Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots Along Western Queensland Stock ...

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Cover photos Top left: A black-shouldered kite (Elanus axillaris) Top right: Major Mitchell’s cockatoos (Lophochroa leadbeateri) Centre: A drover moving cattle Bottom left: A yakka skink (Egernia rugosa) Bottom right: A Euro, or common wallaroo (Macropus robustus) (All photos were taken by B. Walsh) 2
Executive summary The Stock Route Network (SRN) of western Queensland has significant economic value for pastoralists, and has significant habitat for biodiversity. The network covers a range of habitats that stretch from the border with New South Wales to the Gulf of Carpentaria, which in turn support a variety of biodiversity that include many conservation priorities for Queensland. However, a number of threats to the SRN, compounded by a lack of knowledge about the conservation priorities, are compromising the management of this resource. In order to improve the management of the natural values of the SRN, this project sought to identify some of the biodiversity hotspots on the stock routes of western Queensland, and provide recommendations for their management in order to achieve the greatest conservation benefits. To achieve these objectives, the project partners (Southern Gulf Catchments Ltd., Desert Channels Queensland Inc., South West NRM Ltd., Queensland Murray Darling Committee Inc., and the Department of Environment and Resource Management) were supported by funds from the Australian Government to map and identify potential sites, carry out field visits to verify values and threats, and to make management recommendation for identified biodiversity hotspots. This project identified 47 biodiversity hotspots as well as other sites of high nature conservation or geological value, and sites that require further research. For each biodiversity hotspot the biological values were identified (including the presence of priority species), as well as the threats, current management, and recommended management actions. The condition of the biodiversity hotspots and stock routes were comparable to the management of the station or protected area they adjoin or traverse, and many were in good condition. However, common threats were habitat degradation from weeds, competition/predation by introduced animals, inappropriate fire regime, damage to springs by feral pigs, and overgrazing by stock in some areas. Mitigating the threats to these biodiversity hotspots will require: an increased awareness of the values and management needs of these sites amongst the local stakeholders; a focus of management on the recommended actions; and increased coordination amongst stakeholders to make the greatest conservation gains with limited resources. The recommendations in this report can be used to help focus the work programmes of relevant stakeholders, as well as leverage for the funding required to conserve these biodiversity hotspots. 3
Page 1: ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS ALO
Page 5 and 6: List of maps Map 1. The Stock Route
Page 7 and 8: Introduction Queensland’s Stock R
Page 9 and 10: Project methodology In order to ach
Page 11 and 12: 3. Selection of biodiversity hotspo
Page 13 and 14: Map 2. Biodiversity hotspots of the
Page 15 and 16: Plate 1. Charles Curry (SGC) by the
Page 17 and 18: Plate 3. Aboriginal art gallery at
Page 19 and 20: Plate 5. Cattle grazing damage to P
Page 21 and 22: RECOMMENDATIONS: The highest priori
Page 23 and 24: CURRENT MANAGEMENT: As with the Gre
Page 25 and 26: Plate 8. The buff-sided race of the
Page 27 and 28: Map 3. Biodiversity hotspots of the
Page 29 and 30: Plate 10. Bilby diggings (Photo: B.
Page 31 and 32: Site 2. Birdsville/Bedourie STOCK R
Page 33 and 34: Site 3. Hell Hole Gorge National Pa
Page 35 and 36: Site 4. Elizabeth Springs STOCK ROU
Page 37 and 38: Site 5. “Big Red” Sand Dune STO
Page 39 and 40: Site 6. Lake Galilee (Hazelmere Sta
Page 41 and 42: Site 7. Lake Dunn (The Lake Station
Page 43 and 44: Site 8. The Big Spring (Myross Stat
Page 45 and 46: Site 9. Old Cork Waterhole (Winton
Page 47 and 48: CURRENT MANAGEMENT: Desert Channels
Page 49 and 50: Windorah but their presence at this
Page 51 and 52: THREATS: Unknown. Plate 25. Black-f
Page 53 and 54:
Plate 27. Northern quoll (Photo: T.
Page 55 and 56:
The South West NRM Region Introduct
Page 57 and 58:
Map 4. Biodiversity hotspots of the
Page 59 and 60:
Plate 31. Native liquorice flower (
Page 61 and 62:
CURRENT MANAGEMENT: In conjunction
Page 63 and 64:
THREATS: The major threats to Oolin
Page 65 and 66:
Site 4. Morven - Tregole Road (oppo
Page 67 and 68:
Site 6. Mungalala - Mitchell Road (
Page 69 and 70:
Site 7. Morven - Tregonning Road ST
Page 71 and 72:
established on part of the spring t
Page 73 and 74:
RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended
Page 75 and 76:
RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended
Page 77 and 78:
THREATS: The major threats to this
Page 79 and 80:
Plate 44. Tagging a mature Murray c
Page 81 and 82:
Plate 46. Water lettuce at Cunnamul
Page 83 and 84:
RECOMMENDATIONS: Yakka skinks are d
Page 85 and 86:
For any future controlled fires at
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Site 19. Riversleigh Road (Boatman
Page 93 and 94:
Plate 52. Major Mitchell’s cockat
Page 95 and 96:
Site 21. Charleville - Augathella R
Page 97 and 98:
Site 23. Adavale Escarpment (Adaval
Page 99 and 100:
25. Yowah Creek (Eulo - Thargominda
Page 101 and 102:
Additional findings The majority of
Page 103 and 104:
Map 5. Biodiversity hotspots of the
Page 105 and 106:
CURRENT MANAGEMENT: This stock rout
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Site 3. Mitchell - Bollon Road STOC
Page 109 and 110:
Site 5. Womalilla Creek (Off the Wa
Page 111 and 112:
Reports of past snag removal south
Page 113 and 114:
Site 8. Wylara Hole (Surat - St. Ge
Page 115 and 116:
Site 10. Surat - Glenmorgan Road ST
Page 117 and 118:
It is also recommended that conside
Page 119 and 120:
Plate 64. Aboriginal well (Photo: B
Page 121 and 122:
Conclusions The Stock Route Network
Page 123 and 124:
Acronyms BRMB Border Rivers Maranoa
Page 125 and 126:
Appendix 1b: Priority animal specie
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