Brunswick Estuary

The Brunswick Estuary and its tributaries fall within the Cape Byron Marine Park.

The estuary drains a catchment area of some 228 km² and has a waterway area of 2.2 km² extending from the ocean entrance at Brunswick Heads, upstream to the tidal limits. The Brunswick Estuary is a special place to the local community and is highly valued for its natural, cultural and ecological attributes.

The Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for the Brunswick Estuary(PDF, 18MB) presents the methodology and mechanism for Council to manage the estuary into the future.

The plan focuses on the tidal waters, foreshores and adjacent lands of the Brunswick Estuary, extending from the ocean entrance at Brunswick Heads upstream to the tidal limits. In 2017, Council undertook a complete review and update of the CZMP. 

The CZMP is founded on the Brunswick Estuary Study (2002) which outlines the physical, chemical and biological processes within the estuary and the impact of human activities on these processes. The precursor of the CZMP is the Brunswick Estuary Management Study and Plan (2007), which identifies and prioritises estuary management issues, values, objectives and strategies.

For more information visit our Brunswick River and  Marshalls Creek Floodplain pages.