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
Fitzroy River (declared in 2008) Approximately 29,253 hectares in size, parts of the Fitzroy River estuary, Raglan Creek and wetland systems on North Curtis Island. Extensive saltpans and saline grasslands fed by mangrove-lined creeks; closed mixed-species mangrove forests mud and sand flats; rocky headlands and brackish lagoons. Commercial, recreational and Indigenous fisheries resources Southern distributional limit of Acanthus ilicifolius (mangrove holly. 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 46 nature refuges in the Fitzroy basin (Appendix G). These are shown in Figure 2.2.1.
improvement in stream stability. Declining water quality Improvements in recent years although still a major threat to the World Heritage Area. Decline in inshore ecosystem health and resilience. Likely to improve as a result of management actions targeted at improving water quality. Improvements expected but will take time to take effect. Barriers to fish migrations Water security and proposed expansion of agriculture driving pressure to create dams and weirs. Reduction/loss of connectivity and fish passage. Projects planned to improve fish passage through lowering of smaller bund walls or installing fish ladders. New dams proposed may reduce fish passage. Dependent upon effective works being implemented and connections restored and maintained. Introduced species Established throughout the basin (mostly in modified landscapes). Introduced grasses generate hotter fires that can affect native species, destroy forest canopies and expose soil which can be eroded, especially when fires occur late in the dry season. Eradication to date has been ineffective and many grasses are still used for pasture grass. Strategic basin scale management actions are needed to manage and control. Likely to lead to increases in erosion and therefore more suspended sediments in the GBRWHA. Mine release/tailwater Releases regulated by the Queensland Government. Heavy metals entering the river systems which flow into the World Heritage Area as part of authorised releases. Dependent on content of mine release. Likely to increase as a result of expansion in the mining industry. 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. Development continues to occur on the floodplain and coastal zone. 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. Improved productivity, ecosystem health and resilience if significant restoration works undertaken.
Humboldt National Park; Humboldt State Forest; Isla Gorge National Park; Juandah State Forest; Junee National Park; Junee State Forest; Keilambete State Forest; Kelvin Forest Reserve; Kelvin State Forest; Kettle State Forest; Kroombit Tops National Park; Lake Learmouth State Forest; Lake Murphy Conservation Park; Limestone Creek Conservation Park; Llandillo State Forest; Long Island Bend Conservation Park; Marlborough State Forest; Maxwelton State Forest; Mebir State Forest; Minerva Hills National Park; Montour State Forest; Morinish State Forest; Moultrie State Forest; Mount Archer National Park; Mount Archer State Forest; Mount Etna Caves National Park; Mount Hope State Forest; Mount Hopeful Conservation Park; Mount Jim Crow National Park; Mount Larcom State Forest; Mount Leura Conservation Park; Mount Nicholson State Forest; Mount Organ State Forest; Mount Pleasant State Forest; Mount Scoria Conservation Park; Mundell State Forest; Nandowrie State Forest; North Pointer Conservation Park; Nuga Nuga National Park; Overdeen State Forest; Palmgrove National Park (Scientific); Peak Range National Park; Pluto Timber Reserve; Porphyry Hill State Forest; Precipice National Park; Presho Forest Reserve; Presho State Forest; Princhester Conservation Park; Redcliffe State Forest; Redrock State Forest; Rockybar State Forest; Rosedale State Forest; Roundstone Conservation Park; Roundstone State Forest; Rundle Range National Park; Rundle Range Resources Reserve; Rundle State Forest; Serocold State Forest; Shotover State Forest; Snake Range National Park; Spencer Gap Forest Reserve; Spencer Gap State Forest; Squire State Forest; Stephenton State Forest; Stones Country Resources Reserve; Stuart Creek State Forest; Taunton National Park (Scientific); Theodore State Forest; Tierawoomba Forest Reserve; Tierawoomba State Forest; Trevethan State Forest; Tualka State Forest; Ulam Range State Forest; Vandyke Creek Conservation Park; Walton State Forest; Waterton State Forest 1; Waterton State Forest 2; Werribee Creek State Forest; West Hill State Forest; Withersfield State Forest; Woodduck State Forest; Zamia Creek Conservation Park; and Zamia State Forest.