Georges River
Water Quality and River Flow Objectives

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This section gives the Water Quality Objectives (WQOs) and the River Flow Objectives (RFOs) for the Georges River catchment, which should be used to develop plans and actions affecting water quality and river health. Only the priority RFOs are listed in this section, but the remaining objectives still need to be considered when developing flow management plans or dealing with particular local river conditions.

The Woronora River supplies town water to southern Sydney and was teh subject of a Healthy Rivers Commission inquiry, which made specific recommendations. .

Mainly forested areas

Streams in mainly forested areas are often valued for their conservation or recreational values. They often have relatively natural flows and water quality. Many are in national parks or state forests.

Map: The objectives apply to streams running through areas coloured green on the map (state forests, national parks and nature reserves), and through other forested areas, if any are defined locally.

Top of PageWater Quality Objectives

Protection of:

Aquatic ecosystems

Visual amenity

Secondary contact recreation

Primary contact recreation

Aquatic foods (cooked)

Top of PageRiver Flow Objectives

Protect pools in dry times

Protect natural low flows

Maintain wetland and floodplain inundation

Maintain natural flow variability

Minimise effects of weirs and other structures

Supporting information

Waterways affected by urban development

Streams within urban areas are frequently substantially modified and generally carry poor quality stormwater. Local communities are often keen to see these waterways returned to more natural conditions.

Map: Urban development areas are shown in orange on the map.

Top of PageWater Quality Objectives

Protection of:

Aquatic ecosystems

Visual amenity

Secondary contact recreation, as a short-term objective, within 5 years

Primary contact recreation: assess opportunities to achieve as a longer term objective, 10 years or more

Top of PageRiver Flow Objectives

Maintain wetland and floodplain inundation

Maintain natural flow variability

Maintain natural rates of change in water levels

Minimise effects of weirs and other structures

Supporting information

Uncontrolled streams

Uncontrolled streams and waterbodies are waterways that are not in the other categories or the estuary. Their flow patterns are largely natural but may have been altered in some way.

Map: Uncontrolled streams are shown as blue lines on the map.

Top of PageWater Quality Objectives

Protection of:

Aquatic ecosystems

Visual amenity

Secondary contact recreation

Primary contact recreation

Livestock water supply

Irrigation water supply

Homestead water supply

Drinking water at point of supply-Disinfection only

Drinking water at point of supply-Clarification and disinfection

Aquatic foods (cooked)

Top of PageRiver Flow Objectives

Protect pools in dry times

Protect natural low flows

Maintain wetland and floodplain inundation

Maintain natural flow variability

Minimise effects of weirs and other structures

Supporting information

Estuary

As the estuary is dominated by saline conditions, its hydraulic and water quality characteristics, and potential problems, are often very different from those of freshwater systems.

Map: The estuary is outlined in purple on the map.

Top of PageWater Quality Objectives

Protection of:

Aquatic ecosystems

Visual amenity

Secondary contact recreation

Primary contact recreation, as a longer term objective, 10 years or more.

Aquatic foods (cooked), as a medium term objective, 5 to 10 years.

Top of PageRiver Flow Objectives

Protect pools in dry times

Protect natural low flows

Maintain wetland and floodplain inundation

Maintain natural flow variability

Minimise effects of weirs and other structures

Supporting information

This page was published 1 May 2006