The subject land covered by this study is within the Reedy Creek catchment at Malua Bay. Reedy Creek is located at Malua Bay approximately 9 km south of Batemans Bay on the south coast of N.S.W. The catchment has an area of approximately 275 ha with its outlet at the northern end of Malua Bay Beach. George Bass Drive crosses the creek 400 m upstream of the outlet via a three cell box culvert. The catchment comprises a mix of existing residential development at its eastern end, with Urban 10 land zoned for residential development allowing for growth of the existing settlement westwards. Further west again is land zoned Rural 1c which permits subdivision generally down to 2 hectare lots. This area is accessed from Burri Road which forms the top of the catchment. A small patch of Buckenbowra State Forest lies at the north-western corner of the catchment.