The Batemans Marine Park

On 29 November 2005, NSW Premier Iemma announced a new marine park for the NSW South Coast in the Batemans Shelf Marine Bioregion.

The park was created in April 2006 and stretches from the northern end of Murramarang Beach to Wallaga Lake. It is 85,000ha and is the 6th marine park for NSW.

The area includes important conservation areas including key habitat sites for the Grey Nurse Shark at the Tollgate Islands and Montague Island.

Making the Most of the Park

To ensure that the marine park is effecitve at conserving the marine life in its waters large and well placed sanctuaries are essential.

By playing a role in the current public consultation period for the park's zoning you can help ensure a more sustainable future for the NSW south coast

Areas which Must be Protected as Sanctuaries

Wallaga Lake
A large estuary in a highly natural condition containing important wetland and proposed by a NSW Government inquiry as an Aquatic Reserve in 2002. Eleven species of bird listed under international migratory agreements
have been recorded here. This Sanctuary would protect large seagrass meadows as well as extensive salt marsh wetlands.

1080 Beach
To the south of Eurobodalla National Park, this isolated beach is of outstanding conservation value and harbours very high near-shore biodiversity.

Montague Island
The reefs surrounding the island are key habitat for the critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark and of immense conservation significance for an abundance of marine life. The Island is the only remaining basking area in NSW for Australian fur seals, is one of the most important sea bird
breeding sites in NSW and the second largest breeding area in Australia for Little Penguins. Montague Island was first recommended for protection by NPA in 1995.

Wagonga Head
Identified by the NSW Government as a candidate Aquatic Reserve in 1999 and contains an outstanding diversity of intertidal rocky shore habitats and species.

Wagonga Inlet
This estuary was identified by the Government for its high species diversity, ecological importance and high conservation value and vulnerability. It is home to the threatened Estuary cod. This Sanctuary would protect large areas of Posidonea seagrass, which is underrepresented in the Government draft Zoning Plan.

Lake Brou
Abutting Eurobodalla National Park, Brou Lake has extreme natural sensitivity in a near pristine catchment. It is among the most important nesting sites in the bioregion for the endangered Little Tern and was
recommended for protection in 2002 by a Government inquiry. This addition would protect large areas of salt marsh and the rare Ruppia seagrass ,which is unrepresented in the Government draft Zoning Plan.

Brou Beach to Potato Point
An isolated beach and intertidal rocky shore abutting Eurobodalla National Park, this Sanctuary includes an extensive area of complex reef systems and gutters out to over 40m depths.

Tuross Lake
This unique estuary contains important salmarsh and mangrove wetlands, and harbours dense seagrass meadows. The Lake has long been recognised as highly productive with an abundance of marine species. This
nesting site of the endangered Little Tern harbours 14 bird species listed under international migratory agreements and 5 listed as threatened in NSW.

Mullimburra Point to Congo
This Sanctuary would protect extensive intertidal rocky shores and near-shore reefs and was first recommended for protection by NPA in 1995.

Bengello Beach and Broulee Island
Surrounding the Island is an extensive system of intertidal rocky shores and near shore reefs, harbouring Threatened fish species. First recommended for protection by NPA in 1995.

Tollgates, North Head
Tollgate Islands harbours prolific marine life. The area supports almost 9% of the endangered Grey Nurse Shark of NSW. This addition would fully protect these sharks known range. The area was rated by the Government
as one of the most important areas in the bioregion for ecosystems and habitat complexity. North Head was first recommended for protection by NPA in 1995.

Clyde River
A tide dominated drowned river valley containing important wetlands. This Sancturary would protect seagrass meadows, mangrove and salt marsh.

Durras Lake
A near pristine intermittent lagoon containing important wetlands of very high ecological significance. The Lake was recommended for protection in 2002 by a government inquiry and proposed as an Aquatic Reserve
by NSW Fisheries in 2001. This Sanctuary would protect extensive seagrass meadows, 12 threatened species of birds and 13 birds species listed under international migratory agreements.

Brush Island
Rated as among the most important areas in the bioregion, due to its ecosystem and habitat complexity. This Sanctuary would protect extensive areas of sponge gardens and may once again become home to Grey Nurse
Sharks. The waters surrounding the Island were first proposed for protection by NPA in 1995

Get Involved!

Support sanctuary zones at the key conservation areas listed above in the current public consultation period.

Visit one of the following SEA members websites for more information and to participate:

NPA~Marine

Nature Conservation Council of NSW

The Wilderness Society

Hunter Community Environment Centre