Coastal Water Monitoring

Manly Hydraulics Laboratory MHL is located in Manly Vale, New South Wales. We acknowledge here the traditional custodians of this land, Kay-ye-my (denoting 'manly') clan of the Guringai people, and pay our respects to their elders past and present.

MHL was established in 1944 under the then NSW Department of Public Works (now Public Works Advisory), to undertake hydraulic studies of the Oberon Dam. MHL is now a business unit within the Water Division of the Department of Planning and Environment.

Since its establishment, MHL has developed specialist capabilities and experience in a range of coastal, water and environmental management areas to become NSW Government's specialist professional advisor in its core capability areas, which include: - flow and water quality measurement and investigations - oceanographic, coastal, estuarine and riverine process studies - investigation and design of hydraulic, coastal and maritime structures.

MHL's recognised capabilities include the use of physical and numerical models integrated with our extensive coastal data collection and management experience to maximise public value in the solutions and advice we provide.

MHL's experienced hydrographers operate one of the world's most comprehensive coastal and environmental data collection networks on behalf of NSW Government, hosting over 16,000 station years of continuous data extending from the 1980s.

Professional engineers and scientists utilise both numerical models and scaled physical hydraulic models in a broad range of studies. Our irregular and multi-directional wave modelling facilities and NATA accredited flow meter calibration capability are unmatched in Australia. MHL's commercial boats and registered divers offer scientific reconnaissance and maritime structure assessment capabilities.