Department of Environment and Natural Resources
TheDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) today released the 2018Darwin Harbour Region Report Card, with positive results recorded at most sitestested.
Sevenof the nine harbour zones tested in 2018 scored an A, compared to six As in2017 and five As in 2016.
BuffaloCreeks score changed from an E in 2017 to a D in 2018 due to naturalvariability in oxygen levels.
Noneof the sites tested recorded a negative result when compared to the previousyear.
Long-termtrends show no deterioration in Darwin Harbour water quality. Small changesbetween years are caused by natural variation.
DENRsAquatic Health Unit undertakes an annual surveillance water quality monitoringprogram of Darwin Harbour including Shoal Bay where development and populationgrowth poses increasing pressures on the harbours environment.
AquaticHealth Unit acting director, Julia Schult, said the grades given to each of thenine sites are assessed against four key water quality health indicators algae, water clarity, dissolved oxygen and nutrients.
Waterquality in Darwin Harbour is excellent at most of the locations tested, MsSchult said.
Thenine zones tested represent different physical environments in the harbour,which feature diverse marine life such as seagrass beds, coral reefs and mangroves.
Addingto the excellent result overall was the fact no aquatic pests were found inDarwin Harbour last year and the beaches were suitable for swimming during theDry Season.
TheReport Card has been published annually since 2009 with monitoring datapresented in an online format since 2017.
Thefull Report Card can be found at www.denr.nt.gov.au/reportcards
