Derwent Estuary Program

20/08/2026

Book your ticket now! Bookings close on Monday 24th of August and we don't want you to miss out. We hope you can join us for this deep dive into the workings of the Timtumili Minaya/Derwent Estuary.

How can science meet art for Little Penguins and Spotted Handfish🐧? Why does Timumuli Minanya matter from a cultural perspective?🐚 What species live in rocky reef in the Derwent River?🐠

Join us as we Dive into Timtumuli Minanya/the Derwent during National Science Week!🧪🤿

Hear from our very own staff, industry partners and researchers as we reveal the current health of the estuary, and how our project partners are working to protect Derwent health for future generations.

Speaker highlights:

Dr Maarten De Brauwer, Southern Cross University 🎓 combining new technologies 🧬 and traditional knowledge to improve estuarine health

Phillip Pennisi, Derwent Estuary Program 🌊 from rain to estuary - stormwater and swimming ⛈️🏊‍♀️

Ursula Taylor, Derwent Estuary Program with Jasmine Young and Ashleigh Carden, Glenorchy City Council 🌊 saltmarsh restoration for the community🌿🥾

Olivia Johnson, Derwent Estuary Program 🌊 Two Decades of Monitoring the Derwent: Patterns, Progress and Priorities for Action📊💦

Curious to learn more? Register now! https://www.scienceweek.net.au/event/dive-into-timtumili-minanya-derwent/new-town/

City of Clarence City of Hobart Glenorchy City Council Derwent Valley Council Brighton Council Kingborough CouncilTasPorts TasWater Nyrstar Australia - Hobart Hydro Tasmania Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania Boyer Paper Mill Tasmania

04/08/2026

How can science meet art for Little Penguins and Spotted Handfish🐧? Why does Timumuli Minanya matter from a cultural perspective?🐚 What species live in rocky reef in the Derwent River?🐠

Join us as we Dive into Timtumuli Minanya/the Derwent during National Science Week!🧪🤿

Hear from our very own staff, industry partners and researchers as we reveal the current health of the estuary, and how our project partners are working to protect Derwent health for future generations.

Speaker highlights:

Dr Maarten De Brauwer, Southern Cross University 🎓 combining new technologies 🧬 and traditional knowledge to improve estuarine health

Phillip Pennisi, Derwent Estuary Program 🌊 from rain to estuary - stormwater and swimming ⛈️🏊‍♀️

Ursula Taylor, Derwent Estuary Program with Jasmine Young and Ashleigh Carden, Glenorchy City Council 🌊 saltmarsh restoration for the community🌿🥾

Olivia Johnson, Derwent Estuary Program 🌊 Two Decades of Monitoring the Derwent: Patterns, Progress and Priorities for Action📊💦

Curious to learn more? Register now! https://www.scienceweek.net.au/event/dive-into-timtumili-minanya-derwent/new-town/

City of Clarence City of Hobart Glenorchy City Council Derwent Valley Council Brighton Council Kingborough CouncilTasPorts TasWater Nyrstar Australia - Hobart Hydro Tasmania Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania Boyer Paper Mill Tasmania

23/07/2026

🌊 Dive into Timtumili Minanya/the Derwent this Science Week! 🌊
Join us on Thursday 27 August at the Tasmanian Hockey Centre for the DEP Science Week Symposium and discover the story of our estuary through the eyes of the scientists and environmental managers working to understand and protect it. Whether you're a community member, student, environmental professional, or simply curious about the health of Timtumili Minanya/the Derwent, this inspiring day will bring you the latest insights on water quality, ecosystem health, and challenges facing our iconic waterway.
🎓 Calling students! We're inviting Expressions of Interest for student poster presentations showcasing Derwent-related projects. Successful applicants will receive FREE registration (valued at $50) to attend the symposium.
📌 Submit a 200-word EOI outlining your project to [email protected] with the subject line "DEP Symposium – Your Name" by Monday 10 August 2026.
🔗 Find out more and register:
https://www.scienceweek.net.au/event/dive-into-timtumili-minanya-derwent/new-town/

16/07/2026

Today we launched the 2025-26 Recreational Water Quality Report.

There are positive signs, with improved long-term water quality ratings at several Derwent beaches and bays. However, some results across the estuary show that work needs to continue to address stormwater pollution.

We're committed to working alongside councils, TasWater and the Tasmanian Government to improve water quality and protect the waterways our community values. See the new water quality ratings here: https://www.derwentestuary.org.au/beach-watch/

10/07/2026

What’s changed beneath the Derwent Estuary over the past decade?

In 2024, the Derwent Estuary Program commissioned IMAS to revisit 27 intertidal and subtidal reef sites across the estuary, first surveyed in 2010. The new report compares the two surveys, revealing how fish, invertebrate and algal communities have changed over the last decade.

Key findings include:
🌿 Kelp expansion into the middle estuary and deeper waters, suggesting improvements in local water quality.
🐟 A significant decline in Bastard Trumpeter, potentially linked to increased recreational spearfishing pressure.
🦪 More Native Oysters, particularly in the upper Derwent Estuary, indicating positive changes for this important native species.
🌡️ Signs of warming waters, with range-extending species such as Mado Sweep and Pink Snapper observed in the estuary.

Read the full report on the Derwent Estuary Program website to learn more about how the estuary's reef ecosystems are changing over time. Visit https://www.derwentestuary.org.au/publications/

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies - IMAS Glenorchy City Council City of Hobart City of Clarence Derwent Valley Council Brighton Council Kingborough Council Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Nyrstar Australia - Hobart TasWater Hydro Tasmania TasPorts Boyer Paper Mill

09/07/2026

Wednesday was the official opening of the boardwalk and the milaythina rayakana Palawa cultural saltmarsh trail at the saltmarsh restoration at Windermere Bay. We celebrated with a community planting along with Glenorchy City Council. We had help from 22 people, who planted 300 plants that will buffer and stabilise the saltmarsh. Twelve months on from scraping, the saltmarsh is returning, along with fish and birds.

This project was funded by the Australian Government's Urban Rivers and Catchments Program, and we are so proud of the results!

Many thanks to Glenorchy City Council City of Hobart City of Clarence Kingborough Council Brighton Council Derwent Valley Council Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

06/07/2026

🌿 Celebrate a new chapter for Windermere Bay! 🌿

Join our Environment Team and the Derwent Estuary Program as we celebrate the completion of the Windermere Bay saltmarsh restoration and the opening of the new boardwalk and cultural trail.

Come along for a morning of presentations, celebration and hands-on activities as we mark this important milestone for our local environment and community.

📅 Wednesday, 8 July 2026
🕙 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
📍 Windermere Bay saltmarsh area (parking available at the foreshore carpark off Cadbury Road)

On the day you'll enjoy:
🌱 Welcome and project updates
🦆 Insights into the biodiversity already returning to the restored saltmarsh
🎉 Official opening of the new boardwalk and cultural trail
🌿 An optional community planting activity (10:30 am–12:30 pm)
🥪 A light lunch from 12:30 pm

If you'd like to take part in the planting, please wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, enclosed shoes and a hat. We'll provide all the tools, gloves, water, tea, coffee and lunch.

Whether you'd like to lend a hand, learn more about the restoration, or simply celebrate this fantastic community achievement, we'd love to see you there!

[Image is two pairs of hands holding gloves].

23/06/2026

The Derwent Estuary Program is a not-for-profit and we operate under funding support, partnering for projects, applying for grants and receiving donations.

If you would like to show your support we appreciate anything you can do! A small act can make a big difference to the Derwent.

Donations help with our science and restoration activities including rocky reef and marine pest surveys, monitoring of heavy metals in water and seafood, monitoring of bacteria levels at beaches, restoration of saltmarsh and w**d control in wetlands ... so many ways to have an impact. Thank you for supporting your waterways!

A small act can make a big difference – volunteer, receive our newsletter, make a donation to science and conservation.

21/05/2026

We are very pleased to have been included in this year's finalists for the National Water Awards in the National Infrastructure Project Innovation award category. Winners will be announced on 27 May as part of the Ozwater Conference in Brisbane.

Our project - Tasmania's First Catchment Scale Real-Time Water Quality Analyser Trial - has been very successful thanks to our partners: The Ian Potter Foundation , Eco Detection , TasWater, EPA Tasmania, Hydro Tasmania, and Meadowbank - Tasmania

We are fortunate to be named in such good company and wish everyone the best of luck!

15/04/2026

FortySouth's Tasmanian-based writer Katherine Johnson has written a delightful article about the Ceramic Art Burrows for Hobart Little Penguins! You can read it at https://fortysouth.com.au/art-meets-science-in-the-service-of-little-penguins/. (You can also check out the beautiful images captured by Peter Whyte of the ceramic burrows made by ceramic artist Jane Bamford.)

If you'd like to hear more about the project, and see one of the ceramic burrows in person, head along to the free public talk which will be held at TMAG Royal Society Room on 23 April from 2pm to 4pm.

FREE registration is available at https://www.trybooking.com/DKKFY