{"id":"F2018L01463","name":"Amendment to the list of threatened species, threatened ecological communities and key threatening processes under sections 178, 181 and 183 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EC132)","slug":"f2018l01463","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":318128,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2018L01463-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-08","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Minister for the Environment","sectionType":"part","heading":"Minister for the Environment","content":"# Minister for the Environment\n\n  \nSCHEDULE\n\nAssemblages of species associated with open-coast salt-wedge estuaries of western and central Victoria\n\nThe ecological community consists of the assemblages of native plants, animals and micro-organisms that are associated with the dynamic open-coast salt-wedge estuary systems found in the temperate climate, microtidal regime (< 2 m) and high wave energy coastline of western and central Victoria.\n\nGeomorphically, the estuaries where the ecological community occurs are drowned river-valley and barrier built systems. They are generally narrow and shallow, although some may have wider lagoons or deeper pools along their length. The mouths of the estuaries are west- and east-facing and typically form a sandbar (or berm) which may overlay a sill. These estuaries are influenced by seasonal longshore sand drift and characterised by intermittent mouths (sometimes open and sometimes closed).\n\nThe ecological community occurs within 25 salt-wedge forming estuaries in the coastal region defined by the border between South Australia and Victoria (to the west) and the most southerly point of Wilsons Promontory (to the east). They typically have a highly stratified water column, with saline bottom waters forming a wedge (salt-wedge) below the inflowing freshwater layer from the parent river system. They usually have a well-formed halocline boundary layer between the two water-column layers, which may vary from a few centimetres to over 1.5 m.\n\nSalt-wedge estuaries are typically ecosystems of high ecological value which are increasingly under threat. They contribute high levels of productivity to coastal and nearshore marine environments, and provide important refuge, nursery or breeding habitat for a wide range of invertebrates, fish and birds. Many estuaries also support rare and threatened flora and fauna, in addition to internationally significant bird species.\n\nThe ecological community requires a natural seasonal hydrological regime that supports salinity stratification and salt-wedge dynamics, and connectivity and ecological function between the estuary, river and ocean (and floodplain wetland components).\n\nThe 25 river systems identified as having salt-wedge estuaries that are part of the ecological community are: Glenelg River, Surry River, Fitzroy River, Eumeralla River, Merri River, Hopkins River, Curdies River, Sherbrook River, Gellibrand River, Johanna River, Aire River, Barham River, Kennett River, Wye River, St George River, Erskine River, Painkalac Creek, Anglesea River, Spring Creek, Thompson Creek, Powlett River, Darby River, Tidal River and Growlers Creek. The length of the salt-wedge estuary varies considerably between the individual estuaries.\n\nThe ecological community includes a variety of flora and fauna species, including species that are listed as threatened at a national or state level.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument expands the EPBC Act’s listed ecological communities by adding this specific salt-wedge estuary assemblage, extending national recognition and the Act’s regulatory coverage to 25 named estuary systems in western and central Victoria and specifying their geomorphic, hydrological and geographic boundaries."},"complexity_factors":["Technical ecological and geomorphic descriptions (salt-wedge dynamics, haloclines, drowned river-valley and barrier-built systems).","Geographic specificity and enumeration of 25 named river/estuary systems.","Operational requirement to maintain natural seasonal hydrological regimes and connectivity (implementation and monitoring complexity).","Interaction with administrative processes under the EPBC Act (listing triggers regulatory compliance and decision-making by the Minister)."],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument adds *assemblages of species associated with open-coast salt-wedge estuaries of western and central Victoria* to the list of threatened ecological communities under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, identifying 25 named estuary systems. Decisions to list are made by the Minister under the Act; parties whose actions affect these estuaries—such as land managers and developers—will face compliance obligations and may need to change behaviour to preserve natural seasonal hydrology, salinity stratification and connectivity."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument performs exactly the function described in its title: amending the threatened species list to add one specific ecological community. The scope remains tightly focused on the salt-wedge estuaries of western and central Victoria with no expansion beyond this original purpose."},"complexity_factors":["Single-purpose instrument: only adds one ecological community listing with no amendments to other provisions","Minimal defined terms: uses scientific descriptors (halocline, microtidal) but these are explained in context rather than cross-referenced","No conditional logic or exceptions: straightforward declarative description of what is being listed","Linear structure: follows a simple geographic-to-ecological-to-biological descriptive flow","No internal cross-references to other legislation sections beyond the enabling provisions (sections 178, 181, 183) mentioned in the title"],"plain_english_summary":"This instrument adds “salt-wedge estuaries” — layered fresh-over-salt coastal river mouths in western and central Victoria — to Australia’s list of threatened ecological communities, covering 25 named estuaries (including the Glenelg, Hopkins, Aire and Tidal Rivers). It protects the whole living system and the natural flow regimes that maintain the salt wedge.\n\nListing matters because these estuaries are vital fish and bird nurseries, host rare species, are threatened by altered flows and lost connectivity, and now trigger federal assessment and approval for actions likely to cause significant impact."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/f2018l01463","history":"/api/acts/f2018l01463/history","analysis":"/api/acts/f2018l01463/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/f2018l01463/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/f2018l01463/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/f2018l01463/documents"}}