Pine Brush Creek is a small creek with an intermittently closed/open entrance to the sea, situated just north of Coffs Harbour on the mid-north 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 located between the Queensland border and Taree every 3 years. The most recent sampling in Pine Brush Creek was completed over the 2021–22 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 good with:
- algae abundance graded good (B)
- water clarity graded fair (C)
- overall estuary health graded good (B).
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.
We have monitored water quality in Pine Brush Creek since 2009. This table shows the water quality grades for this estuary over that time.
| Year | Algae | Water clarity | Overall grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | B | D | B |
| 2012–13 | A | B | B |
| 2015–16 | B | B | B |
| 2018–19 | B | B | B |
Physical characteristics
| Estuary type | Creek |
|---|---|
| Latitude (ºS) | –30.25 |
| Longitude (ºE) | 153.14 |
| Catchment area (km2) | 7.3 |
| Estuary area (km2) | 0.02 |
| Estuary volume (ML) | 2.9 |
| Average depth (m) | 0.2 |
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 Pine Brush Creek is significantly disturbed, with over two-thirds of land-use modified. Growing food crops is the dominant land use here. The urban area of Korora occupies about 15% of the catchment, and backs onto the escarpment to the west.
National and marine parks
- Coffs Coast Regional Park encompasses the coast around Pine Brush Creek estuary.
- Pine Brush Creek is part of the Solitary Islands Marine Park.
Community involvement
- Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare provides workshops and volunteer work opportunities along the Coffs Coast.
- There are 22 bushcare and landcare groups in the Coffs Harbour area, including in Mullaway. These groups mainly work within the Coffs Coast Regional Park. For more information go to the National Parks and Wildlife Service Coffs Harbour bushcare and landcare webpage.
Aerial view of Pine Brush Creek estuary.
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park. Pine Brush Creek is managed by Coffs Harbour City Council and the Solitary Islands Marine Park.
Threatened species
Estuaries provide important protected environments where native plants like seagrass and mangroves grow and create habitat for fish and other animals.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.