We collaborate with local government to monitor the condition of Avoca Lake. Find out more about the Avoca Lake estuary and its unique features.
Avoca Lake is situated on the Central Coast of New South Wales between the townships of Avoca Beach and North Avoca. It is classed as a back-dune lagoon with an intermittently open entrance to the sea.
Water quality report card
As part of our water quality monitoring program we assess the water quality and ecosystem health of an estuary using a range of relevant indicators.
The most recent sampling was completed over the 2020–21 summer. The results of the monitoring program, including a detailed water quality report card for Avoca Lake, are available on the Central Coast Council website(link is external).
Go to estuary report cards to find out what each grade means, read our sampling, data analysis and reporting protocols, and find out how we calculate these grades.
Physical characteristics
Estuary type
Back-dune lagoon
Latitude
–33.46 (ºS)
Longitude
151.44 (ºE)
Catchment area
10.8 km2
Estuary area
0.7 km2
Estuary volume
293.2 ML
Average depth
0.4 m
Notes: km2 = square kilometres; m = metres; ML = megalitres.
The catchment of Avoca Lake is moderately disturbed. Around half remains as forest, especially around the relatively steep slopes of the upper catchment. Land-use changes in the other half of the catchment have been driven by urban and rural-residential development, horticulture and grazing.
National and marine parks
No conservation areas are located within this catchment.
This estuary does not flow into a marine park.
Community involvement
The Central Coast Council Landcare Program(link is external) helps coordinate a number of volunteer environmental groups, such as North Avoca Bushcare, Bulbararing Bushcare and Willdenow Bushcare, that work to conserve, protect and remediate the environment.
Avoca Lake
Image Credit:
DPE
Aerial view of Avoca Lake
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park. Central Coast Council(link is external) manages this estuary.