The area of the Dickson Inlet estuary reporting zone can be defined by the pre-cleared extent of mangrove and saltmarsh remnant vegetation which is characterised by species that require periodic inundation of sea water.

    This area extends approximately 6.5 km north-east and 3.5 km south of the inlet mouth along the coastline and extends approximately 3.3 km inland. The area includes several coastal tributaries that drain into the Inlet.

    Land use within the Dickson Inlet estuary area is dominated by residential and tourism service developments. There is a marina located within the Inlet.

    The town of Port Douglas (population 3,205) is located within the estuary area and is a major tourism centre which attracts many national and international visitors each year.

    Key results for 2024-25

    The Dickson Inlet estuary grade has remained ‘good’ with the score decreasing from 73 to 71.

    • Water quality declined from ‘very good’ to ‘good’.
    • Filterable reactive phosphorus (FRP) declined from ‘very good’ to ‘good’.
    • Mangrove and saltmarsh extent remained ‘good’ with no recorded habitat loss since 2019.
    • Riparian vegetation extent remained ‘moderate’ with no recorded habitat loss since 2019.

    The diagram below shows the detailed results for each indicator by year. Click on the timeslider to see data from previous years.

    Further Information

    For a detailed breakdown of the results and trends, visit the results dashboard or read the methods and results technical reports.