Tomaga River Estuary

Tomaga River Estuary (the estuary) is located approximately 15km south of Batemans Bay in Eurobodalla Shire.

The entrance of the estuary, which separates the townships of Mossy Point to the south and Tomakin to the north, is permanently open and untrained.

The Tomaga River Estuary is about 9km long and its catchment is mostly generally forested and undeveloped, apart from the town of Mogo and residential development in the lower two kilometres of the estuary.

The Tomaga River Estuary is classified as a coastal plain estuary. The water of the estuary is well mixed and generally shallow. It has good water quality, extensive seagrass beds and intertidal sandflats, and is permanently open to the ocean. The estuary has mangrove and saltmarsh areas that are in good condition and contribute to an important feeding area for fish and birds.

The Tomaga River Estuary is classified as a recreational fishing haven and is protected from commercial fishing with no trawling, mesh nets or haul nets allowed.

For more information on recreational fishing havens, visit the NSW Government Department of Primary Industries website:

• Recreational fishing

Tomaga River Coastal Zone Management Plan

Coastal councils are required to prepare Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) in accordance with the Coastal Management Act 2016.

The CZMP for the Tomaga River Estuary supports the goals and objectives of the NSW Coastal Policy 1997 (the policy) and assists in implementing integrated coastal zone management for the estuary. This policy provides overarching direction for Council in the preparation and implementation of its CZMP.

The main aim of the CZMP is to protect and enhance key values of this estuary area by increasing resilience of the coastal zone and addressing key threats through efficient, effective and timely management.

The minimum requirements for a CZMP relate to:

• preparation of the CZMP
• coastal risk management
• coastal ecosystem health, and
• community uses of the coastal zone.

Preparation of the CZMP included consultation with the community and key stakeholders. The main theme raised by the community stakeholders was the need to protect the existing natural character and beauty of the area and maintain the highly valued passive recreational opportunities.

Read our Coastal Zone Management Plan

You can read Council's Coastal Zone Management Plan prepared for the Tomaga River Estuary:

• Coastal Zone Management Plan for Tomaga River Estuary (5.3 MB)

Please note: As of 1 December 2021, a reference to an Environment Protection Zone E1, E2, E3 or E4 in a document should be taken to be a reference to a Conservation Zone C1, C2, C3 or C4. For further information, please see the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's 'Standard Instrument (Local Environmental Plans) Amendment (Land Use Zones) Order 2021'.

From 1 March 2022, the 45 existing State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) have been consolidated into 11 policies. Any references on this page to any of the amended SEPPs outlined on the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure's website should be replaced with the new applicable consolidated policy.