WEST KIMBERLEY PLACE REPORT - Department of Sustainability ...

A series of scattered freshwater wetlands, mostly centred around mound spring
structures, occur intermittently along the coast of the largely arid Dampier Peninsula
(McKenzie & Kenneally 1983). These include Lollywell, Bunda Bunda and Willy
Creek (Graham 2002); the latter two are listed as wetlands of national significance
(DEH 2001; WA Government 2009). A complex of fresh water seepages known as
Big Springs is located to the north-east of Derby on the Yampi Peninsula (DEH
2001). Mostly, the supply of water to these discrete wetlands is maintained by water
discharging from underground aquifers. These aquifers are in turn replenished during
the wet season (WA Government 2004). Given the relative permanency of water
supply at these small wetlands, each of these sites is likely to act as regionally
important habitats for a wide range of the Kimberley's fauna, including waterfowl and
waders. However, there is insufficient evidence at this time to support a claim that
these Kimberley mound springs are of national significance for species richness,
endemism or for refugial values. A recent report accessing the High Conservation
Value Aquatic Ecosystem (HCVAE) criteria of mound springs in Western Australia
found that there was 'not enough information' to assess the refugial values of these
springs (Shanahan and Coote 2008). This status may change if further surveys of the
Dampier and Yampi peninsulas are undertaken. Mound springs of the Great Artesian
Basin (GAB), especially the National Heritage listed Witjira-Dalhousie and Elizabeth
Springs, on the evidence available have much stronger richness, endemism and
refugial values. Morton et al. (1995) documented that the GAB Springs are important
for illustrating the role of evolutionary refugia for relict animal and plant species,
which have evolved over long periods of time into distinct and endemic species.
Witjira-Dalhousie Springs alone contains five endemic fish species. To date there are
no known endemic fauna at the Dampier and Yampi peninsula mound springs
(Morgan, D., pers. comm. May 2010); systematic surveys of these systems are needed
to identify the full list of species present.
Other spring systems were discussed at the 2010 Heritage Wetlands workshop,
including the McLarty Hills and Dragon Tree Soak to the south of the Fitzroy River
and the Karajarri wetlands complex inland of Eighty Mile Beach. Karajarri includes
Mandora Marsh, which has a community of inland mangroves and at least once per
decade is exceptionally important for waterbirds (C. Minton pers. comm. in DEH
2001). Little scientific information is known of these quite complex wetland systems.
Experts at the workshop were of the opinion that these systems were likely to be of
equal or greater heritage value than the springs within the Dampier Peninsula or north
Kimberley.
There is insufficient evidence at this time to demonstrate that mound springs of
the Dampier Peninsula have outstanding heritage value to the nation under
criterion (a) for species richness, endemism or as refugia.
One other small wetland system is found at Disaster Bay (on the Dampier Peninsula).
A number of other wetlands are found on Yampi Peninsula and around the river
outflows at the back of the Walcott Inlet (to the north of the Yampi Peninsula). There
is very little known about these systems and survey work is required to quantify what
heritage values may be present.
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