Tomaree Sandbeds
The Tomaree Sandbeds lie on the end of the Tomaree Peninsula approximately 50 kilometres northeast of Newcastle. On the outskirts of the Sandbeds are the growing towns of Anna, Nelson, Fingal and Shoal Bays.
| Tomaree Sandbeds | |
|---|---|
| Catchment area | 16km2 |
| Dam volume | 16,024ML (1ML = 1 million litres) |
| Annual rainfall | 1350mm |
| Areas supplied | Tomaree Peninsula |
| Land use breakdown of catchment | 88% National Park, 12% rural residential or urban |
The Catchment
The Sandbeds are primarily covered by Tomaree National Park. The system consists of 21 bores within the Anna Bay, Glovers Hill and Nelson Bay sandbeds.
The Sandbeds are the Peninsula's primary water source, therefore it is important to ensure that these Sandbeds are effectively managed to avoid contamination. The Anna Bay bores are located in a deep sand aquifer.
Extraction of water from the aquifer
Extracted water is treated at the Anna Bay and Glovers Hill Water Treatment Plants, each with a capacity to treat and deliver up to 12 megalitres per day.
Water quality and catchment health
Water from the Anna Bay aquifer is of a good quality. Sand itself is an efficient filter of contaminants and therefore pollutants do not travel quickly and are normally inactivated. In addition, most of the land within the catchments falls under protected areas, which preserves drinking water quality. We work with land use planners and industry in this area to protect the Sandbeds as a natural resource.
Public access
The Tomaree Sandbeds catchment is mostly contained within the Tomaree National Park which is managed by New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Services. This National Park includes public access to walking tracks, bicycle riding, and limited vehicle access.
Access restrictions include no horse riding, no domestic pets, and no driving off authorised access roads.
Penalties
The penalties for non-compliance and further information can be found on the Public access to dams and catchments page.