Lower Hawkesbury-Nepean River Nutrient Management Strategy

The Hawkesbury–Nepean River and its catchment provide drinking water, recreational opportunities, agricultural and fisheries produce, as well as tourism and mining resources for the Sydney Metropolitan area. It is also an important ecological asset adjoining the World Heritage listed Blue Mountains.

The Lower Hawkesbury–Nepean River Nutrient Management Strategy was developed to help address challenges such as algal blooms and excessive aquatic weed growth, which affect aquatic life and hamper recreation and commercial uses of the river.

Aims of the strategy are to reduce nutrient loads from existing sources and limit the growth in nutrient loads from changing land uses. It aims to do this by providing an integrated framework to coordinate and guide management of nutrients entering the river from identified sources, including stormwater, wastewater and agricultural runoff.

The strategy highlights initiatives that aim to reduce nutrient loads in the lower Hawkesbury–Nepean catchment, including:

• educational and compliance activities
• extension programs
• investment in capital projects
• on-ground works
• partnership programs.

It also identifies strategic priorities and new actions that will build on the work to date and reduce nutrient loads from identified priority sources.