Enhancing Biodiversity Hotspots Along Western Queensland Stock ...

Site 11. Ward River (Charleville – Quilpie Road)
STOCK ROUTE NUMBER: M507
PRIORITY SPECIES: Animals:
Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii).
RATING: BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT
SHIRE COUNCIL: MURWEH SHIRE
The Ward River waterhole and adjacent reserve is a favourite recreational site for the
people of Charleville. The Charleville Fishing and Restocking Club (CFRC) in
conjunction with the DEEDI, are also active at this site with a catch and release
programme for Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii peelii) (Plates 41 and 42), and
undertake restocking of the cod at well known waterholes.
Due to the ephemeral nature of all rivers and creeks in western Queensland, fish
stocks tend to retreat to these known refugia in the dry times to await the next wet
season and flooding event. The river at this site on Ward River is about seven metres
deep at the bridge, and averages about four metres in depth across the waterhole.
Such waterholes of this depth and dimension are not common and are extremely
important to all species they support, especially Murray cod.
Plate 41. A juvenile Murray cod (Photo: G. Walsh).
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