Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots Along Western Queensland Stock ...

Site 5. O’Shannassy River (Lawn Hill Road)
STOCK ROUTE NUMBER: U079
PRIORITY SPECIES: Plants:
Pandanaus aquaticus.
Animals:
purple-crowned fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus), and
red goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus).
RATING: BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT
SHIRE COUNCIL: MOUNT ISA CITY
The O’Shannassy River is a spring-fed perennial system that joins the Gregory River
on Riversleigh Station, with some evidence of limestone tufa formations along its
rapids. As it shares the same aquatic system as the Gregory River, it also has the
same priority species present.
Although the stock route at this site is inactive, the riparian edges are still overgrazed
by local stock. Negotiations between SGC, Riversleigh Station and DERM have
resulted in fencing off the Gregory River Crossing, with fencing extensions to other
flowing streams on Riversleigh Station.
Plate 7. Rapids on the O’Shannassy River (Photo: B. Walsh).
THREATS: The major threats to the O’Shannassy River at Lawn Hill Road are
overgrazing of the riparian area, habitat degradation by feral pigs and weeds, and
cane toads that are fatal to native fauna which ingest the toads. There is also
advanced erosion on the stock route adjacent to the river, and evidence of wildfire
through the riparian Melaleuca forest.
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