Advanced water-quality monitoring technology has been installed at Lake Innes to improve understanding of the lake's condition and support ongoing actions under the Port Macquarie-Hastings Coastal Management Program (CMP).
The new water quality buoy automatically records key water quality parameters, including temperature, salinity, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and water level every 15 minutes. This live data is transmitted to the Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL) website, where it is publicly available for the community and researchers to access.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council's Coast and Estuary Coordinator Ben Foster said the improved monitoring will allow Council staff to make more informed management decisions in response to changing environmental conditions.
"This station gives us real-time insight into what's happening in Lake Innes," he said. "It's a valuable tool that helps guide evidence-based decisions to protect the health of our estuarine systems and support the long-term delivery of the CMP."
The new buoy builds on the success of an earlier pilot project led by Revive Lake Cathie and Southern Cross University, which demonstrated the value of continuous water quality monitoring in the catchment. Unlike the original pilot station, the new buoy captures additional parameters and is maintained by the NSW Government's Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, ensuring ongoing reliability and data quality.
It is a collaborative project between Port Macquarie Hastings Council, the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development - Fisheries and Forestry, NSW Marine Estate Management Strategy's Wetland Rehabilitation Program, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Revive Lake Cathie.
While the data provides useful indicators of lake health, current results show conditions remain within normal ranges for the system.
Revive Lake Cathie President, Kate Aston, welcomed the new buoy, highlighting the important role of local citizen science and ongoing advocacy.
"This new buoy builds on the work of our Waterwatch program and our first smart water quality sensor at Lake Innes," Ms Aston said. "It demonstrates the value of continuous monitoring and confirms that community-collected data can align strongly with institutional results. Projects like this strengthen our local monitoring efforts, support evidence-based action, and reinforce our commitment to improving the health and amenity of the Lake Cathie-Lake Innes estuarine system. Revive Lake Cathie will continue to monitor the buoy, deliver our Waterwatch program, and advocate as the voice of the lake to ensure its sustainable future."
"Thank you to Revive Lake Cathie for their citizen science efforts and advocacy for the lake system." Mr Foster said.
"This innovative environmental technology is a great example of local and state agencies, researchers and community groups working together to deliver practical, science-based outcomes for our coastal environment."
