Table 1: Basins in the Great Barrier Reef catchment Great Barrier Reef catchment NRM regions Basins Coastal zone as defined by Queensland State Coastal Management Plan 2011 Cape York NRM region (managed by Cape York NRM) Jacky Jacky Olive-Pascoe Lockhart Stewart Normanby Jeanie Endeavour Wet Tropics NRM region (managed by Terrain) Daintree Mossman Barron Mulgrave-Russell Johnstone Tully Murray Herbert Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM region (managed by NQ Dry Tropics) Black Ross Haughton Burdekin Don Mackay Whitsunday NRM region (managed by Reef Catchments) Proserpine O'Connell Pioneer Plane Fitzroy NRM region (managed by Fitzroy Basin Association) Styx Shoalwater Waterpark Fitzroy Calliope Boyne Burnett-Mary NRM region (managed by Burnett Mary Regional Group) Baffle Kolan Burnett Burrum Mary
and is approximately 92,000 hectares in size mangrove species, dominated by Rhizophora, Avicennia and Ceriops species and Xylocarpus mekongensis; dense seagrass meadows – at least eight species of seagrass recorded; extensive saltpans. flathead, mullet, mackerel, shark, whiting, mangrove jack, queenfish, bream, dart, trevally and jewfish. Prawns and mud crabs. Bowling Green Bay (declared in 1989) Bowling Green Bay south of Townsville and is approximately 68,600 hectares in size. Closed Rhizophora and Ceriops dominated mangrove stands with extensive areas of salt marsh, sparse seagrass beds within the bay, exposed banks and freshwater lagoons. Major barramundi nursery habitat; area identified as important to the food chain of offshore billfish fishery; barramundi, blue salmon, bream, estuary cod, flathead, grey mackerel, grunter, mangrove jack, queenfish, school mackerel, whiting, tiger and banana prawns. Declared to conserve commercial and recreational fishing grounds and resources and as important dugong and loggerhead turtle habitat. Adjacent to Bowling Green Bay RAMSAR wetlands, freshwater lagoons immediately upstream. Nature refuges A nature refuge is a class of protected area under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 that acknowledges a commitment to manage and preserve land with significant conservation values while allowing compatible and sustainable land uses to continue. Although a nature refuge agreement may be entered into voluntarily, a nature refuge agreement is legally binding. There are two nature refuges in the Haughton basin, the Corrick Plains Nature Refuge and Serpentine Nature Refuge. These are shown in Figure 2.2.1
actions are needed to manage. implemented. Introduced aquatic weeds Introduced aquatic weeds are well established in the basin. Changes in flow are removing periods of seasonal drying that normally ‘cull’ native sedges. As a result native sedges are overgrowing effected wetlands. Leads to lowered oxygen levels in aquatic ecosystems that render habitats unsuitable for most native fish species. Create blackwater pulses that cause downstream fish barriers. Act as a barrier to fish movement. Ongoing decline of wetlands and associated floodplain ecosystems. If weeds continue to proliferate a reduction in water quality, fish habitat and connectivity are likely to occur. Changed overland hydrology Most development/modification has occurred on the floodplain and coastal zone. Changes to connectivity and water retention which has impacted on all ecological processes. Ongoing weed problems. Likely decline in water quality and aquatic biodiversity in the GBRWHA. Ponded pasture/wetland production It became illegal to establish new ponded pastures in the coastal zone in 2001 (policy for development and use of ponded pasture). Loss of connectivity and declines in fish productivity, blackwater, and the potential release of acid sulphate soils. Plans to modify ponded pastures to improve ecosystem health. Bunds can be rebuilt if lost however. Improved productivity, ecosystem health and resilience.
Appendix C – Values and their elements that underpin matters of national environmental significance Values and their elements that underpin matters of environmental significance Matters of national environmental significance (MNES) World Heritage Properties National heritage places Wetlands of international importance Listed threatened species and ecological communities Listed migratory species Commonwealth marine areas Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Biodiversity - Habitats Islands Beaches and coastlines Mangroves Seagrass meadows Coral reefs (<30m) Mesophotic (deep water) corals Lagoon floor Shoals Halimeda banks Continental slope Open waters Saltmarshes Freshwater wetlands Forest floodplain Heath and shrublands Grass and sedgelands Woodlands Forests Rainforests Biodiversity - Species Dune & saltmarsh plants Mangroves Seagrasses Macroalgae Benthic microalgae Corals Seahorses and allies Other invertebrates Plankton and microbes Bony fish Sharks and rays Sea snakes Marine turtles Estuarine crocodile
Health benefits Appendix D – Threatened species of the Haughton basin Birds Erythrotriorchis radiatus Fregetta grallaria grallaria Geophaps scripta scripta Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda Poephila cincta cincta Rostratula benghalensis (sensu lato) Sternula nereis nereis Frogs Litoria rheocola Mammals Dasyurus hallucatus Dasyurus maculatus gracilis Megaptera novaeangliae Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of QLD, NSW and the ACT) Pteropus conspicillatus Rhinolophus philippinensis (large form) Saccolaimus saccolaimus nudicluniatus Xeromys myoides Plants Bulbophyllum globuliforme Croton magneticus Eucalyptus raveretiana Hydrocharis dubia Leucopogon cuspidatus Marsdenia brevifolia Omphalea celata Streblus pendulinus Tylophora williamsii