Millards Creek is classed as a small estuarine creek with an intermittently closed entrance. It is located on the south coast of New South Wales.
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. We sample a subset of the estuaries between Wollongong and the Victorian border every 3 years. The most recent sampling in Millards Creek was completed over the 2014–15 summer, when 2 sites were sampled on a monthly basis.
This report card represents 2 water quality indicators that we routinely measure: the amount of algae present and water clarity. Low levels of these 2 indicators equate with good water quality.
Algae
Water clarity
Overall grade
The report card shows the condition of the estuary was fair with:
- algae abundance graded good (B)
- water clarity graded poor (D)
- overall estuary health graded fair (C).
Grades for algae, water clarity and overall are represented as:
- A – excellent
- B – good
- C – fair
- D – poor
- E – very poor.
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 | Creek |
|---|---|
| Latitude (ºS) | –35.35 |
| Longitude (ºE) | 150.48 |
| Catchment area (km2) | 4.5 |
| Estuary area (km2) | 0.005 |
| Estuary volume (ML) | 0.6 |
| Average depth (m) | 0.1 |
Notes: km2 = square kilometres; m = metres; ML = megalitres.
Water depth and survey data
Bathymetric and coastal topography data for this estuary are available in our data portal.
Land use
The catchment of Millards Creek is highly disturbed, with more than 70% of the catchment taken up by the urban centre of Ulladulla. Grazing occurs in 10% of the catchment and forested areas form about 15%.
National and marine parks
- There are no conservation areas in the Millards Creek catchment.
- There is no marine park associated with this estuary.
Community involvement
- A community consultation on the Millards Creek Flood Study was held in early 2019 as part of work being done by the Shoalhaven City Council to develop a floodplain risk management plan.
Aerial view of Millards Creek estuary.
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park.
Shoalhaven City Council manages this estuary.
Threatened species
Estuaries provide an important protected environment for salt-tolerant plants like sea grasses and mangroves.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.