Staaten Wild River Area
The Staaten Wild River Declaration 2007 (PDF, 352K)* took effect on 28 February 2007. A 'plain English' description of the Staaten Wild River Declaration 2007 is provided in the explanatory notes (PDF, 120K)* .
- Overview of the Staaten Wild River Area
- Managing new development
- Public notices
- Historical information
- More information
Overview of the Staaten Wild River Area
The Staaten Wild River Area covers about 25 700 km2 at the western base of Cape York Peninsula in far north western Queensland. The area contains the catchments of two wild rivers (the Staaten River and Vanrook Creek) and ten major tributaries.
The river systems in the area are in near natural condition due to very low levels of development in their catchments. These river systems have extensive floodplains which are inundated in most wet seasons, further restricting the suitability of these areas for development. Also there are no towns, mining or heavy industry in the area. Also, large areas of land are within national parks within the wild river area.
In addition to the river systems themselves, the wild river area has a number of special features that play a significant role in maintaining wild river natural values. These features, which include nationally significant wetlands,are strongly connected to the river systems.
Managing new development
It is important to manage future development activity in the wild river area to ensure the wild river natural values are preserved.
The wild river declaration achieves this by applying wild river requirements on certain types of future development activity. These requirements are most stringent in high preservation areas (areas within and surrounding the river systems and special features).
Most types of new development are prohibited in a high preservation area, including:
- instream dams and weirs
- agricultural areas (e.g. crops, orchards, vineyards)
- animal husbandry facilities (e.g. feedlots, emu farms)
- aquaculture facilities (e.g. hatcheries, grow out ponds)
- surface mining and high impact exploration.
Where a new development activity is not prohibited, it will be required to meet wild river outcomes before it can be approved. These outcomes are specified in the Wild Rivers Code. For example, an off-stream storage for capturing overland flow water located within a high preservation area must comply with the relevant part of the Wild Rivers Code as well as any requirements under the Water Act.
Developments existing at the time of declaration are not affected by the declaration, including the maintenance of these developments.
The declaration does not affect recreational fishing or camping. However, if using live bait for fishing in the wild river area’s streams, only bait caught in the wild river area can be used.
Public notices
There are no current public notices.
Historical Information
In December 2005, a notice of intent to declare the Staaten Wild River Area was published in newspapers. The notice also advertised the availability of the Staaten Wild River Declaration Proposal for public comment and formal submissions. The notice also imposed a moratorium on water, vegetation clearing and mining tenure dealings. The submission period closed on 24 April 2006.
In December 2006, a further notice of intent to declare the Staaten Wild River Area was published in newspapers and the moratorium period was extended. The notice advertised the availability of an updated Staaten Wild River Declaration Proposal for public comment and formal submissions. Submissions closed on 28 February 2007. The moratorium ceased to be in effect on 28 February 2007 when the Staaten Wild River Area was declared.
These historical documents are available for inspection at departmental offices at Level 3 5B Sheridan Street, Cairns; and Level 2 Mineral House, 41 George Street, Brisbane.
More information
If you would like more information about the Staaten Wild River Declaration, phone the Wild Rivers Officers on 07 4039 8281 or 07 4039 8332 or email wild rivers.
Photo courtesy of Ian Fox, Queensland Herbarium.
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Last updated: 02 October 2008