Location and spatial dimensions

Porters Creek Wetland ( PCW) is located in the NSW Central Coast. The wetland covers an area of 5 sq km and is the Central coast's largest freshwater wetland. For a small wetland it has a high biodiversity, including several endangered species.  Within its 50 sq. km catchment, PCW plays a vital role in filtering runoff that drains through the wetland, into the Wyong River and then into Tuggerah Lake. Increasing pressure from human activities, particularly rapid urbanisation, in the Porters Creek Wetland catchment is threatening the integrity and functioning of the wetland. Management strategies are needed to increase the resilience and sustainability of the ecosystem while protecting its natural heritage (biodiversity) and utility value (environmental services). Ecologically sustainable development in the catchment is a key to the successful management of PCW.

Porters Creek Catchment

Porters Creek Catchment is the area of land that supplies water to Porters Creek Wetland.  It stretches from Buttonderry in the northwest to Woongarah and Kanwal in the east and Wyong River in the south.  It has three main floodplains that bring water to the wetland from:

·   the east - Warnervale catchment (18 km2)

·    the north - Buttonderry Creek - Mountain Road catchment (15 km2)

·    the north-west - Jilliby, Hue Hue Creek, Warnervale Business Park catchment        (10km2)

Currently under review

The Wyong Map shows Watanobbi and the southern end of Porters Creek Wetland in the NE Quatrant of the map.

The Dooralong Map shows Warnervale Airport and Business Park, the suburbs of Warnervale and Woongarrah,  Sparks Road, the Northern Railway, M1  and the northern Porters Creek Wetland Catchment. See the SE Quadrant of the map.

The relevant sections  from these topographic maps can be found under the Fieldwork activities and techniques TAB.