Declared wild river areas
The following two wild river areas were declared on 16 December 2011:
- Cooper Creek Basin Wild River Declaration 2011 (PDF, 1.2M)*
- Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Declaration 2011 (PDF, 1.1M)*
The following new wild river area was declared on 4 June 2010:
- Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration 2010 (PDF, 571K)*
The following three wild river areas were declared on 3 April 2009:
- Archer Wild River Declaration 2009 (PDF, 670K)*
- Stewart Wild River Declaration 2009 (PDF, 533K)*
- Lockhart Wild River Declaration 2009 (PDF, 528K)*
The first round of wild river declarations took effect on 28 February 2007 and included the:
- Fraser Wild River Declaration 2007 (PDF, 366K)*
- Gregory Wild River Declaration 2007 (PDF, 351K)*
- Hinchinbrook Wild River Declaration 2007 (PDF, 313K)*
- Morning Inlet Wild River Declaration 2007 (PDF, 399K)*
- Settlement Wild River Declaration 2007 (PDF, 326K)*
- Staaten Wild River Declaration 2007 (PDF, 352K)*
What is a wild river declaration?
A wild river declaration is a statutory document under the Wild Rivers Act, which aims to preserve a river that has all, or almost all, of its natural values intact. This is done by regulating, through the declaration, certain new development activities that have the potential to impact on the river’s natural values. A declaration sets out:
- the extent of the declared wild river area and its various management areas
- any caps on resources that can be taken in the declared wild river area (e.g. water)
- any rules or limits that must be complied with when undertaking new development activities (such as quarrying, agriculture and mining) in the declared wild river area
- any development assessment codes that must be applied.
A river system is declared a wild river area where it has all, or almost all, of its natural values intact. This means the riverine processes of the river (and other natural values associated with the river such as wildlife corridor function) have not been significantly altered from their natural state. Special features (which are on- or off-stream elements of the river network), may also play a significant role in maintaining the natural values of the river system.
A wild river declaration outlines where new development can occur in the wild rivers area and under what conditions. Wild river requirements do not apply to everyday activities such as feeding stock, refuelling machinery or fishing and camping along the rivers, or to developments existing at the time of declaration.
For detailed information on the above, see:
- How the wild rivers process works (PDF, 209K)*
- Wild rivers guide for self-assessable stock and domestic dams (PDF, 78K)*
- Wild rivers guide for local governments (PDF, 168K)*
- Wild rivers guide for landowners (PDF, 112K)*
- Wild rivers guide for mining, fossicking and exploration (PDF, 96K)*
Indigenous interests
In a declared wild river area:
- traditional Indigenous activities such as camping, fishing, hunting and conducting ceremonies and traditional fire management are not subject to wild river requirements as they do not constitute development
- there are no requirements under the Act for boating and camping (including the small-scale storage of fuel and refuelling of boats within or near rivers and lakes).
- a wild river declaration will not affect native title, cultural heritage, or the function and operation of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003.
For detailed information on the above, see:
- Guide for Indigenous communities (PDF, 70K)*
Management areas
A wild river declaration will cover the area that is the extent of the wild river/s and it’s catchment/s. The declaration will identify the following management areas:
- high preservation area—the area within and up to one kilometer each side of the wild river, its major tributaries and special off-stream features, such as floodplain wetlands
- preservation area—the wild river area outside of a high preservation area.
A wild river declaration may also identify the following areas/features:
- floodplain management area— a floodplain area with a strong hydrologic connection to the river system; this may overlap a high preservation area or a preservation area
- subartesian management area—an aquifer area with a strong hydrologic connection to the river system; this may overlap a high preservation area and/or a preservation area
- designated urban area—an area which includes any town or village in the wild river area. In these areas, certain types of development activity are exempt from wild river requirements
- a wild river area will also include nominated waterways (PDF, 222K)*—these are secondary tributaries or streams in preservation areas that have been designated for wild river purposes
- special feature/s which form part of the high preservation area. Special features play a significant role in maintaining the natural values of the river system.
More information
Contact us for more information or copies of the fact sheets and guides.
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Last updated 16 December 2011