
1613 ha
2249 ha
Total hectares Sarina Inlet Receiving Waters
24430 ha
Mackay City
Sarina Inlet Receiving Waters
MAP 2: MARINE RISK INDEX AND ECOLOGICAL CONDITION
Bakers Creek
Sandy
Creek Sarina
Beaches
Alligator
Creek C A B BA GE T R E E
C RE
EK
Plane
Creek
I N A IN L E T
AR
P4
S
K
EE
CR
AN
E
PL
C RE E K
OR
AT
LIG
AL
Cape
Creek
Catchment boundary Marine Risk Index Wetland Hazard
Highway Very Low Very low
Fish barrier Low Low
Moderate Moderate
Ground cover (riparian)
Rocky Dam
Non-riparian forest High High
Creek
Riparian forest Very High Very high
Data:
GBRMPA.
0 2 4 6 State of Queensland (Department of
Science, Information Technology,
Kilometres Innovation and the Arts) 2014
[
Ecosystem HEALTH
Table 1: OVERVIEW
This index presents the indicators chosen to assess the condition of freshwater ecosystem health.
The index uses a combination of monitored data and expert opinion to provide a score for the
current condition of fish community health, event water quality, ambient water quality, flow,
riparian vegetation, and barriers to migration for each of the region’s 33 catchment management
areas. The table also presents the target for each indicator to be reached by 2021.
Subcatchment Freshwater Ecosystem Health
Table 1
[ Indicator Score: Current Condition 2014 and Target 2021
Fish Community Event Water Ambient Riparian Barriers to
Health Quality Water Quality Flow Vegetation Migration
Current Target Current Target Current Target Current Target Current Target Current Target
]
2014 2021 2014 2021 2014 2021 2014 2021 2014 2021 2014 2021
[ Sarina Beaches M M P M G G G G M M P P P5
[ Plane Creek M M P M G G M M M M VP VP
Very Good Good Moderate Poor Very Poo r
Table 2: OVERVIEW
This table displays the total area (as a percentage) of wetlands, coral, and seagrass that exist
within each risk category. The risk categories represent the presence of land-based pollutants of
greatest risk, ranging from Very Low Risk to Very High Risk.
Table 2
[ Marine Risk and Wetland Hazard
Very High High Moderate Low Very Low
[ Wetlands % 0% 0% 6% 94% 0%
[ Coral % 0% 14% 35% 45% 7%
[ Seagrass % 17% 83% 0% 0% 0%
Sarina Inlet Receiving Waters
Bakers MAP 3: BLUE MAP (HYDROLOGICAL CONNECTIVITY)
Creek
Sandy Creek
Sarina
Beaches
C A B B A GE T R E E
CR
Alligator EE K
Creek
Plane
Creek IN A IN L E T
AR
S
P6
K
EE
CR
E
AN
PL
EK
R CR E
A TO
L IG
AL
Cape
Creek
Rocky Dam
Creek
Catchment boundary Water connectivity
Highway Infrequently connected
Seagrass Intermittently connected
Reef Frequently connected
Very frequently connected
Data:
GBRMPA.
0 2 4 6 State of Queensland (Department of
Science, Information Technology,
Kilometres Innovation and the Arts) 2014
[ Key Area Targets (corresponding with Blue Map)
The hydrological connectivity shown on the Blue Map is used to prioritise activities for best
ecosystem outcomes. The below details the target activities for areas of differing levels of
connectivity.
Infrequently Connected areas
• Target grazing (5414 ha)
• Target grazing in forests (3147 ha)
• Target rainforests (663 ha)
• Target rural residential (588 ha)
• Target irrigated sugar (637 ha)
Intermittently Connected areas
• Target grazing in forests (929 ha)
• Target grazing (3249 ha)
• Target irrigated sugar (3120 ha)
• Target intensive uses (1278 ha)
]
Frequently Connected areas
P7
To improve ecological processes in frequently connected areas:
• Target 135 ha grazing
• Target 49 ha ponded pastures
• Target 48 ha irrigated sugar
• Target grazing in forests (55 ha) and rainforests (39 ha)
Very Frequently Connected areas
• Target 247 ha ponded pastures
2014 WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN
MAP DATA SOURCES PROVIDED BY:
2014 - 2021
STATE OF QUEENSLAND (DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE,
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND
THE ARTS) 2014, GREAT BARRIER PARK MARINE
AUTHORITY, MACKAY REGIONAL COUNCIL, ISAAC
REGIONAL COUNCIL AND WHITSUNDAY REGIONAL
COUNCIL.
At the time of publication, all due care and diligence has been
taken to accurately reflect current and collated information.
Research and materials produced by, or for, Reef Catchments
remain the property of Reef Catchments where applicable.
The content of this report is provided for information purposes
only and has been published in good faith. Reef Catchments
does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy or currency
of information, errors or omissions within this report and will
not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or
arising by reason of any person using or relying on information
in this publication.
REEF CATCHMENTS (MACKAY WHITSUNDAY ISAAC) LIMITED
PHONE (07) 4968 4200
EMAIL reception@reefcatchments.com
[
WEB www.reefcatchments.com.au
reefcatchments.com.au/wqip
©Reef Catchments (Mackay Whitsunday Isaac) Limited
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