Managing the impacts of toxicants in urban stormwater and wastewater treatment plant discharges on the health of estuaries and bays.
Healthy Waterways Strategy (HWS) performance objectives are needed for toxicants in estuaries and bays to better inform risk-based management and protect biodiversity, amenity, and recreational values. Information on the occurrence and impacts of toxicants in estuaries and bays, in particular, has been identified as a research priority. This project will improve our understanding of what toxicants pose an ecological threat to the health of estuaries and bays and help establish clear goals for future catchment management activities.
To understand which toxicants pose a risk to the health of estuaries and bays, Year One of this project will consolidate existing data and collect new data to determine whether toxicants across the region occur at levels likely to impact estuarine and bay flora and fauna. The results of the knowledge synthesis will be used to inform priorities for data collection in subsequent stages of the project (i.e., Year Two and beyond). This may include: • Undertaking ecotoxicological studies to determine whether observed toxicants concentrations can impact key environmental values. • Collecting baseline data which will contribute towards environmental water quality performance target settings for bays and estuaries in the Healthy Waterways Strategy 2028 renewal.
Began in Oct 2023
2028
For more information, please contact the project lead:
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.