Painkalac Creek Estuary
Corangamite CMA
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Active Painkalac Creek EstuaryWatchers
Painkalac Creek Estuary is approximately 3.5km in length and has a catchment area of 318.1Ha. It is a beautiful coastal lagoon system which attracts the spotted green frog and the eastern banjo frog (Pobblebonk).
Map
Estuary Values
- the Painkalac Creek estuary has been identified as an Important Bird Area
- significant birds can be found on the Painkalac Creek estuary such as the Eastern Great Egret (Ardea modesta) Status: Vulnerable (Adv list), Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) Status: Near Threatened (Adv list), Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) Status: Vulnerable (Adv List)
- Riparian Forest Ecological Vegetation Class (Vulnerable)
- Swampy Riparian Woodland Ecological Vegetation Class (Endangered)
- Riparian Scrub/Swampy Riparian Woodland Complex Ecological Vegetation Class (Depleted)
- Sedgy Riparian Woodland Ecological Vegetation Class (Depleted)
- canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddling
- picnics and barbecues
- recreational fishing
- sightseeing
- swimming
Estuary Threats
- Degraded estuarine vegetation
- Disturbance of Acid Sulphate Soils
- Artificial estuary openings
- Flow deviation
- Stock access
- Bed instability
- Painkalac_Estuary_Management_Plan.pdf
- Science_behind_estuary_openings_Painkalac_Creek_Factsheet_2022_FINAL.pdf
- Painkalac Creek Estuary Fact Sheet
Recent Events
| Event Details |
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| 25-07-2022 Estuary Entrance Opening Dear Community members With the recent partial opening on July 15th, Council has been monitoring Painkalac Creek water levels. With a saturated catchment any inflows over the past 2 weeks have resulted in water level rise. The weekends 7mm of rain in the catchment saw river levels rise to 1.9 metres which results in minor drain flooding along roadsides in specific low lying areas. The reservoir is currently full and is therefore not able to hold back any upstream inflows. The sand berm at the river mouth is blocking the river flows and is approximately 0.65metres above the estuary water levels. With a further rainfall forecast of 20mm due and without removal of the sand berm, it is likely water levels will rise enough to cause flooding to houses. Council is therefore proposing to open the estuary mouth today with the support of CCMA, Barwon Water and DELWP. Sharna Whitehead PS from Rod Brooks: The estuary had naturally closed on 13 August but naturally reopened on 14 August following rainfall and then naturally closed on 11 September 2022 |
| 21-07-2022 EstuaryWatch Monitoring Group notices & meetings Painkalac Creek fringing vegetation type maps from 2017 These maps have been made by one of EstuaryWatch team Evy Gomm using open source data collected by Sinclair and Kohout 2018 The online data source is: https://discover.data.vic.gov.au/dataset/index-of-estuarine-condition-estuarine-fringing-vegetation The report where the data collection methods are described is attached: Sinclair, S.J. and Kohout, M. (2018). Assessment of fringing vegetation for the index of estuary condition. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 290. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria.
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| 15-07-2022 Estuary Entrance Opening Dear Community members With the recent wet weather, Council has been monitoring Painkalac Creek water levels. River levels have risen to 1.89 metres which results in minor drain flooding along roadsides in specific low lying areas. The reservoir is currently full and is therefore not able to hold back any upstream inflows. The sand berm at the river mouth is blocking the river flows and is approximately 0.65 metres above the estuary water levels. With a further significant rainfall event due and without removal of the sand berm, it is likely water levels will rise enough to cause flooding to houses. Council is therefore proposing to open the estuary mouth today with the support of CCMA, Barwon Water and DELWP. Sharna Whiteheasd P.S. the opening was only partial and closed over in a few days. |
| 17-06-2022 Estuary Entrance Opening Council digger artificially opening estuary mouth |
Sites
P1 |
Estuary mouth area approximately 20m behind sand dune at estuary mouthRetired Physico-Chemical 23-05-2007 - 23-05-2007Estuary mouth area approximately 20m behind sand dune at estuary mouth Observations 1 |
P2 |
Great Ocean Road Bridge at Aireys InletActive Physico-Chemical 11-05-2007 - 09-02-2025Great Ocean Road Bridge at Aireys Inlet - centre post Observations 228 |
P3 |
Coastal Court Fishing PlatformActive Physico-Chemical 14-07-2007 - 09-02-2025Fishing platform adjacent to Coastal Court Observations 158 |
P4 |
The BendActive Physico-Chemical 19-10-2007 - 11-01-2025Fishing platform at The Bend in the estuary Observations 180 |
P5 |
Woods Property FairhavenActive Physico-Chemical 23-05-2007 - 11-01-2025Fishing jetty at private property. Property owner consent required for access. Observations 179 |
PGB |
Painkalac Creek Water Level Gauge BoardActive Gauge BoardThe water level gauge board, used in the mouth condition monitoring process, is located under the Great Ocean bridge. It can be read from the western bank on the inland side of the bridge. |
PMC |
Painkalac Creek Observation SiteActive Mouth Condition 23-05-2007 - 12-01-2025Lookout platform on eastern side of estuary Observations 282 |
Pp1 |
Painkalac Creek PhotopointActive Photopoint 13-08-2010 - 12-01-2025Lookout platform on eastern side of estuary Photos 730 |
Estuary Snapshots
Summer 2025
Spring 2024
Winter 2024
Autumn 2024
Summer 2024
Spring 2023
Winter 2023
Autumn 2023
Summer 2022
Spring 2022
Winter 2022
Autumn 2022
Summer 2022
Spring 2021
Winter 2021
Autumn 2021
Spring 2020
Winter 2020
Autumn 2020
Summer 2020
Mouth Condition Snapshots
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