Catchment condition is ultimately a judgement that depends on biophysical attributes in the context of social and economic values. These value judgements can be made at local to regional scales. The audit's assessment of catchment condition, defined in terms of land, water and biota components, presents a way to make comparative assessments of catchment biophysical condition. It provides an information input for catchment management decisions. The assessment used an indicator approach and a geographic data compilation system to define patterns of relative biophysical condition. Priorities and opportunities for protective or remedial catchment management from a biophysical perspective can then be made.