The coastal Macleay sub catchment has an area of 739 sq km and waterway area of 18.2 sq km. The Macleay River has a catchment area of 11,435 sq km. Defined as a mature barrier estuary formed by the gradual infilling of the coastal basin by fluvial sediments from the landward end and by marine sediments from the seaward entrance it is bordered by Nambucca to the north and Hastings catchment to the south.

The Macleay estuary is a mature barrier dominated system in a high energy ocean wave setting. It is a filled delta system dominated by fluvial processes. It can be broken into 3 broad process zones that reflect differing degrees of fluvial and tidal interactions. Fluvial process zone extends from tidal limit at Belgrave Falls to Kinchela (including Belmore, Kinchela and Upper Clybucca Creek). Fluvial-Marine transitional zone extends from Kinchela to Jerseyville Bridge and includes most of Clybucca Creek. Marine flood tide zone is dominated by marine derived sediment and extends from Jerseyville Bridge to the mouth of the Macleay River including the abandoned Macleay Arm.

Council gained additional funding in 2003 and 2005 to assist in the preparation of a management plan for the Macleay River estuary. An Estuary Management Plan for the Macleay River estuary is being prepared on behalf of Kempsey Shire Council and the Department of Environment & Climate Change (DECC), to fulfil the requirements of the NSW Estuary Management Policy (1992) and the NSW Coastal Policy (1997). The Plan will provide a program of strategic actions to assist government authorities and other stakeholder groups to sustain a healthy estuary through appropriate waterway, foreshore and catchment management.

Related documents

• Macleay River Estuary CMP Stage 1 Scoping Study (PDF - 8.6 MB) February 2020
• Data Compilation - Consultant's Brief (PDF 459 KB)
• Data Compilation Report (PDF - 4 MB)
  • Appendix A - Macleay River Estuary Information and Data Register (PDF - 120 KB)
  • Appendix A - Macleay River Estuary Information and Data Register (XLS - 261 KB)
• Geomorphy of the Macleay River Estuary (PDF - 2.7 MB)
• Process Study - Consultant Brief (PDF - 701 KB)
• Flora and Fauna Study (PDF - 1.6 MB)
• Plan 1 - Vegetation Zones (PDF - 543 KB)
• Plan 2 - Vegetation Zone A (PDF - 677 KB)
• Plan 3 - Vegetation Zone B (PDF - 634 KB)
• Plan 4 - Vegetation Zone C (PDF - 695 KB)
• Plan 5a - Rainforest Remnants (PDF - 624 KB)
• Plan 5b - Rainforest Remnants (PDF - 561 KB)
• Plan 5c - Rainforest Remnants (PDF - 707 KB)
• Plan 6 - Jucus Acuti Locations (PDF - 209 KB)

Macleay River Processes Study (final)

• Macleay River Processes Study (full document) (PDF - 15.5 MB)
• In parts:
  • Part 1 - Introduction (PDF - 424 KB)
  • Part 2 - Pages 4-18 (PDF - 2.4 MB)
  • Part 3 - Pages 19-25 (PDF - 2.5 MB)
  • Part 4 - Pages 26-36 (PDF - 1.7 MB)
  • Part 5 - Pages 37-45 (PDF - 2.9 MB)
  • Part 6 - Pages 46-62 (PDF - 958 KB)
  • Part 7 - Pages 63-79 (PDF - 1.6 MB)
  • Part 8 - Pages 80-114 (PDF - 2.0 MB)
  • Part 9 - Pages 115-176 (PDF - 568 KB)
  • Part 10 - Appendices (PDF - 1.1 MB)

Macleay River Estuary Management Study (Final)

• Macleay River Estuary Management Study Part 1 (PDF - 5.2 MB)
• Macleay River Estuary Management Study Part 2 (PDF - 4.6 MB) 
• Macleay River Estuary Management Study Part 3 (PDF - 2.6 MB) 
• Macleay River Estuary Management Study Part 4 (PDF - 3.0 MB)  

Macleay River Estuary Management Plan

• Macleay River Estuary Coastal Zone Management Plan (PDF - 12.9 MB)

DIPNR Macleay River Estuary Tidal Data Collection

• DIPNR Macleay River Estuary Tidal Data Collection Part 1 (PDF - 2.3 MB)
• DIPNR Macleay River Estuary Tidal Data Collection Part 2 (PDF - 6.4 MB)

Macleay River Estuary Ecological Study

• Consultant Brief - Macleay River Estuary Ecological Study (PDF - 245 KB)

Macleay River Estuary Ecological Study (Final)

• Part 1 - Pages 1-38 (PDF - 2.3 MB)
• Part 2 - Pages 39-82 (PDF - 1.4 MB)
• Part 3 - Pages 83-106 (PDF - 1.5 MB)
• Part 4 - Pages 107-153 (PDF - 2.7 MB)
• Part 5 - Pages 154-198 (PDF - 1.9 MB)
• Part 6 - Pages 199-216 (PDF - 1.3 MB)
• Part 7 - Pages 217-263 (PDF - 2.6 MB)
• Appendices (PDF - 4.5 MB)