Stewart Basin Wild River Area
The Stewart Basin Wild River Declaration (PDF, 533K)* took effect on 3 April 2009.
- Consultation report
- Overview of the Stewart Basin Wild River Area
- Managing new development
- Public notices
- More information
Consultation report
In finalising the Stewart Basin wild river declaration, the Minister considered the results of community consultation and all properly made submissions about the declaration proposal.
The Stewart Basin Wild River Declaration Consultation Report (PDF, 530K)* summarises the issues raised during the community consultation process and how they have been dealt with in finalising the wild river declaration.
Overview of the Stewart Basin Wild River Area
The Stewart Basin Wild River Area is located on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. It covers an area of about 2665 square kilometres. The area encompasses the catchments of the Stewart River as well as four other major streams, being the Massy, Breakfast, Balclutha and Gorge (or Running) creeks. These streams all flow from the Great Dividing Range into the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef Lagoon.
The low levels of development in this area have resulted in no major dams or weirs, little surface water or groundwater extraction, intact riparian vegetation and minimal interference to natural flow paths. Water quality is relatively natural due to stable beds and banks, few pollutants and intact sediment filters such as floodplains and vegetation. Much of the riparian vegetation is gallery forest, which contrasts markedly with the grassy plains and open woodland across large parts of the area.
Managing new development
To preserve the wild rivers natural values, some new activities would be regulated in certain areas. These areas are mapped in the declaration.
The wild river area includes four types of area:
- high preservation area
- preservation area
- floodplain management area
- subartesian management area
It also includes nominated waterways in the preservation area.
The regulation and management of certain new activities differ according to the area in which they occur. New activities in these areas are regulated and managed under existing legislative and planning processes, such as the Integrated Planning Act 1997.
The Stewart Basin wild river declaration sets out the areas included within the wild river area. It also lists the rules, guidelines and codes for works that are assessable and self-assessable development in the wild river area.
Many activities are not affected in the wild river area, including:
- 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)
Some high impact activities are effectively prohibited in the high preservation area, including:
- instream dams and weirs
- animal husbandry (e.g. feedlots, emu farms)
- aquaculture (e.g. hatcheries, grow out ponds)
- environmentally relevant activities (except some that are essential for urban areas)
- surface mining (except for limited hand sampling instream and low-impact exploration off-stream)
- destruction of marine plants.
Other activities in the high preservation area and preservation area and certain activities in the floodplain management area are permitted providing they comply with specific codes. For example, aquaculture may be allowed in the preservation area if it complies with the relevant part of the Wild Rivers Code, and building roads and tracks will be permitted provided the requirements of the Code are met.
Public notices
There are no current public notices.
More information
If you would like more information about the Stewart Basin Wild River Declaration, phone the Wild Rivers Officers on 07 4039 8281 or 07 4039 8332 or email wild rivers.
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Last updated: 03 June 2009