Water Turbidity

AUS-TMI-IND-WTU General High confidence

Benchmark Value

5 NTU

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

Scoring curve unavailable

The scoring engine could not generate a curve for this benchmark context. The primary form is Point, but the benchmark data may be missing required fields (e.g., optimal range bounds for an OptimalRange benchmark). This is typically a data quality issue in the benchmark pipeline.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary Point Guard

Evidence & Context

The final proposed reference value is 5 NTU.

Metric Definition:

Water turbidity measured in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) representing the annual mean turbidity in designated high-health reference zones adjacent to industrial use.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the upper bound of annual mean water turbidity in high-health reference zones near industrial areas, reflecting a realistic target that balances natural turbidity with ecosystem health in tropical maritime island environments.

Justification:

Selected based on long-term, multi-site, peer-reviewed monitoring data from the Port of Rockhampton's designated reference sites, representing a slightly disturbed but ecologically functional system.

Sources (4)

Preview of Feedback between sediment and light for seagrass: Where is it important? - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 1, 2025,

Feedback between sediment and light for seagrass: Where is it important? - UQ eSpace - The University of Queensland, accessed August 1, 2025, Journal

Technical Guidance - EPA WA, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Frequently asked questions: Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan and 2017 Scientific Consensus Statement, accessed July 27, 2025,

Frequently asked questions: Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan and 2017 Scientific Consensus Statement, accessed July 27, 2025, Journal

PORT OF ROCKHAMPTON WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM: 2022 ANNUAL REPORT, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Technical Guidance - EPA WA, accessed August 1, 2025,

Technical Guidance - EPA WA, accessed August 1, 2025, Journal

Turbid reefs moderate coral bleaching under climate‐related temperature stress - PMC, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Water quality guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef - eAtlas, accessed August 2, 2025,

Water quality guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef - eAtlas, accessed August 2, 2025,

Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park., accessed August 1, 2025,

Supporting Sources (49)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of 'Forever Chemicals' found at Chevron's Barrow Island Gorgon LNG project pose long-term environmental threat - Conservation Council of Western Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

'Forever Chemicals' found at Chevron's Barrow Island Gorgon LNG project pose long-term environmental threat - Conservation Council of Western Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

'Forever Chemicals' found at Chevron's Barrow Island Gorgon LNG project pose long-term environmental threat - Conservation Council of Western Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of (PDF) Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

(PDF) Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Turbidity - Port of Townsville, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of 2024 review of maintenance dredging of Queensland ports - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

2024 review of maintenance dredging of Queensland ports - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Regulatory Framework Government

2024 review of maintenance dredging of Queensland ports - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of 25 March 2013 Gladstone Review Secretariat P.O. Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Dear Sir/Madam Thank you for the opportunity to make - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

25 March 2013 Gladstone Review Secretariat P.O. Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Dear Sir/Madam Thank you for the opportunity to make - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

25 March 2013 Gladstone Review Secretariat P.O. Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Dear Sir/Madam Thank you for the opportunity to make - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of 5 October 2011 Water quality testing shows little change in Gladstone Harbor The State Government has today released a report r, accessed August 1, 2025,

5 October 2011 Water quality testing shows little change in Gladstone Harbor The State Government has today released a report r, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Waterhouse, J. and Devlin, M. (2011) Managing water quality on the Great Barrier Reef: An overview of MTSRF research outputs, 2006-2010, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of A review of port activities in the Great Barrier Reef ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,

A review of port activities in the Great Barrier Reef ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

A review of port activities in the Great Barrier Reef ... - ResearchGate, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Abstract - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Abstract - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Abstract - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of COMPLIANCE WATER QUALITY MONITORING FOR PORT OF ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

COMPLIANCE WATER QUALITY MONITORING FOR PORT OF ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Relative risks to the Great Barrier Reef from degraded water quality, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Elevated Turbidity and the Nutrient Removal Capacity of Seagrass - Frontiers, accessed August 1, 2025,

Elevated Turbidity and the Nutrient Removal Capacity of Seagrass - Frontiers, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Preliminary assessment of water quality requirements of seagrasses in Western Port - Melbourne Water, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Gas seeping to surface from Chevron's Barrow Island oil operation - Boiling Cold, accessed August 1, 2025,

Gas seeping to surface from Chevron's Barrow Island oil operation - Boiling Cold, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gorgon Gas Development Barrow Island Nature Reserve (EPA Bulletin 1221), accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of gbr-dredge-material-management-appendixb.docx - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

gbr-dredge-material-management-appendixb.docx - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Spatial Patterns in Water Quality Changes during Dredging in Tropical Environments - PMC, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Gladstone Turbidity Data Summary, accessed August 1, 2025,

Gladstone Turbidity Data Summary, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

(PDF) Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Gorgon Gas Development and Jansz Feed Gas ... - Chevron Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Gorgon Gas Development and Jansz Feed Gas ... - Chevron Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Gorgon Gas Development and Jansz Feed Gas ... - Chevron Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Gorgon Gas Development Barrow Island Nature Reserve (EPA Bulletin 1221), accessed August 1, 2025,

Gorgon Gas Development Barrow Island Nature Reserve (EPA Bulletin 1221), accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

'Forever Chemicals' found at Chevron's Barrow Island Gorgon LNG project pose long-term environmental threat - Conservation Council of Western Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Guidelines - GBRMPA eLibrary, accessed August 1, 2025,

Guidelines - GBRMPA eLibrary, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support

Guidelines - GBRMPA eLibrary, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Horn Island remediation project | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed August 1, 2025,

Horn Island remediation project | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Gas seeping to surface from Chevron's Barrow Island oil operation - Boiling Cold, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of I want to convert kd490 unit - Earthdata Forum - NASA, accessed August 1, 2025,

I want to convert kd490 unit - Earthdata Forum - NASA, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Methodology Source GreyLiterature

I want to convert kd490 unit - Earthdata Forum - NASA, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of In the Northern Territory, contamination of water caused by resource extraction is linked historically to the inappropriate disposal of waste products, chemicals and heavy metals produced during the mining process. - - Artback NT, accessed August 1, 2025,

In the Northern Territory, contamination of water caused by resource extraction is linked historically to the inappropriate disposal of waste products, chemicals and heavy metals produced during the mining process. - - Artback NT, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Gladstone Turbidity Data Summary, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,

Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support

5 October 2011 Water quality testing shows little change in Gladstone Harbor The State Government has today released a report r, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of key economic issues facing marine based industries in the South-east Marine Region - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

key economic issues facing marine based industries in the South-east Marine Region - DCCEEW, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Trade Statistics for Queensland Ports - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Largest study of water quality effects on Great Barrier Reef | AIMS, accessed August 2, 2025,

Largest study of water quality effects on Great Barrier Reef | AIMS, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Largest study of water quality effects on Great Barrier Reef | AIMS, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Let there be light - Geoscience Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Let there be light - Geoscience Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Let there be light - Geoscience Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of List of ports in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed August 1, 2025,

List of ports in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

List of ports in Australia - Wikipedia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Location of Queensland standard ports, accessed August 1, 2025,

Location of Queensland standard ports, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Horn Island remediation project | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Long-term spatial variations in turbidity and temperature provide new insights into coral-algal states on extreme/marginal reefs - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 2, 2025,

Long-term spatial variations in turbidity and temperature provide new insights into coral-algal states on extreme/marginal reefs - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Impacts of water resource development on tropical flow-dependent fisheries - CDU Research Webportal

Preview of Maintenance Dredging of Queensland Ports Review of 2019 Activities - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

Maintenance Dredging of Queensland Ports Review of 2019 Activities - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

COMPLIANCE WATER QUALITY MONITORING FOR PORT OF ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Monitoring light key to guiding port dredging activities | AIMS, accessed August 1, 2025,

Monitoring light key to guiding port dredging activities | AIMS, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Monitoring light key to guiding port dredging activities | AIMS, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Nearshore Turbid-Zone Corals Exhibit High Bleaching Tolerance on the Great Barrier Reef Following the 2016 Ocean Warming Event - Frontiers, accessed August 1, 2025,

Nearshore Turbid-Zone Corals Exhibit High Bleaching Tolerance on the Great Barrier Reef Following the 2016 Ocean Warming Event - Frontiers, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nearshore Turbid-Zone Corals Exhibit High Bleaching Tolerance on the Great Barrier Reef Following the 2016 Ocean Warming Event - Frontiers, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited | Annual Report, accessed August 1, 2025,

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited | Annual Report, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Location of Queensland standard ports, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program, accessed August 1, 2025,

Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Port of Abbot Point Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

Port of Abbot Point Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring ..., accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Port of Weipa Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program (January 2018, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program: Annual Report 2020-2021 - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 1, 2025,

Port of Mackay and Hay Point Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program: Annual Report 2020-2021 - ResearchOnline@JCU, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Direct Evidence GreyLiterature

Port Curtis Integrated Monitoring Program, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Port of Townsville Communicates Results of Water Quality Monitoring Programs in Real Time - Bentley Systems, accessed August 1, 2025,

Port of Townsville Communicates Results of Water Quality Monitoring Programs in Real Time - Bentley Systems, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Port of Townsville Communicates Results of Water Quality Monitoring Programs in Real Time - Bentley Systems, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Port of Weipa Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program (January 2018, accessed August 1, 2025,

Port of Weipa Ambient Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program (January 2018, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Inshore water quality | Reef Authority, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Preliminary assessment of water quality requirements of seagrasses in Western Port - Melbourne Water, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preliminary assessment of water quality requirements of seagrasses in Western Port - Melbourne Water, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Preliminary assessment of water quality requirements of seagrasses in Western Port - Melbourne Water, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Relative risks to the Great Barrier Reef from degraded water quality, accessed August 3, 2025,

Relative risks to the Great Barrier Reef from degraded water quality, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Frequently asked questions: Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan and 2017 Scientific Consensus Statement, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Spatial Patterns in Water Quality Changes during Dredging in Tropical Environments - PMC, accessed August 1, 2025,

Spatial Patterns in Water Quality Changes during Dredging in Tropical Environments - PMC, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Maintenance Dredging of Queensland Ports Review of 2019 Activities - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Torres Strait - Wikipedia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Torres Strait - Wikipedia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Torres Strait - Wikipedia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Trade Statistics for Queensland Ports - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

Trade Statistics for Queensland Ports - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant Government

North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited | Annual Report, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Turbid Coral Reefs: Past, Present and Future—A Review - MDPI, accessed August 2, 2025,

Turbid Coral Reefs: Past, Present and Future—A Review - MDPI, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Nearshore Turbid-Zone Corals Exhibit High Bleaching Tolerance on the Great Barrier Reef Following the 2016 Ocean Warming Event - Frontiers, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Turbid reefs moderate coral bleaching under climate‐related temperature stress - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025,

Turbid reefs moderate coral bleaching under climate‐related temperature stress - PMC, accessed August 2, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Large-scale effects of turbidity on coral bleaching in the Hawaiian islands - Frontiers, accessed August 2, 2025

Preview of Turbidity - Port of Townsville, accessed August 1, 2025,

Turbidity - Port of Townsville, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Turbidity - Port of Townsville, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Water | Global - Rio Tinto, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water | Global - Rio Tinto, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Irrelevant

Water | Global - Rio Tinto, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Water Managemen Plan - NTEPA, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water Managemen Plan - NTEPA, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

In the Northern Territory, contamination of water caused by resource extraction is linked historically to the inappropriate disposal of waste products, chemicals and heavy metals produced during the mining process. - - Artback NT, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Water quality - Gladstone Ports Corporation, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality - Gladstone Ports Corporation, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality - Gladstone Ports Corporation, accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of Water Quality | Port of Townsville, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water Quality | Port of Townsville, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality monitoring | North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Ltd, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park., accessed August 3, 2025,

Water Quality Guidelines for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park., accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Determining Tipping Points and Responses of Macroinvertebrate Traits to Abiotic Factors in Support of River Management - PubMed Central

Preview of Water quality monitoring | North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Ltd, accessed August 1, 2025,

Water quality monitoring | North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Ltd, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Water quality - Gladstone Ports Corporation, accessed August 1, 2025,

Preview of Waterhouse, J. and Devlin, M. (2011) Managing water quality on the Great Barrier Reef: An overview of MTSRF research outputs, 2006-2010, accessed August 1, 2025,

Waterhouse, J. and Devlin, M. (2011) Managing water quality on the Great Barrier Reef: An overview of MTSRF research outputs, 2006-2010, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

2024 review of maintenance dredging of Queensland ports - Transport and Main Roads, accessed August 1, 2025,

Context

Region Australia
Biome Tropical & Subtropical Maritime Islands
Land Use Industrial & Infrastructure Use
Assessment Conservation Target
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 1 Jun 2026

Notes

No upper detrimental threshold — higher values are always worse beyond this benchmark. This value aligns with ecological thresholds where severe sublethal stress effects on corals begin, balancing natural turbidity with ecosystem health in an industrial context.