TEER Program Manager, Darren McPhee and isNRM Director, Dr Rebecca Kelly, presented at the launch of the 2023 Freshwater Report Card to explain how the report card has been developed and what the results show.
In this video, you’ll hear more about the different habitat types in lower kanamaluka / Tamar estuary, how they support a vast ecosystem, and how community members enjoy and interact with these habitats.
Download the ‘Marine Habitats’ fact sheet here.
In this video, we discover more about some of the species living in the estuary, threats they face, and how we can protect them for future generations.
Download the ‘Protected Areas’ fact sheet here.
To the north of Launceston city, the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary meanders through the productive Tamar Valley. The rolling hills of the valley are home to rich agricultural land and offer a range of recreational opportunities, enjoyed by locals and tourists alike.
Download the ‘Saltmarsh’ fact sheet here.
In this new video we explore the changes seen in the upper kanamaluka, as well as one of its most diverse and productive ecosystems, the Tamar Island Wetlands.
Download the ‘Wetlands’ fact sheet and ‘Modification to the Upper Estuary’ fact sheet for more information.
The South Esk is the longest river in Tasmania. At over 250km, it’s about the same distance as driving from George Town to Hobart. Beginning on the eastern slopes of Ben Lomond, the South Esk winds through towns and rich farmland, and flows into Lake Trevallyn before entering the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary near Launceston.
Download the ‘Flows Through the South Esk’ fact sheet here.
In this video we explore how local farmers are doing their part to protect and enhance riparian vegetation and ecosystems of the North Esk and its tributaries.
Traditional owners of the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary have used and respected the waterway for generations. In this video, we learn more about Aboriginal connections to the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary and Esk rivers catchment, including the significance of Cataract Gorge.
Waterways flowing through greater Launceston are highly dynamic and diverse, and the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary has been identified as one of the most diverse estuaries in Tasmania. The estuary and surrounding waterways support migratory species, threatened ecological vegetation communities, and provide important breeding and feeding habitats.
Download the ‘Natural History and Values of the kanamaluka’ fact sheet and ‘What is an Estuary?’ fact sheet to learn more.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers (TEER) Program launched the eighth biennial kanamaluka / Tamar Estuary Report Card in July 2022. TEER Program Manager Darren McPhee presents a summary of the methodology and findings from the kanamaluka / Tamar Estuary 2022 Report Card. The Report Card and associated Technical Report are available to download from the Tamar Estuary Report Cards page.
An inspiring welcome given by Melissa Carter.
Ted Lefroy, University of Tasmania, explains global trends in environmental management, including how management ideas have changed and been influenced by communities.
Geoff McLean is a Tasmanian Aboriginal Historian and a former lecturer in Aboriginal histories and cultures at the University of Tasmania. Geoff runs a small business, Wallaby Walkabout Tours, conducting Tasmanian Aboriginal cultural and histories experiences in the Cataract Gorge for individuals, groups, and in particular, schools.
In her 10th year as President of the Launceston Historical Society, Marion has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in History and Geography from TSIT, and a Graduate Diploma in Librarianship from the University of Tasmania.
David Maynard is Senior Curator Natural Sciences at Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery. He spent over a decade diving and photographing the subtidal habitats and inhabitants of the lower kanamaluka / Tamar estuary and participating in a variety of research projects that have helped to understand the biotic and abiotic conditions in the estuary. David was the lead curator of the exhibition Beneath the Tamar: More Than Silt (and the accompanying book), and more recently Estuary: Below the Surface.
Hear him discuss estuarine ecology in the kanamaluka / Tamar.
Dr. Jo Fearman, Operations Manager at NRM North, leads and manages operations in the water space, supporting the Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers (TEER) and River Health Action Plan programs. She explains the role of the TEER program, and value of the partnership in working towards healthy waterways.
Susan is an environmental scientist with 25 years’ experience and has been working at TasPorts for 4 years. Her role at TasPorts covers all technical environmental topics including air quality, noise, marine pollution, runoff controls, contaminated soils, and biosecurity. Susan's role is to develop and improve TasPorts knowledge, understanding and systems to manage environmental aspects of TasPorts operations. She is passionate about doing more with less and treating the environment and community with respect, including making the time and effort to get to know it.
Rene is an experienced Aquaculture Technician with more than 20 years of experience in Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout, Pacific Salmon and King Salmon farming in recirculation and flow through systems. In this presentation he gives insight into Petuna Aquaculture's latest science and technology innovations.
Andrew is an Environmental Engineer with over 20 years’ experience. His current role within TasWater is in the Capital Delivery Office where he leads the Planning and Investigation team who undertake strategic project planning activities such as concept engineering, optioneering and business case development.
Andrew discusses infrastructure projects planned as part of the Tamar Estuary River Health Action Plan.
Jesse works with stakeholders in Tasmania’s northern NRM region to help reduce threats to water quality and ecological health that are linked to the Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers (TEER) catchments.
Jesse speaks about the implementation of Tamar Action Grants within the dairy and grazing industries, as part of the delivery of the River Health Action Plan, funded through the Launceston City Deal.
Ed works as an engineer for City of Launceston in Asset Management, Infrastructure and Assets. His experience includes road and drainage asset management, project management and condition assessments.
The Sewage Intrusion Program was a City-wide investigation project funded by the River Health Action Plan to locate and rectify sewage intrusions within Launceston's stormwater network. He presents the findings and improvements made through the delivery of this project.
Long-time resident of Launceston, Ian Kidd has been researching the Tamar for more than 10 years. He has co-authored and published eight papers on the Tamar from his PhD work in 2017. Ian’s research has led to a greater understanding of the tidal processes at play in the Tamar. In his talk, Ian discusses the role of tidal prism in the North Esk and how this has changed since European settlement.
Kathryn Pugh is the Team Leader Water at the City of Launceston. Kathryn has extensive experience in landscape water quality and aquatic habitat monitoring, impact assessments and threatened species management, and more recent experience in drainage asset management. She has a long history with the City's estuary, undertaking impact assessments in the early 2000s and contributing to the 2008 State of the Tamar Report. She has been a core member of recent projects, including the River Health Action Plan, the Sediment Raking Program Review and the Environment, flooding and aesthetics: Sediment in the kanamaluka/Tamar estuary.
Kathryn talks about shifting baselines of the kanamaluka / Tamar estuary.
Dr Rebecca Kelly is an expert in modelling the impacts of climate variability, and changes in land use and management on natural resources, in particular on estuary and river systems. Dr Kelly has over 20 years of experience in integrated assessment and modelling of a broad range of natural resource issues including estuary management, water allocation and biodiversity conservation. Her areas of expertise include data analysis, development of integrated modelling approaches and frameworks, development and application of participatory approaches, and the design and use of decision support systems for management and planning purposes. Recent projects include development of a Water Quality Improvement Plan and subsequent River Health Action Plan for the kanamaluka/Tamar estuary which led to a $140 million funding commitment from State and Federal Governments in improved management. In 2019 she was a finalist for AWA’s Tasmanian Water Professional of the year.
This presentation is an opportunity to learn from Rebecca about recent modelling and evaluation of sediment management options for the upper kanamaluka / Tamar estuary.
Gary Swain is the Deputy Secretary at the Department of State Growth, and the current chair of the Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce (TEMT). He explains TEMT's future vision of kanamaluka / Tamar estuary, and what the next steps are to create a cultural and recreation precinct surrounding the upper estuary.
The kanamaluka/Tamar estuary is a unique and beautiful place. The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program present a 12 part video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together For Healthy Waterways.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program presents a video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together For Healthy Waterways. Hear from Christine Hansen, Manager of Knowledge and Content at QVMAG (Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery) about the social history of kanamaluka/Tamar.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program presents a video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together for Healthy Waterways. Hear from Peter Cox, Launceston Geography and Geomorphology expert about the natural history of kanamaluka/Tamar.
The Tamar Estuary Management Taskforce (TEMT) is able to utilise the science and planning work of the Tamar Estuary and Esk River (TEER) program to identify priority actions and leverage funding for implementation. Hear from Rolph Vos, General Manager at West Tamar Council and Chair of the TEER Strategy Partnership Committee and Gary Swain, Acting Chair of the TEMT and Acting CEO of Infrastructure Tasmania.
Partners of the Tamar Estuary and Esk River (TEER) program have been working together for over 10 years to collect baseline data which has been used to identify options for water quality improvement. Hear from Dr Jo Fearman, previous TEER Program Manager, now Acting CEO at NRM North.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program presents a video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together For Healthy Waterways. Hear from Dr Rebecca Kelly, Water Quality Consultant and previous Chair of the Scientific and Technical Committee for TEER about what we can do to reduce pollutant inputs.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program presents a video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together For Healthy Waterways. Hear from Royce Aldred, Trade Waste Contracts Manager at TasWater about TasWaters environmental commitments.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program presents a video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together For Healthy Waterways. Hear from Jason Barnett, Process Engineer at TasWater about Sewerage System Optimisation.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program presents a video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together For Healthy Waterways. Hear from Marie Egerrup, Principal Environmental Scientist at Hydro Tasmania about flows in the South Esk and the management of Trevallyn Dam.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program presents a video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together For Healthy Waterways. Hear from Erica Deegan who works in Flood Management at City of Launceston about flood management and Launceston's levee protection.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program presents a video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together For Healthy Waterways. Hear from Karen Palmer, Research Associate at the University of Tasmania in Geography and Spatial Sciences about the tides in the estuary and changes expected from sea level rise.
The Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Program presents a video series on kanamaluka/Tamar - Working Together For Healthy Waterways. Hear from Peter Cox, Launceston Geography and Geomorphology expert about the natural history of kanamaluka/Tamar and how the system has been modified in the past.
The 2020 Tamar Estuary Report Card shows an overall improvement in water quality across all zones of the estuary since the last Report Card in 2018. No major flooding and ceasing the sediment raking program in 2019 was an important factor that led to improvements in ecosystem health.
We’ve heard you. Some feedback on our recent short films about the kanamaluka/Tamar estuary has suggested that nothing is being done. Some said there are too many reports, too much talk. Thankfully improvements have been happening for quite some time, but perhaps we haven't made it clear what is going on. Here is a short film that shows some of what has been done in the past and what is happening now to improve water quality. Enjoy.