The Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration
- Key features of the Wenlock Basin declaration
- Consultation report
- Report into hydrology of the Coolibah Springs Complex
- Managing new development
Key features of the Wenlock Basin declaration
The Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration 2010 (PDF, 571K)* sets up a practical framework for preserving the natural values of this special part of Queensland’s natural heritage in a way that acknowledges and meets the needs of different stakeholders.
After extensive community consultation, the declaration is framed to preserve the unspoiled values of the Wenlock River while allowing development activities and commercial enterprise to grow.
- Existing developments are not impacted upon and most new proposals for mining, grazing, fishing, ecotourism and outstations can occur if they do not adversely affect the natural values the declaration is aiming to preserve.
- The declaration also does not impact upon native title and traditional activities including hunting, fishing, collecting bush food and medicines, ceremonies and traditional fire management will continue.
- Recreational fishing and boating can continue.
- A critical element of the declaration is the definition of a high preservation area to give maximum protection to areas that most need it.
- A one-kilometre high preservation area will extend from the wild river, its major tributaries and special features. The exceptions to this are the high preservation area extent around the Coolibah Springs Complex, part of Lydia Creek and parts of the Embley Range Aggregation.
- The high preservation extent around Coolibah Springs special feature is set at 500 metres. The extent of the high preservation area around Lydia Creek and smaller streams that form part of the Embley Range Aggregation is also set at 500 metres.
Consultation report
In finalising the Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration 2010, the Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy considered the results of community consultation and all submissions about the declaration proposal.
The Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration Consultation Report (PDF, 517K)* summarises the issues raised during the community consultation process (and outlined in the Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration Proposal Issues Report released in December 2009) and how they have been dealt with in finalising the wild river declaration.
Report into hydrology of the Coolibah Springs Complex
The Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration 2010 includes an area known as the Coolibah Springs Complex on Bertiehaugh Station in Cape York Peninsula. These springs have been included as a special feature for the declaration.
The proposed inclusion of the springs complex generated some detailed submissions on the declaration proposal, including scientific research and data on the possible extent of the proposed special feature and status as a high preservation area. Some of the information provided in these submissions was conflicting.
For this reason, and due to the level of scientific detail, the Department of Environment and Resource Management engaged Queensland-based company RPS to conduct hydrological studies of the springs and provide independent advice to the Queensland Government.
The Review of Submissions relating to the Hydrology and Ecosystem Functions of ‘Bauxite Springs’ on and in the vicinity of Bertiehaugh Station Cape York Peninsula provided further advice and helped clarify the technical information supplied in submissions on the Coolibah Springs Complex.
The Minister considered the findings in this report in making the decision to approve the Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration.
Managing new development
To preserve the wild river’s natural values, some new activities will be regulated in certain areas. These areas are mapped in the declaration.
The wild river area includes the:
- 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 will differ according to the area in which they occur. New activities in these areas will be regulated and managed under existing legislative and planning processes, such as the Sustainable Planning Act 2009.
The Wenlock Basin Wild River Declaration sets out the areas included within the wild river area. It also sets outs the regulatory requirements that apply for prohibited, 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
- tourism
- 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)
- growing community gardens for domestic purposes
- some mining (e.g. limited hand sampling instream and low-impact exploration offstream)
- outstation development.
Some high impact activities will be 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 (e.g. open-cut mines)
- destruction of marine plants
- intensive agriculture.
Other activities in the high preservation and preservation areas and certain activities in the floodplain management area will be permitted provided they comply with specific codes. For example, aquaculture may be allowed in the preservation area if it complies with the relevant wild river code, and building roads and tracks will be permitted provided the requirements of the code are met.
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Last reviewed 8 June 2011
Last updated 16 June 2010