Morning Inlet Wild River Area
Agile wallaby
Plumed whistling duck
The Morning Inlet Wild River Area (PDF, 279K)* is located in the Gulf of Carpentaria in far north-western Queensland. It covers an area of approximately 3676 square kilometres and includes the catchments of Morning Inlet Creek and a number of small coastal creeks that flow into a large continuous wetland area. The small creeks include Poingdestre, L and Catherine creeks.
The wild river area includes the nationally significant Southern Gulf and Buffalo Lake wetlands. The Southern Gulf wetlands are among Australia’s largest and least fragmented natural estuarine wetlands and is one of the most important areas of shorebird and waterbird habitat in Australia, as well as being a feeding and breeding ground for fish and other animals.
The Buffalo Lake wetlands provide important breeding and feeding habitat for waterfowl and roosting and feeding habitat for waterbirds and migratory waders.
The area also supports a number of rare and threatened species including:
- Gilbert’s dragon
- agile wallaby
- plumed whistling duck
- pictorella mannikin
Natural values
The Morning Inlet wild river area has the following relevant natural values:
- hydrologic processes
- geomorphic processes
- water quality
- riparian function and
- wildlife corridor function.
The river systems are in near-natural condition due to very low levels of development in their catchments. There are no towns, mining or other industry in the area. These river systems have extensive floodplains which are subject to seasonal inundation during the wet season which further restricts the suitability of these areas for development.
Water quality in the streams of the wild river area is near natural, due to the minimal release of pollutants and the relatively unaltered sediment movement. Low levels of development, unmodified stream flows, and largely intact vegetation cover across the proposed wild river area have also contributed to the maintenance of the river system’s natural values.
Morning Inlet Wild River Declaration 2007
The Morning Inlet Wild River Declaration 2007 (PDF, 399K)* establishes a framework for the preservation of this unique area for the benefit of current and future generations. It also combines strategies for both preservation and sustainable development to maintain the health of the river system on which rural and remote communities depend. More information is provided in the explanatory notes (PDF, 122K)*.
Read more about the Morning Inlet Wild River declaration (PDF, 279K)*.
Managing new development
Map showing the location of the Morning Inlet wild river area
Many activities are not affected by the wild rivers declaration. These include:
- existing developments
- grazing
- recreational fishing
- boating or refueling
- traditional cultural activities
- native title
- land management such as clearing weeds
- traditional burning
- taking water for stock or domestic needs
- improving pasture (unless using risk species).
New economic development opportunities can occur if they do not adversely affect the area’s natural values. The developments may be set back from the rivers or required to comply with certain conditions to minimise their impact.
Wild river requirements may apply to developments such as agricultural and animal husbandry activities, aquaculture, forestry, mining, in-stream quarrying, residential, commercial and industrial development, riverine and tidal works, vegetation clearing, water allocation and take.
More information
If you would like more information about the Morning Inlet Wild River Declaration, phone the Wild Rivers Coordinator on (07) 4222 5529 or (07) 4222 5531 or email wild.rivers@derm.qld.gov.au
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Last updated 8 March 2011