Estuaries of Australia in 2050 and Beyond – A Synthesis

Abstract

This book “Estuaries of Australia in 2050 and Beyond” in the series “Estuaries of the World” addresses the question: Is Australia’s growing human population and economy environmentally sustainable for its estuaries and coasts by 2050? To answer this question, this chapter summarises detailed studies of a number of iconic Australian estuaries and bays. They can be divided in three types based on the human impact, namely (1) estuaries that bore the full pressure of the historical developments, (2) estuaries being degraded, and (3) estuaries that are still relatively pristine. For type (1) the case studies focus on Sydney Estuary, the Coorong/Murray-Darling Estuary, Port Philip Bay, and the Tamar Estuary. For type (2) the case studies focus on the Gold Coast Broadwater, the Hawkesbury Estuary, the Burdekin flood plains, Moreton Bay, the Ord River estuary, Brisbane peri-urban estuaries, South Australia gulfs, Hervey Bay, and Darwin Harbour. For type (3) the case studies focus on the Mary River estuary and floodplains in the Northern Territory and Deluge Inlet in Queensland. In addition, summaries are also provided of the state of the environment and the management strategy for a number of other estuaries and coastal waters. Overall, this chapter synthesises multidisciplinary scientific knowledge in time and space across Australia to suggest what Australian estuaries may look like in 2050 based on socio-economic decisions that are made now, and the changes that are needed to ensure sustainability.