Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots Along Western Queensland Stock ...

Site 3. Gregory River Crossing (1) (Riversleigh Station)
STOCK ROUTE NUMBER: U 079
PRIORITY SPECIES: Plants:
Pandanaus aquaticus.
Animals:
purple-crowned fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus),
red goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus), and
ghost bat (Macroderma gigas).
RATING: BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT
SHIRE COUNCIL: MOUNT ISA CITY
The Gregory River (Plate 4) is one of the most renowned perennial systems in the
Top End of Australia. It is spring-fed, combines with the O’Shannassy River, and has
recently been classified as a ‘Wild River’ under the Queensland Wild Rivers and
Other Legislation Amendment Act 2005. This rich, tropical river system supports
multiple priority species living along and adjacent to the riparian edges, and winds
through rugged low escarpments where undoubtedly ghost bat (Macroderma gigas)
roosts along with other species.
Plate 4. Gregory River at the Lawn Hill crossing (Photo: B. Walsh).
THREATS: Although feral predators such as cats undoubtedly have some predation
impact on the faunal species, the greatest threats to Gregory River area come from
overgrazing, inappropriate fire regime, feral pigs and weeds. The riparian edges of
this system come under a lot of grazing pressure during the dry season, especially in
the case of Pandanus aquaticus that cattle graze out over the waters edge (Plate 5).
Cane toads have already invaded this area, with minimal ‘before and after’ surveys to
quantify impact.
18