Upper Burdekin Basin

The Upper Burdekin Basin is the largest in the Burdekin Dry Tropics NRM region. It comprises over 40,000 square kilometres.

The land is mostly used for grazing with just over ten per cent used for conservation purposes. There are many abandoned and operational mines in this basin.

Waterways vary between largely sandy, dry short-lived creek systems to permanently flowing clear-water rivers and creeks that originate in mountain rainforest.

This basin consists of 17 subcatchments. These are:

Allingham Creek

Allingham Creek is a very small subcatchment where the land use is exclusively grazing.

Allingham Creek flows seasonally, but retains permanent water in several waterholes. These waterholes are large, deep and clear. The creek terminates in Eumara Lake, where it joins with Fletcher Creek.

People use this area for recreation (swimming, camping and tourism), stock watering, and cultural and spiritual values of the Gudjal (Kudjala) Traditional Owners.

Basalt River

Basalt River is a medium sized subcatchment where the land use is dominated by grazing. A small part of the land is set aside for minimal use in the headwaters of Stockyard Creek. There are many abandoned and operational mines in the eastern part.

The Basalt River contains numerous large permanent deep and clear waterholes. Stockyard Creek, in contrast, is a largely dry sandy creek.

People use the land for stock watering, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Gudjal (Kudjala) Traditional Owners.

Burdekin River (above the dam)
]Burdekin River (above the dam) is a medium sized subcatchment where the land use is dominated by grazing. There are also a very large number of mines.

The Burdekin River is submerged at two sites by Charters Towers Weir and Lake Dalrymple (Burdekin Falls Dam). The tributaries of this subcatchment are short-lived creeks without permanent waterholes.

This area contains part of the Dalrymple National Park and Iron Pot Springs, which is listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands.

People use this area for recreation (swimming, boating and tourism), stock watering, industrial use, drinking water, human consumption, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Gudjal (Kudjala) and Birri Traditional Owners.

Burdekin River (Blue Range)

Burdekin River (Blue Range) is a medium sized subcatchment where the land use is dominated by grazing. About ten per cent of the land is set aside for conservation and minimal use, while there are many mines.

The area contains part of the Dalrymple National Park and a small section of the Mount Zero-Taravale Nature Refuge.

People use this area for recreation (swimming, fishing and tourism), stock watering, human consumption, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Gugu Badhun Traditional Owners.

Camel Creek

Camel Creek is a relatively small subcatchment where land use is dominated by grazing on native pastures. Just under ten per cent of the land area is set aside for conservation and minimal use, and there are many mines.

This subcatchment consists of short-lived creeks without major permanent water bodies. Poison Lake is listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.

People use this area for sightseeing, stock watering, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Gudjal (Kudjala) and Gugu Badhun Traditional Owners.

Clarke River

Clarke River is a relatively large subcatchment where the land use is dominated by grazing. Approximately 10 per cent of the land area is set aside for minimal use, and there are many mines.

The Clarke River itself is a largely dry, sandy and seasonal river channel. However, the headwaters of this system and those of several of the key tributaries such as Broken, Junction, and Maryvale, begin in basalt country and contain significant permanent, clear-water water bodies that are fed by basalt springs, or in the case of the Broken River, limestone.
 

People use this area for recreation (swimming, camping and tourism), drinking water, stock watering, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Gudjal (Kudjala) and Gugu Badhun Traditional Owners.

Douglas Creek

Douglas Creek is a relatively small subcatchment where land use is dominated by grazing. A small part of the land is set aside for conservation and minimal use, while there are many mines throughout the subcatchment.

Douglas Creek and many of its tributaries, such as Michael Creek, begin in rainforest-covered mountains west of Ingham and contain many permanent water bodies. The lower reaches and tributaries of Douglas Creek are largely dry, sandy short-lived creeks.

People use the area for stock watering, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Nywaigi Traditional Owners.

 

Dry River

Dry River is a relatively small subcatchment where land use is almost exclusively for grazing. There are many mines throughout most of the subcatchment.

The Dry River is an short-lived, sandy creek and, while a variety of small springs exist, there are no large waterholes.

This area is home to a small section of the Undara Volcanic National Park.

People use the land for stock watering, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Gugu Badhun Traditional Owners.

 

Fanning River

Fanning River is a relatively small subcatchment where land use is predominantly grazing. Conservation and minimal use comprises a small part of the subcatchment. Many mines are scattered throughout the central and lower parts of the subcatchment.

This river has two main arms arising from Hervey’s Range, west of Townsville, then falling through a gorge before flattening out in savannah rangelands. The west arm within and above the gorge contains a number of permanent waterholes, though the presence of water in the lower half of the river is limited. The lower Fanning River and its tributaries flow through grazing lands and are largely dry, sandy creeks with few permanent waterholes.

People use this area for stock watering and the cultural and spiritual values of the Juru Traditional Owners.

Gray Creek

Gray Creek is a relatively small subcatchment where land use is dominated by grazing. Approximately 10 per cent of the land area is set aside for conservation and minimal use as remnant native vegetation, while there are many mines throughout the subcatchment.

The Gray Creek subcatchment is a largely sandy, dry seasonal creek system with limited habitat.

People use this area for stock watering and the cultural and spiritual values of the Gugu Badhun Traditional Owners.

Hann Creek

Hann Creek is a relatively small subcatchment where land use is almost exclusively grazing, while there are a small number of mines within the subcatchment.

The Hann Creek subcatchment is a largely sandy, dry seasonal creek system with limited habitat.

People use the area for stock watering and the cultural and spiritual values of the Gudjal (Kudjala) Traditional Owners.

 

Keelbottom Creek

Keelbottom Creek is a relatively small subcatchment. While most of the land area has been set aside for conservation and minimal use, grazing on native pastures is common in the lower part of the subcatchment. There are many mines throughout the subcatchment.

Keelbottom Creek arises in the rainforest-covered mountains of the Paluma Range, part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, thus providing the creek with regular wet season flushes of good quality water. The creek system contains a wide variety of habitats as it progresses from rainforest through gorge country down to savannah rangeland habitats. The upper reaches of Keelbottom Creek and gorge country have perennial flow and contain significant aquatic habitat. The tributaries of lower Keelbottom Creek are mostly dry, sandy channels.

This area includes sections of the Paluma Range National Park and a part of the Dalrymple National Park.

People use this area for recreation (swimming, fishing and tourism), irrigation, farm use, stock watering, human consumption, industry and the cultural and spiritual values of the Nywaigi Traditional Owners.

Kirk River

Kirk River is a relatively small subcatchment where land use is dominated by grazing. Conservation and minimal use comprises around two per cent of the subcatchment, and there are many mines throughout the subcatchment.

The rivers and creeks are largely sandy, dry seasonal systems with limited habitat.

The area is used by people for stock watering and the cultural and spiritual values of the Birri Traditional Owners.



 

Lolworth Creek

Lolworth Creek is a medium sized subcatchment where the major land use is grazing. Just over 20 per cent of the land is set aside for conservation and minimal use, while there are a relatively small number of mines within the subcatchment.

The subcatchment is based around the Great Basalt Wall, a major basalt feature with numerous springs. Many of the water bodies in this subcatchment are listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.

Lolworth Creek subcatchment is also used for recreation (swimming, fishing and tourism), stock watering, human consumption, drinking, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Gudjal (Kudjala) Traditional Owners.

Running River

Running River is quite a small subcatchment where land use is predominantly grazing. Conservation and minimal use, and production forestry, comprise a small part and there are many, mostly abandoned, mines scattered throughout the subcatchment.

This river system arises in the rainforest-covered mountains of the Paluma Range. The creek system contains a wide variety of habitats as it progresses from rainforest through gorges to savannah rangelands. Oakey Creek and its lower tributaries are largely dry sandy, short-lived creeks.
 

This area contains part of the Paluma State Forest, Paluma Range National Park, and Mount Zero-Tarvale Sanctuary.

People use the area for recreation (swimming, fishing and tourism), farm use, stock watering, human consumption, drinking, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Warrgamay and Nywaigi Traditional Owners.

Star River
Star River is a relatively small subcatchment and, while the major land use is grazing, just under half is set aside for conservation and minimal use. There is a very small area of production forestry and many mines throughout the subcatchment.

The Star River arises in the rainforest-covered mountains of the Paluma Range. The creek system contains a wide variety of habitats as it progresses downstream from rainforest through to savannah rangelands. The lower tributaries of the Star River is drier savannah country and are largely dry, sandy short-lived creeks.

This area is home to the steep western slopes of the Paluma Ranges and forested headwaters of Star River. It contains sections of the Paluma State Forest, Paluma Range National Park, and the Mount Zero-Tarvale Sanctuary.

People use the area for stock watering, drinking, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Nywaigi Traditional Owners.

Upper Burdekin River

Upper Burdekin River is a moderate sized subcatchment where the land use is dominated by grazing. A small part of the land area is set aside for conservation and minimal use. There are many mines throughout the subcatchment.

The subcatchment includes an inland floodplain of the Burdekin River at the Valley of Lagoons, several large off-channel lakes, and a major basalt feature with numerous springs emanating from many locations. The numerous springs create not only many significant water bodies, but a wide variety of wetland types. Several of the wetland habitats are listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands.

The area is home to the coastal Gorge Ranges, including the Black Burdekin River and Rapid and Jump Up Creeks. It is also home to areas in the Kinrara National Park and associated lava flow and dry rainforest area, the Valley of Lagoons, and the waters associated with the basalt formation of Reedy Brook, south of the Valley of Lagoons.

People use the area for recreation (swimming, boating and tourism), stock watering, industry, human consumption, aquaculture, drinking, and the cultural and spiritual values of the Warungnu and Warrgamay Traditional Owners.