The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has stepped up targeted pesticide compliance activities in northern Coffs Harbour catchments following the first 12 months of a Mid North Coast pesticide water monitoring project.
Monitoring data collected since mid-2025 identified recurring pesticide detections at multiple sites in the Coffs Harbour region, while detections in Nambucca Valley waterways were infrequent and occurred at low levels.
As part of the project, EPA officers collected quarterly water samples from 20 priority waterways across the Coffs Harbour and Nambucca Valley LGAs. The samples were analysed for more than 150 common pesticides and 31 trace metals.
NSW EPA Director of Field Operations Greg Sheehy said data from the project has helped identify pesticide hotspots and guide targeted compliance action across the region.
"Monitoring over the past 12 months identified regular pesticide detections at a number of Coffs Harbour sites, particularly in the Willis Creek and Hearnes Lake catchments, where pesticides were detected in every sampling round," Mr Sheehy said.
"This data has been invaluable in helping us identify where pesticides are likely entering local waterways, allowing us to launch several targeted investigations, step up our compliance work and take decisive regulatory action."
Mr Sheehy said monitoring results from the Nambucca Valley area showed just one pesticide detection across all four sampling rounds.
"This is a positive result and shows that Nambucca Valley waterways are not currently being significantly impacted by pesticides.
"However, it's important that we continue monitoring these waterways as horticultural pesticide use increases in the Nambucca Valley area."
The EPA has completed several investigations in the Willis Creek and Hearnes Lake catchments since the project began. The investigations have resulted in a range of enforcement actions, primarily related to cucumber growing operations, including:
- a $30,000 penalty notice for a water pollution offence
- a $1,000 penalty notice for unqualified pesticide use
- a clean-up notice
- multiple warnings and cautions for poor record keeping and other non-compliances.
Several investigations in the Willis Creek and Hearnes Lake catchments are ongoing.
The EPA is now calling on cucumber growers in the region to improve pesticide management practices, including capturing wastewater, or risk further regulatory action.
Sampling will continue at priority waterways in both LGAs on a quarterly basis, with results informing ongoing pesticide compliance, education, and enforcement activities to protect the local environment.
