Environment and Resource Management

Wetland summary

This report specifically addresses the wetland component - objective (iii) - of the project Northern Brigalow Belt - Priorities for Remnant Vegetation Protection . With respect to objectives (ii), (iv) and (v), findings presented here are integrated with those from the dryland component of the project, which is presented as a companion report.

The report is presented in four volumes (Volume I, Volume II, Volume III and Volume IV) and deals with the compilation, analysis and assessment of technical and field wetland resource data for the project. It has been prepared as a stand-alone document to meet the interests of the National Wetland Program that partially funded the work. It is also intended to be a strategic wetland resource reference document for the study area, and is an introduction to an accompanying body of digital data, which by its nature is more useful than hardcopy data.

Principal outcomes for biodiversity planning

A number of the outcomes from the work are considered to have state and national significance. However, to maintain consistency, these are presented in the order of the volumes rather than a perceived ranking of significance

Wetland geographic information system (GIS)

Summary of outcomes

The foundation wetland spatial data set comprises 926 sample wetland aggregations (SWAs) totalling 985 056ha, and 3706 sample wetland sites (SWSs). This forms the basic information content of a regional scale GIS for the six subregions of the study area. The GIS has been developed from a data model that takes into account the accessing of various wetland themes, as well as their integration into an overall framework with other relevant collateral data.

Within the spatial data model, resource information is perceived as occurring within a hierarchical structure of conceptual 'resource environments', consisting of two major and five minor environments. The first major environment is a natural resource environment, comprising two minor resource environments: physical and biotic. The second is a human resource environment comprising three minor resource environments: jurisdictional and cadastral; developed-managed; and cultural. Within each of the minor resource environments, relevant thematic data from a wide variety of sources can be compiled under categories and sub-categories. The model is open ended with respect to the numbers of categories and sub-categories that can be included.

Assessment

The spatial data model is suited to all natural resource assessment and planning applications where spatial data is used as a basis for analysis and decision-making. It should underpin all future wetland GIS development within the Queensland Wetland Inventory Programme.

Foundation wetland spatial data

Summary of outcomes

The work implements a concept of foundation wetland spatial data sets. These are data sets compiled to achieve a very high complement of wetland information from judicious sampling of wetland aggregations, rather than from complete inventory of an area. The foundation spatial data extracted from the GIS as maps and data, for each of the six subregions, is summarised below:

Townsville Coastal Plains: One hundred and thirty-one SWAs totalling 472 175ha and 581 SWSs were mapped for the subregion. The SWAs averaged 3604ha, with an average of 4.4 SWSs for each SWA.

Bogie River Hills: One hundred and fifty-five SWAs totalling 85 827ha and 427 SWSs were mapped for the subregion. The SWAs averaged 553ha, with an average of 2.7 SWSs for each SWA.

Cape River Hills: One hundred and sixty-four SWAs totalling 145 662ha and 841 SWSs were mapped for the subregion. The SWAs averaged 888ha, with an average of 5.1 SWSs for each SWA.

Beucazon Hills: Twenty-one SWAs totalling 12 799ha and 75 SWSs were mapped for the subregion. The SWAs averaged 609ha, with an average of 3.57 SWSs for each SWA.

Wyarra Hills: One hundred and thirty-two SWAs totalling 72 278ha and 491 SWSs were mapped for the subregion. The SWAs averaged 547ha, with an average of 3.7 SWSs for each SWA.

Northern Bowen Basin: Three hundred and twenty-five SWAs totalling 191 935ha and 1291 SWSs were mapped. The SWAs averaged 590ha, with an average of 3.9 SWSs for each SWA.

Full listings of the attributes for each SWA and SWS are presented in a series of tables. This includes the name and wetland survey regional site ID (WSRS_ID) of each SWS, the name and wetland survey regional aggregation ID (WSRAG_ID) of each SWA, all attributes of both sites and aggregations, and the Australian Map Grid (AMG) co-ordinates of all sample sites.

The spatial extents of the six subregions intersect portions of twelve 1:250 000 scale maps on the indexed Australian Mapping Grid. A series of ten 1:250 000 scale maps was prepared from the GIS as stand alone outputs for the project. The series includes two special sheets whose map extents have been altered to include minor extensions of the project area within fewer map sheets. The other eight map sheets align with the standard topographic 1:250 000 map sheet extents. The maps show those portions of subregions with their SWAs and SWSs that are intersected by the respective map sheet.

The maps include a diagram showing the upper levels of the ecological classificatory framework for Queensland wetland systems. The map legends group the SWAs under landform patterns on which these occur, and the number of SWAs within each landform pattern is shown. The wetland systems are summarised, as are the landform elements on which wetlands occur, and the land zones that encompass each landform pattern and associated wetland systems. Each SWA is labelled with an abbreviation of its WSRAG_ID. SWAs are referenced using a street map style of upper and lower case alpha characters as co-ordinates for a 1000m x 1000m grid. A lookup table accompanies each map and lists the grid reference, map label, name, WSRAG_ID and attributes for each SWA.

Assessment

The foundation spatial data sets of SWAs include about 98 percent of all wetland types and geomorphic surfaces containing wetland environments present in the project area. The 985 056ha coverage of SWAs include approximately 95 percent of the total area of wetland present, and include about 75 percent of all aggregations in the project area.

The foundation spatial data sets met all of the following four key requirements that we consider minimum information necessary for regional scale strategic biodiversity planning for wetlands in mainly terrestrial environments: (i) repeatable systematic and meaningful identification and description (characterisation) of regional wetland entities; (ii) extrapolating information to all wetlands of the region; (iii) assessing land use management issues of wetland entities in a landscape context; and (iv) identifying and monitoring ecological change in wetlands.

Equivalent data for any wetland aggregation not included in the foundation data set, is readily interpretable from neighbouring SWAs. Such aggregations are easily mapped at a scale consistent with the requirements of particular areas of interest. In instances such as property planning where additional site information may be necessary, this can be incorporated into the data structures at any level in the hierarchical classification or at any spatial scale.

Finally, the foundation data is supplemented from the above sources and over time can become an increasingly complete data set that also reflects jurisdictional interests.

Subregional characterisation of wetlands

Summary of outcome

Numerical analysis of the attributes of SWAs identified groups of attributes that provisionally characterise wetlands of each of the six subregions in terms of their ecological and landscape affinities. The attribute groupings further discriminated individual SWAs into discrete mappable groups. The composition and affinities of the subregional groupings is summarised below.

Townsville Coastal Plains Subregion

Numerical classification of the 73 attributes recorded from the 131 SWAs identified nine groups of attributes that provisionally characterise wetlands within the subregion.

Five of the groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with particular land zone attributes.

Two of the groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with particular landform pattern attributes.

The remaining two groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with marine and estuarine wetland type attributes.

The 131 SWAs of the Townsville Coastal Plains Subregion are discriminated into 11 groups on the basis of their affinities with the above nine attribute groups. The occurrence of the 11 groups of SWAs is shown in a map of the subregion.

Bogie River Hills Subregion

Numerical classification of the 55 attributes recorded from the 155 SWAs identified seven groups of attributes that provisionally characterise wetlands within the subregion.

Four of the groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with particular land zone attributes.

Two of the groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with particular landform pattern attributes.

The remaining group is formed on the basis of distinct associations with estuarine and marine wetland type attributes.

The 155 SWAs of the Bogie River Hills Subregion are discriminated into 12 groups on the basis of their affinities with the above seven attribute groups. The occurrence of the 12 groups of SWAs is shown in a map of the subregion.

Cape River Hills Subregion

Numerical classification of the 42 attributes recorded from the 195 SWAs identified six groups of attributes that provisionally characterise wetlands within the subregion.

Five of the groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with particular land zone attributes.

One group is formed on the basis of a distinct association with a particular landform pattern attribute.

The 195 SWAs of the Cape River Hills Subregion are discriminated into 14 groups on the basis of their affinities with the above six attribute groups. The occurrence of the 14 groups of SWAs is shown in a map of the subregion.

Beucazon Hills Subregion

Numerical classification of the 24 attributes recorded from the 21 SWAs identified five groups of attributes that provisionally characterise wetlands within the subregion.

Four of the groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with particular land zone attributes.

The remaining group is formed on the basis of a distinct association with the palustrine wetland type attribute.

The 21 SWAs of the Beucazon Hills Subregion are discriminated into four groups on the basis of their affinities with the above five attribute groups. The occurrence of the four groups of SWAs is shown in a map of the subregion.

Wyarra Hills Subregion

Numerical classification of the 33 attributes recorded from the 132 SWAs identified six groups of attributes that provisionally characterise wetlands within the subregion.

Four of the groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with particular land zone attributes.

Two of the groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with landform pattern attributes.

The 132 SWAs of the Wyarra Hills Subregion are discriminated into 11 groups on the basis of their affinities with the above six attribute groups. The occurrence of the 11 groups of SWAs is shown in a map of the subregion.

Northern Bowen Basin Subregion

Numerical classification of the 46 attributes recorded from the 322 SWAs identified seven groups of attributes that provisionally characterise wetlands within the subregion.

Six of the groups are formed on the basis of distinct associations with particular land zone attributes.

The remaining group is formed on the basis of a distinct association with a particular landform pattern.

The 322 SWAs of the Northern Bowen Basin Subregion are discriminated into 14 groups on the basis of their affinities with the above seven attribute groups. The occurrence of the 14 groups of SWAs is shown in a map of the subregion.

Assessment

Firstly, numerical analysis of foundation data sets enables wetland entities of an area to be systematically characterised and described in terms of the biogeographic and ecological character of wetlands (see Vol. I, Figure 1.2 (PDF, file unavailable)*). Secondly, application of the analysis to each of the six subregions demonstrates the quantitative, systematic, and repeatable nature of the methodology. Thirdly, results from the analysis of the foundation data are confirmed by field information from survey work undertaken independently of the analysis. Fourthly, the analysis enables information on wetlands not included in the foundation data, to be interpreted using their landscape context and the attributes of spatially contiguous SWAs. All wetlands within a subregion are thus able to be aligned with one or other of the subregional groups identified from the numerical analysis.

The concept of wetland aggregations described in Vol. I, s. 2.3, defines a primary mapping unit for the spatial delineation of wetlands. The broad scale application of sampling techniques allows the compilation of comprehensive foundation data sets of SWAs. Analysis of these provide identification of groups of SWAs which collectively characterise wetland environments with respect to types of wetland occurring and the affinities of these to land zone, landform pattern and landform element attributes.

The derivation of the classification groups from the SWA foundation data is a robust and objective basis for a subregional, regional and statewide wetland equivalent to terrestrial regional ecosystems as described for Queensland (Sattler and Williams 1999). Finally, we propose that these wetland groupings be referred to as regional wetland habitats for this purpose. The provisional integration of regional wetland habitats within the landscape classification used to derive terrestrial regional ecosystems is illustrated in Figure 3.79, modified after Sattler and Williams, 1999.

Significant wetlands

The work identified 15 wetland aggregations as meeting criteria for national significance, two of which also meet criteria for international significance. A total of 20 significant wetland aggregations are described and mapped. Five of these are major revisions of existing nationally important wetlands. The revisions are based on additional information obtained during the course of the project. The descriptions for each aggregation follow the format for describing nationally important wetlands (Environment Australia 2001), but with the additional inclusion of a site map and photographs. Comparative details for the sites are summarised in table form.

Aggregations meeting national criteria of significance

Summary of outcomes

Townsville Coastal Plains Subregion

Barratta Channels Aggregation

The 7270ha site extends from the Bruce Highway 30km south south-west to Woodhouse Mountain, and ranges in width from 1 to 5 kilometres. The centre of the site is at 19° 41' 32" S, 147° 09' 30" E, about 29km west south-west of Ayr. The Barrattas are a distributary system on the floodplain between the Haughton and Burdekin rivers. The aggregation comprises a complex of distributary channels and drainage depressions, which appear to have been superimposed on a former delta of the Burdekin. Landform pattern is a flood plain with the landform elements of backplain, bank, bar, drainage depression, levee, plain, stream bed, stream channel, and swamp. Criteria: 1, 2, 3, and 5. Wetland type(s): B2, B4, B9, B10, and B14.

Burdekin Delta Aggregation (Revision of QWR#: 6130200; BBN004QL)

The 33 945ha aggregation extends c. 45km along the coast from Alva in the north to Molonglo Creek in the south and up to 13km from east to west. Its centre is at 19° 40' 17" S, 147° 33' 15" E about 18km east south-east of Ayr. The Burdekin is the third largest river in Australia in terms of annual discharge and at its mouth is Australia's largest cuspate delta. The aggregation encompasses the seaward margin (between 1.5 and 13 kilometres wide) of this delta - about half its total area. It forms a continuous, complex wetland aggregation composed of beaches, bars, spits, islets, intertidal flats, mangrove lined estuaries and permanent and seasonal freshwater bodies. (Note: the Delta Aggregation has been remapped for this revision. The purpose was to exclude areas that had been cleared, drained and cultivated since the original mapping was done. Beaches, bars, spits, islets and intertidal flats on the coastal side of the aggregation were also remapped in more detail. This has resulted in a net increase in the size of the aggregation to 33 945ha, in spite of the exclusion of several areas on the landward side). Criteria: 1, 2, 3, and 5. Wetland type(s): A1, A2, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, A12; B1, B4, B5, B6, B9, B10, B14; C1, C2, and C3.

The Burdekin-Bowen Junction and Blue Valley Weir Aggregation

The 3690ha site consists of the junction of the Burdekin and Bowen Rivers and segments of those rivers, including the impoundment behind Blue Valley Weir on the Burdekin. The junction, which is near the centre of the site is located at 20° 23' 47" S, 147° 20' 47" E, and is about 90km south of Ayr. The impoundment behind Blue Valley Weir is no longer used for water supply. Criteria for inclusion: 1, 2, 3, and 5. Wetland type(s): B1, B10, B14, and C1.

Burdekin - Townsville Coastal Aggregation (Revision of QWR#: 6130400; BBN005

The 149 197ha site extends c. 70km from the mouth of the Ross River in the east to Lynch's Beach (Alva) in the west, and from 3 to 18km north to south. It is centred at 19° 27' 43" S, 147° 08' 52" E, some 30km north-west of Ayr. The Burdekin-Townsville coastal wetland aggregation is located on a large coastal plain with a prograding coastline. It abuts onto two shallow water embayments that are separated by a peninsula, which is comprised of a rugged igneous highland and the low coastal sediments that tie it to the mainland. The aggregation is continuous and complex, ranging from shallow marine waters, through areas of intertidal mangrove swamps inland to freshwater lakes and swamps. There are scattered isolated low hills representing former islands that have been tied to the mainland by accumulating sediments. Landform pattern: beach ridge plain, chenier plain, alluvial plain, lacustrine plain, low hills, marine plain, plain, and tidal flat. Element: stream channel, beach, bar, beach ridge, bench, berm, blow-out, drainage depression, dam, foredune, swale, estuary, tidal channel, tidal flat, supratidal flat, swamp, floodout, lagoon, lake, and scald. Criteria: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Wetland type(s): A1, A2, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, A12; B1, B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, B10, B14; C1, C2, and C3.

Haughton Balancing Storage Aggregation

The 220ha site is located on the floodplain between the Burdekin and Haughton rivers with a central point at about 19° 43' 19" S, 147° 04' 38" E, some 38km south-west of Ayr. This storage is part of the Haughton Main Channel system, a water distribution system that carries water from the Burdekin River to the Haughton. The channel is one of three main distribution systems that comprise the Burdekin Irrigation Scheme. It is a shallow impoundment that is often almost entirely occupied by aquatic plants. It is locally and probably regionally important for waterbirds, which are very easily observed from the retaining wall of the storage. The retaining wall on the eastern side of the storage is constructed of broken rock and earth. Landform is an alluvial plain. Criteria: 3. Wetland type(s): C1.

Jerona Aggregation

The 2370ha site comprises the Barratta Creeks system north from the Bruce Highway to the old townsite of Barratta. Its centre is located at 19° 32' 41" S, 147° 13' 47" E, about 18km west of Ayr. The site is at the seaward (northern) end of the Barrattas Channels distributary system. It comprises an area of former tidal channels that now hold fresh water and are rarely, if ever, affected by tidal waters. The northern edge of the site is a former location of a coastline that has since prograded about 10 kilometres to the north. Criteria: 1, 2, 3, and 5. Wetland type(s): A10, A11, B2, B4, B9, B10, and B14.

Junction of the Bogie River and Kirknie Creek Aggregation

The 56ha site is centred at 20° 00' 52" S, 147° 18' 11" E, approximately 50km south south-west of Ayr, in the Bogie sub-catchment of the Burdekin catchment. It is comprised of a large permanent waterhole at the junction of two streams, and an extensive area of seasonally inundated sand and riparian vegetation, which includes an unusual patch of closed forest on a sandy terrace. There are also sections of rocky stream bed and banks. Landform pattern is an alluvial plain, with bank, bar, channel bench, gully, levee, stream bed, and stream channel landform elements. Criteria: 1, 3. Wetland type(s): B2, B4, B14.

The Serpentine Aggregation

The 520ha site is located on the interfluve between the Haughton and Ross Rivers - about 37km south south-west of Townsville. The centre of the site is at approximately 19° 37' S 146 °53' W. The site occupies part of a stagnant alluvial plain deposited by the Ross River. During the Holocene Transgression - about 7000 years ago, when sea level was higher than it is now - the area contained more extensive wetlands than it does now and probably included an area of lacustrine wetland. As sea level fell, the Ross and its tributaries became more incised, drainage from the Serpentine area increased and the area of wetland decreased. Then, as the Ross developed new levee banks and other alluvial deposits, drainage to the north again became restricted. Eventually a new southern drainage to Major Creek via Double Barrel Creek developed. The current situation is a linear set of permanent and semi-permanent swamps and seasonally inundated areas extending between Woodlands Station (Four Mile Creek) in the north and the confluence of Major Creek and Double Barrel Creek in the south. In very wet years the whole of this area is inundated. The site occupies the southern two thirds of this strip of wetlands. Criteria: 1, 3, and 5. Wetland type(s): B2, B4, B9, B10, and B14.

South of Cape Upstart Aggregation (Revision of QWR#: 6130300; BBN009QL)

The 11 089ha site is centred at c. 19° 50' 34" S, 147° 49' 48" E, located immediately south of Cape Upstart some 56km south-east of Ayr. It has a total length of c. 40km and is up to c. 8km wide. Cape Upstart is the most prominent feature in the area. This is a largely granitic intrusive complex that was once an island. The site occupies beach ridge plain, plain and tidal flat landform patterns formed from the coastal sediments that tie this former island to the mainland. It comprises beach, beach ridge, blow-out, closed depression, drainage depression, dune, estuary, flat, foredune, tidal flat, lagoon, stream channel, swale, tidal creek and tidal flat landform elements. Criteria: 1, 2, 3,and 5. Wetland type(s): A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10, A11, and C1.

Wongaloo Fans Aggregation

The 146ha site comprises three discrete alluvial fans on the western edge of the Burdekin-Townsville Coastal Wetland Aggregation (BBN005QL) - the St Margaret's Creek fan centred at c. 19° 28' 16" S, 147° 03' 28" E, some 34km south east of Townsville; the McKenzie Creek fan centred at c. 19° 26' 53" S, 147° 02' 51" E, some 31km south-east of Townsville; and the Emmet's Creek fan centred at c 19° 24' 56" S, 147° 02' 35" E, some 29km south-east of Townsville. The fan associated with St Margaret's Creek is the largest at about 70ha. The Emmet Creek and McKenzie Creek fans occupy about 40 ha each. Criteria: 1, 2, and 3. Wetland type(s): B2, and B14.

Wongaloo Swamps Aggregation

The 1500ha site is located on the coastal plain between Cape Cleveland and the Haughton River. It is centred at c. 19° 24' 57" S, 147° 03' 22" E, some 31km south east of Townsville. The site is situated just above the tidal limit and is entirely occupied by a shallow fresh water lake (mostly less than 2m deep) during most wet seasons. During the dry season the lake shrinks, often disappearing, and tends to become brackish as evaporation accumulates salts of marine origin. The landform pattern is plain; it has some of the features of a marine plain, some of a lacustrine plain and some of a stagnant alluvial plain. Parts of the northern and eastern margins have some of the features of a tidal flat. The landform elements present include channels, lake, plain and swamp. Criteria: 1, 2, 3, and 4. Wetland type(s): A8, A10, A11, A12, B9, and B10.

Abbot Point - Caley Valley Aggregation (revision of QWR#: 6130100; BBN001QL)

The 5154ha site extends about 18km from Mt Curlewis in the west to Euri Creek in the east and about 6km from Bald Hill in the north to Caley Valley homestead in the south. It is centred at c. 19° 55' 22" S, 148° 02' 25" E, some 21km north north-west of Bowen. The site is located on a low-lying prograded coastal plain west of the Don River delta. Landform pattern: plain (beach ridge on eastern and western sides, the area around the lake has some of the features of an alluvial plain and some of those of a lacustrine plain) and tidal flat. Landform elements: closed depressions (lake, swamp, lagoon); open depressions (drainage depression, stream channel, stream bed, swamp, swale, tidal channel, estuary); flats (backplain, floodout, tidal flat, intertidal flat, supratidal flat); simple slope (beach, duneslope) and embankment. Adjacent uplands are gently sloping plains, foredunes, beach ridges and hills. Criteria: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Wetland type(s): A1, A5; A6; A8, A9, A10, A11, and C1.

Bogie River Hills Subregion

Bowen River: Birralee to Pelican Creek Aggregation

The 540ha site comprises a 15km section of the Bowen River with a central point at c. 20.592°S, 147.610°E, some 27 kilometres west of Collinsville. There is a large permanent clear water hole in the central part of the site, with rapids, sand, rock or rubble bars, terraces and small waterholes at the upstream and downstream ends. Most of this section of the river has cut into volcanic rocks and has a bedrock bed that has been partially covered by sheets and banks of sand, gravel and pebbles. There are large areas of bare rock particularly in the upstream section of the site where there is a broad and uneven bedrock terrace (c. 80m on the north-east side of the river) into which the river has cut a channel about 40m wide and 5m deep. On the north-east side 10-15m of alluvium forms a precipitous bank. No prominent banks of alluvium are present on the south-west side that is densely tree covered and descends only a few metres below the flood plain. Criteria: 1, 2, 3, and 5. Wetland type(s): B2, B4, B5, and B6.

Broken River, Urannah Creek and Massey Creek Aggregation

The 6000ha site comprises streambeds and associated valley flats of the Broken River (below Eungella Dam), Urannah Creek, Massey Creek, Grant Creek, Pla Creek and tributaries of these streams. It is centred at c. 20° 50' 02" S, 148° 17' 47" E, some 55km east south-east of Collinsville. The site is about 54km from north to south and about 53km from west to east. The western most point of this site is on the Broken River adjacent to Mt Sugarloaf (20° 50' 19" S, 148° 07' 35" W), about 6km upstream of its junction with the Bowen River. The listed segment of the Broken River extends from this point upstream to its junction with Bee Creek at 21° 06' 16" S, 148° 23' 05" W which is approximately 8.5km downstream of Eungella Dam. This is the southern most point of the site. The northern most point of the site is at the junction of Grant and Raspberry Creeks at 20° 37' 27" S, 148° 17' 58" W; The eastern most point is on Upper Urannah Creek at approximately 20° 57' 77" S, 148° 37' 11" W. The site is located within the Bowen-Broken sub-catchment of the Burdekin catchment. The site consists of a stream system incised into igneous rocks on the western side of the Clarke Range. These streams drain an area of about 134 000ha. The lower valleys of the Broken River, Urannah Creek and Grant Creek have relatively broad sandy alluvial plains. Otherwise the streams occupy deep v-shaped valleys with small, scattered valley flats, most commonly where streams meet. Valleys are commonly more than 100m deep. For example the valley where the Broken River and Urannah Creek join is about 3km wide and 160m deep. Massey Gorge is over 400m deep and parts of the Upper Urannah valley are about 600m deep. Streambeds are generally rocky with exposed bedrock and sheets and banks of cobbles, gravel and sand. Very large rounded and subrounded granite boulders dominate some upper stream sections. There is an exceptionally steep rainfall gradient from more than 4000mm a year at the top of Clarke Range to less than 600mm a year near the junction of the Bowen and Broken Rivers. If this gradient were even it would amount to a reduction in annual rainfall of about 70mm per kilometre to the west. Mean annual rainfall at Urannah is 690mm (43 years of records). Criteria: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Wetland type(s): B1, B2, B4, B9, B10, and B14.

Cape River Hills Subregion

Bingeringo Aggregation

The 2190ha site is located between Mt Bingeringo and Bully Creek in the Belyando sub-catchment of the Burdekin catchment. It is centred at c. 21° 32' 42" S, 146° 27' 23" E, some 93km west south-west of Mt Coolon. The site is in the boundary region of three subregions. The majority of the site is located in the Cape River Hills subregion of the Brigalow Belt North. Bully Creek is at the south-eastern end of the site and is in the boundary region between the Belyando Downs subregion of the Brigalow Belt North and the Alice Tablelands subregion of the Desert Uplands. The site comprises the stream beds, alluvial plains and associated open and closed depressions of Bingeringo Creek, Fisher Creek and a 12km section of Bully Creek that flows between them. Bully Creek enters the lower Belyando River about 42km downstream from the site. Criteria: 1, 2, and 3. Wetland type(s): B2, B4, B10, and B14.

Rollston River & Molly Darling Creek Aggregation

The 3300ha site extends c. 35km from a point on Molly Darling Creek c. 5km east of Pallamana Station, south south-east of the Cape River. It is centred at c. 20° 39' 35" S, 146° 39' 25" E, some 76km south south-east of Charters Towers. The site comprises the Rollston River and its major tributary Molly Darling Creek. Both streams have uniformly sandy beds and the Rollston, particularly below Harvest Home tends to form multiple channels separated by bars. Some of these bars are stable and well vegetated; others are unstable. The Rollston River is a major tributary of the Cape River, which is a tributary of the Suttor, which flows into the Burdekin. When it is at full capacity the waters of the Burdekin Dam back up the Cape River to the southern end of the site. There are several areas of palustrine wetlands on the site. The two most notable of these are around Old Harvest Home (Old Homestead Swamp) and around the junction of McDonald Creek and the Rollston. Criteria: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Wetland type(s): B2, B4, B9, B10, and B14.

Scartwater Aggregation

The 1700ha site is on the floodplain of the Suttor River, centred at c. 21° 02' 49" S, 146° 51' 41" E, some 60km north-west of Mount Coolon. It is located in the Burdekin catchment, on the lower Suttor River, which is one of the Burdekin's major tributaries. The river has been split into two major channel paths. This split appears to have been caused by Scartwater Hill, a low outcrop of Tertiary argillaceous sandstone (Suttor Formation). The western channel path is currently the main one; it is relatively broad, shallow, multi-channelled and very sandy. The eastern path is largely stagnant. It has one relatively deep, narrow, muddy channel that is obstructed by sediments at both ends. This channel contains two permanent waterholes, separated by a segment of sediment filled channel. There is a third, semi-permanent, waterhole at the northern end of the site, just above where the two sections of the river rejoin. This is a backplain waterhole, having drainage from it impeded by a complex of levees and bars. Criteria: 1, 2, and 3. Wetland type(s): B2, B4, B5, B6, B9, B10, B13, and B14.

Turkey Mound and Iron Pot Springs Aggregation

The springs at this 26ha site emerge on the lower slopes of the eastern side of the tableland about 85km south-east of Charters Towers. Two springs have been mapped and described. These are located at 20° 29' 08" S, 146° 15' 23" W (Iron Pot Spring) and at 20° 32' 42" S, 146° 55' 47" E (Turkey Mound Spring). There are at least two other springs of significance to the north and south of these, but these are too poorly known to be mapped or described. Both springs emerge from the lower slopes of a weathered Tertiary surface that has become elevated as a result of erosion. Turkey Mound emerges at the head of a broad, shallow depression. The outlet is fairly diffuse, with a large area of saturated soil and a narrow stream of water less than 10cm deep and 1m across. Iron Pot Spring is located at the head of a narrow deeply entrenched channel. Its sides are very steep to perpendicular and rise up to 10m above the bed. The channel varies from about 15 to 20m wide. Criteria: 1, and 3. Wetland type(s): B17, B13, and B14

Wyarra Hills Subregion

Why Not Aggregation

The 6ha site is a stock-watering dam located in the upper catchment of Deception Creek, 26km north-east of Mount Coolon. This dammed drainage depression on a rolling plain has developed with very good beds of aquatic plants that provide food for water birds. Criteria: 1, 3. Wetland type(s): C2.

Northern Bowen Basin Subregion

Lake Elphinstone Aggregation (revision of QWR#. 6280200; BBN007QL)

The 300ha site extends for c. 3km with a north-south orientation and is up to 1.5km wide, with its centre at c. 21° 32' 01" S, 148° 14' 35² E; some 105km south-west of Mackay. The site is a shallow lake at the entrance to a gorge cut by Anna Creek (aka Isaac River) through the Carborough and Kerlong ranges. It lies in the upper catchment of the Isaac River, which forms the northern section of the Fitzroy Catchment. Criteria: 1, 2, and 3. Wetland type(s): B6, B10, and B14.

Assessment

The 15 new aggregations and the five revised aggregations considerably expand the level and depth of information on sites meeting criteria for national significance. These are key sites in biodiversity planning for the project area and are included in the strategic planning initiatives presented in the companion dryland report. Additional work may result in further significant sites being identified, but is unlikely to alter the assessed significance of the above sites.

Aggregations meeting international criteria of significance

The Convention on Wetlands was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971. It is the oldest international conservation agreement to promote the concept of sustainable use. The convention has 133 contracting parties, with 1200 wetland sites, totalling 103.3 million hectares worldwide. There are presently 57 Ramsar sites in Australia and five in Queensland (Environment Australia 2003). The project confirmed that two of the significant wetland sites described above also meet criteria used by the Ramsar Bureau to select wetlands of international importance. Only the relevant international wetland classes present, and the international criteria considered to be met by each site are presented.

Summary of outcomes

Wongaloo Aggregation

The area encompasses both the Wongaloo Fans and Wongaloo Swamps aggregations, in the Townsville Coastal Plains Subregion.

Ramsar wetland classes

Ramsar criteria for inclusion

Caley Valley - Abbott Point Aggregation

Ramsar wetland classes

Ramsar criteria for inclusion

There are insufficient data to be sure, but it is possible that the site may also fulfil Criterion 2 if the presence of the nationally vulnerable Xeromys myoides was confirmed.

Assessment

Both of these aggregations are core areas for the protection of wetland related biodiversity in Australia. These aggregations have become increasingly important, because pastoral land use practices on both has remained sustainable and beneficial to wetland habitats, whereas land use practices in surrounding districts have resulted in progressive and compounding levels of disturbance to wetlands.

 

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Last updated: 18 September 2006

Northern Brigalow Belt

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