Estuaries are the interface between rivers and the sea, where freshwater meets saltwater, where discharges from upstream catchment areas meet the cyclic ebb and flood of tidal discharges, and where the aquatic flora and fauna of freshwater regimes meet their marine counterparts. (South West Estuaries Coastal Action Plan)

Estuaries are defined in the Victorian Coastal Strategy, (1997) as an "inlet or river mouth that is influenced by tides and freshwater inputs from the catchment".

Estuaries are semi-enclosed coastal bodies of water where freshwater mixes with saltwater and include bays, inlets, river mouths, mud flats, wetlands, mangroves, saltmarshes and reed beds. The coastline of Victoria contains about 123 bays, inlets and estuaries, varying in water area from about 2,000 km2 to 1 km2.

River and Estuary Management Roles and Responsibilities ( Central West Estuaries Coastal Action Plan 2005)

Planning and management of estuaries in Victoria is addressed in the following plans for implemeatation:
· South West Estuaries Coastal Action Plan 2002

· Central West Estuaries Coastal Action Plan 2005

· Gippsland Estuaries Coastal Action Plan 2006

See also:
· Rivers

· Estuarine Health Project (Museum of Victoria)

· Estuaries (Environment Protection Authority)

· Bays, Inlets and Estuaries (Department of Sustainability and Environment)

· Victorian Estuaries Network

· National Estuaries Network

· Estuary Assessment 2000 Victoria (Australian Natural Resources Atlas)

· Information on Understanding Estuary Condition (Australian Natural Resources Atlas)

· Information on Understanding Estuary Processes (Australian Natural Resources Atlas)

· Information on Tools and Information to Support Estuary Management (Australian Natural Resources Atlas)

· Inventory of Australian Estuaries and Enclosed Marine Waters (Department of Environment and Heritage)

· Estuary Entrance Management Support System (Department of Sustainability and Environment)

· OzEstuaries (Geoscience Australia)

· Maribyrnong and Yarra Estuaries: Investigation of Contamination in Fish (Environment Protection Authority)

· Curdies River Estuary Management Plan Project (Moyne Shire Council)

Overseas
· Estuarine Research Foundation (US)

RIVER AND ESTUARY MANAGEMENT ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Department Of Sustainability And Environment
Responsibilities Strategic direction for park and reserve management; management of all public land except parks and reserves; flora and fauna management; catchment and water management; forest management; coastal and port management; administration of the consent requirements of the Coastal Management Act ; leasing; licensing and management of public land; strategic and statutory land use planning including the administration of the Victorian Planning Provisions.

Department Of Primary Industries
Responsibilities Provides strategic direction for fisheries management and research; agricultural services and sustainable development of Victoria ’s energy and mineral resources.

Parks Victoria
Responsibilities: Manages National, State and Coastal Parks and conservation reserves

Southern Rural Water
Responsibilities: Service delivery – provides irrigation, drainage, salinity control, water supply, management of specific water supply catchments. Development of Streamflow Management Plans. License off-stream diversions (stock and domestic)

Regional Water Authorities
Responsibilities: Service delivery – provides water and sewerage service to urban communities, management of specific water supply catchments.Referral Authority under Planning Schemes.

Catchment Management Authorities
Responsibilities: Development of Regional Catchment Strategies, advice in catchment management, funding for catchment management works, environmental improvement of the regions' waterways including revegetation and rehabilitation, erosion control, implementation of nutrient management plan, floodplain management and issue of permits for works on waterways. CCMA is responsible for advice to the Minister about the composition of Streamflow Management Plan consultative committees. It coordinates and implements river health plans and manages river health including estuaries.

Environment Protection Authority
Responsibilities: Statutory body, protection, restorati on and enhancement of air, land and water quality and control of unwanted noise. Licence sewage and other discharges, water quality monitoring, recommends State Environment Protection Policies for specified segments of the environment (SEPP -Waters of Victoria). Responds to pollution incidents, investigation of spills through the Pollution of Waters by oil and noxious substances.

Victorian Coastal Council
Responsibilities: Overall strategic planning advice for state coastal planning and management matters.Administers the Victorian Coastal Strategy.

Coastal Boards
Responsibilities: Provides strategic regional coastal planning and management advice and co-ordinates the preparation of Coastal Action Plans.

Local Government
Responsibilities: Service delivery – regulates local development through planning schemes, on ground works, manages urban and rural drainage. Administers planning schemes and regulate land use and development activities.

Committees Of Management
Responsibilities: Elected or skills based appointed members of the public, local government or Parks Victoria who undertake on ground management works.