Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Area

The Georgina and Diamantina basins are located in western Queensland and together with the Cooper Creek Basin form the Lake Eyre Basin. River systems in the Georgina and Diamantina basins, like the Cooper Creek river system, are amongst the world’s last arid river systems without significant water development.

The Diamantina River Basin extends into South Australia, while the Georgina River Basin extends into both the Northern Territory and South Australia. The declared wild river area includes the Queensland parts of these basins—an area of approximately 263,000 square kilometres.

The natural values and ecological processes of river systems in the Georgina and Diamantina basins are primarily driven and defined by the highly variable rainfall patterns across this vast area. Wildlife springs to life throughout the basins to accompanying rainfall. Large floods—especially in the mid to lower reaches—fill the channels to overflowing, leaving behind them a lasting legacy, waterholes that sustain life until the next rainfall event. The unique environmental events are a boon to huge populations of waterbirds and rare fish species including the Elizabeth Springs Goby, an endangered fish species endemic to the Diamantina Basin.

The diverse wetlands in the area are in natural or near-natural condition with many identified in the Directory of Important Wetlands of Australia. These wetlands include:

• vast areas of floodplains and low lying swamps which provide a significant amount of habitat during floods and support large colonies of waterbirds in most years, such as those of the Georgina River–King Creek Floodout and Diamantina Overflow Swamp
• freshwater and saline lakes such as the near pristine Diamantina Lakes and Lake Constance, and those associated with Eyre Creek and the Mulligan River
• the interconnected channels of the Channel Country
• waterholes such as the Birdsville–Durrie Aggregation
• Great Artesian Basin mound springs such as Elizabeth Springs.

The area supports a large number of rare and threatened species of flora and fauna comprising eight bird species, 11 mammal species, eight plant species and one fish species. These include the:

• Dusky Hopping-Mouse
• Greater Bilby 
• Night Parrot
• Australian Painted Snipe
• Elizabeth Springs Goby
• Julia Creek Dunnart 
• Plains Rat 

The Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Declaration 2011 (PDF, 1.1M)* sets up a practical framework for preserving the area’s natural values. The declaration strikes a balance that will help preserve this special part of Queensland’s natural heritage while ensuring that communities in the area can continue to prosper.

Read the fact sheet on the Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Area (PDF, 146K)* and the fact sheet on the Georgina and Diamantina Basins Natural Values (PDF, 71K)*.

Natural values

The declared Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Area has the following relevant natural values intact: hydrologic processes, geomorphic processes, riparian function, water quality and in-stream wildlife corridor function. These natural values are in a near-natural state throughout the wild river area, due to minimal development having taken place in the region to date.

Read more about the natural values of the Georgina and Diamantina basins.

Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Declaration

Developing the Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Declaration 2011 involved extensive community consultation. The declaration is framed to preserve the near-natural values of the basins while allowing appropriate development and local industries to grow.

Read more about the Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Declaration.

Consultation report

In finalising the Georgina and Diamantina basins declaration, the Minister for Environment considered the results of community consultation and all submissions about the declaration proposal.

This followed an extensive consultation program that included information forums, public meetings, workshops, meetings on properties and meetings held on country with representative stakeholders. Stakeholders included Traditional Owners, local governments, graziers, mining and petroleum companies, tourism operators, conservation and environmental groups, commercial business operators and community organisations.

The Lake Eyre Basin Wild River Advisory Panel was formed to represent stakeholders throughout the basin. The Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Declaration Consultation Report (PDF, 2.6M)* summarises the key issues raised and describes how these have been dealt with in the final declaration.

More information

If you would like more information about the Georgina and Diamantina Basins Wild River Area, or a copy of the declaration, phone a wild rivers coordinator on (07) 4222 5533 or email wild rivers.

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Last updated 19 December 2011

Georgina and Diamantina basins

• Natural values
• Wild river declaration