The NSW Estuary Health Risk Dataset was created to support Stage 1 of preparing Coastal Management Programs under the NSW Coastal Management Manual (2018). The dataset identifies land-use pressures and consequent risks of impacts on the ecological health of estuaries. Risks associated with other pressures, such as acid sulfate soils, erosion and contaminants, are not captured. The dataset can be used to spatially prioritise where further studies and/or management actions in the catchment would contribute to achieving outcomes, specific to the management objectives for Coastal Environment Areas, and Coastal Wetlands and Littoral Rainforests Areas which are specified in the Coastal Management Act 2016. The dataset includes two shapefiles and one raster file for each estuary and its associated catchment in NSW. It is recommended that all files be reviewed to help set the context for the estuary health risk. A data report describing how the dataset was created and how it should be used is available here: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research-and-publications/publications-search/nsw-estuary-health-risk-dataset.

To access the dataset, you may contact the Data Broker and request the Estuary Health Risk dataset for your estuary. Appendix B of the data report provides a list of data available. Alternatively, you may download the dataset for all estuaries located in the ‘Dataset Packages’ drop down below.