Reports

The Reef 2050 Strategy supports the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan and the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan, setting out a framework for the improved management of the wetlands of the Great Barrier Reef catchments.

This strategy includes five themes:

• Improving wetlands information for decision making and action
• Wetland planning
• On-ground activities to protect, manage, rehabilitate and restore wetlands.
• Engagement, education, communication and capacity building
• Monitoring, evaluation, reporting and improvement

The development of an updated Reef 2050 Wetlands Strategy incorporated the outcomes of the independent evaluation of the of the 2016-21 Strategy (superseded)

• Queensland Wetland Definition Guideline

• Queensland Wetland Delineation and Mapping Guideline

• Queensland Wetland Classification Scheme

• Module 1: Introduction to the River Classification Scheme
• Module 2: Literature review of biophysical attributes for river classification
• Module 3: River Classification Attributes (web pages)
• Queensland River Classification Scheme Factsheet

This case study illustrates how Calliungal Cattle Station's managers have tackled the challenges of floodplain grazing and applied recent technological innovations to achieve sustainable production—while retaining healthy wetlands and biodiversity. It provides information useful to landholders on land subject to major floods, in Queensland.

2020

The Queensland Intertidal and Subtidal Ecosystem Classification Scheme uses the biological, physical and chemical characteristics of the water column and sea floor to classify intertidal and subtidal ecosystems. The scheme develops a common understanding and language of classification to improve communication and lead to better management outcomes. It provides a structured framework and understanding available for mapping.

• The Queensland Intertidal and Subtidal Ecosystem Classification Scheme fact sheet
• Module 1 Introduction and implementation of Intertidal and Subtidal Ecosystem Classification
• Module 2 Literature review of intertidal and subtidal classification frameworks and systems
• Module 4 - A method for providing baseline mapping of intertidal and subtidal ecosystems in Queensland
• Development of the ceq30 bathymetry grid (2019)

User friendly illustrated field guide that offers comprehensive information on the wetland plants of the area. 

Plant selection for WSUD: WSUD design guidelines for Mackay

Wetland Plants of the Wet Tropics

Wetland plants of the Townsville—Burdekinfloodplain

Note this Strategy has been replaced with the Reef 2050 Wetlands Strategy: a Strategy to manage wetlands in the Great Barrier Reef and its catchments (Reef 2050 Wetlands Strategy).

The strategy supported the Reef 2050 Long Term Sustainability Plan and the Reef Water Quality Improvement Plan 2013, setting out a framework for the improved management of the wetlands of the Great Barrier Reef catchments. It built on the achievements of the Queensland Wetlands Program and recognised wetlands as vital to the health of the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem and its catchments.

This strategy included five themes: improved information; planning; on-ground management; communication and education; and evaluation, review and improvement.

The groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) handbooks provide consolidated information on where and how groundwater moves through a catchment and where groundwater may interact with ecosystems.

• Handbook for groundwater dependent ecosystems in South East Queensland
• Groundwater dependent ecosystem mapping: Comet, Dawson and Mackenzie catchments
• Lake Eyre Basin Springs Assessment Project Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Mapping Report

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is a reasonably new approach to urban stormwater quality management.

It is important that local plant selection is given appropriate consideration as a matter of priority.

These Technical Design Guidelines puts forward plant recommendations chosen by a team of horticultural experts. It also contains practical design drawings illustrating how they apply.

To inform the management of river systems consistent with the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, there is a need to understand how long waterholes can persist and how the spatial distribution of persistent waterholes changes as a drought progresses. The waterholes project was commissioned by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority to improve understanding of the location and persistence of waterholes in the Lower Balonne and Barwon–Darling regions of the northern Basin as part of the Northern Basin review. The project was undertaken through the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation (Queensland) and the Department of Primary Industries, Water (NSW).

This report details the approach taken to assess hazards to lacustrine and palustrine wetlands in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) catchments in Queensland. It provides a landscape scale assessment of hazard (as opposed to fully quantified 'risk') arising from land-use, and is conducted as a desktop GIS analysis.

In particular the assessment aims to:

• characterise human induced pressures arising from land-use
• enable the attribution of mapped wetlands with a modelled level of hazard.

The Queensland Government encourages the community to suggest new names for geographic features in Queensland that have yet to be officially named.

The place naming process includes consideration of naming issues, provision of recommendations to the relevant Minister under the Place Names Act 1994, publication of notices and maintenance of the gazetteer or register of place names.

Western Cape York groundwater study: 2. Groundwater dependent ecosystems investigation supporting the assessment of groundwater sustainability in the Great Artesian Basin of Cape York and

Attachment 1: Spatial analysis technical description and maps of potential groundwater dependent ecosystems

Investigates the risks to groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) which may potentially have reliance upon the Great Artesian Basin (GAB) across the Cape York Peninsula.

GDEs support important biodiversity values and they are recognised as particularly important on Cape York Peninsula, where access to groundwater provides a water source to ecosystems during the long dry season. Groundwater on Cape York Peninsula is present in both local surface aquifers, and the larger regional water table of the Great Artesian Basin.

The Queensland Wetlands Program (Program) has been running for nearly 10 years and has delivered more than 70 projects. There have been three phases of the Program: Phase 1 (2003-2008), the Transitional Phase (2009-2010) and Phase 2 (2010-2013).

An evaluation of Phase 1 was undertaken in 2009 by a non-government agency, while for Phase 2, a smaller management audit has been undertaken by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) independently of the Program.

Watch the video to follow the rehabilitation process.

Demonstrates wetland rehabilitation and monitoring outcomes in agricultural production areas in the Mackay-Whitsunday region.

To mark the 20th anniversary of the listing of Moreton Bay under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, (Ramsar Convention), achievements over the past 20 years have been documented. This list highlights some of the incredible effort that has gone into protecting and managing the Moreton Bay Ramsar site.

Beginning in 2011 this study consisted of four surveys of the coastal high tide roosts for shorebirds, and additional aerial and ground surveys of nearby wetlands, north of Ayr. The aim of the study was to provide a detailed assessment of the distribution and abundance of shorebirds and waterbirds in the Bowling Green Bay Ramsar Site.

Boosting the capacity to optimise ground cover and grazing business outcomes by subdividing paddocks into many smaller units, each served by off-stream watering points. Environmental benefits include reduced soil erosion and improved condition of the riparian zone.

These guidelines have been produced for use by landholders engaged in grazing and dryland cropping in two inland river basins of Queensland: the Queensland Murray-Darling and the Bulloo. Most of the material is applicable much more widely across inland regions of Queensland and Australia generally.

It outlines a step-by-step process for preparing a wetland management plan and a template (model) is provided allowing landholders and other wetland managers to easily insert the necessary information into an appropriate format.

The 'Walking the landscape' framework integrates existing data with expert knowledge to develop a whole-of-system map linked to conceptual models showing how the environment functions. The method addresses one of the major criticisms of broadscale mapping—the lack of integration of knowledge from local experts into datasets used by decision makers.

The connectivity framework describes a process for systematically and transparently working through the connectivity of relevant functions of an aquatic ecosystem, and provides a way of understanding and applying connectivity at any level of spatial scale for any management outcome.

The framework was developed through expert workshops involving policy makers and scientists from a wide range of disciplines from state, local and federal government bodies and universities.

Provides the steps for designing a wetland buffer and identifies its benefits and future management needs.

Use this guideline in palustrine, lacustrine, estuarine and marine wetland systems. The concepts behind the method can also be used for buffers around riverine and artificial wetlands. Using the guideline requires expert knowledge of wetlands.

An important tool to support users who want to meet the requirements of the State Planning Policy Protecting Wetlands of a High Ecological Significance in Great Barrier Reef Catchments. However it does not over-ride legislative requirements.

Developed to provide graziers, landowners and extension officers with information on managing grazing in and around Queensland's coastal wetlands to maintain healthy coastal wetlands and productive grazing enterprises.

It provides practical advice on how grazing and associated land management practices can be implemented to support the long-term health of coastal wetlands whilst maintaining production.

Reports on the Indicator of Reduction in Soils (IRIS) method for identifying wetlands and demonstrates how to use the method on wetlands in Queensland. Field indicators of ephemeral wetlands can be hard to find in dry times. Wetland soils—identified by reducing conditions—become a major indicator of existence and extent.

The IRIS method uses synthetic iron oxides to indicate anaerobic conditions in soils to indicate the presence of wetlands. Wetland managers and decision makers may use the IRIS method as an additional line of evidence to identify wetland extent.

Describes the method behind the development of the associated interactive tool that relates zonal discharge and rainfall to the imagery used as a base for the Queensland wetland mapping. The tool provides a historical context to how the maximum extent of the wetlands and the water regime ratings were determined.

The information may also be used for the evaluation of the circumstances that lead to wetland filling and the changes in wetland filling processes for different wetland types. This is important for wetland assessment and management of wetlands at a subregional scale.

Instream structure inventory program

The Inventory of Instream Structures program demonstrates the impacts of structures which threaten the health of local fish populations that support important recreational and commercial fisheries and associated wetland functions. The guidelines and report feature a Response Action Plan (RAP) that nominates specific recommendations actions to protect wetland values.

• Fisheries guidelines for conducting an inventory of instream structures in coastal Queensland
• ISI report 1: Targeted collection of inventory data for wetlands fish barriers of the Great Barrier Reef catchment
• ISI report 2: Inventory of instream structures impacting on Ramsar wetlands
• ISI report 3: Enhanced management of Ramsar site wetlands within the Great Sandy Strait catchments
• Queensland Spatial Catalogue provides a GIS layer of instream structures associated with the inventory reports and is downloadable by searching for "Queensland Fish Habitat Area Instream Structure Inventory Data" including the quotes.

Please note: the findings of the above reports are current at time of publication. Given the dynamic nature of the environment, the status of instream structures and identified issues will require review before implementing management recommendations.

Comprises two parts.

Part A is a guide to existing wetland definitions and how to apply the Queensland Wetlands Program wetland definition.

Part B is the delineation and mapping guideline.

Contains information and guidelines to help producers and extension officers protect the functions of Queensland’s wetlands in intensive agricultural production systems. The Handbook follows the Farm Management System approach to managing agricultural businesses.

The Handbook provides for all aspects of best practice wetlands management in intensive agricultural operations and covers such topics as nutrient, erosion and sediment management; spray-drift management; management for fisheries values; and weed and pest animal management.  It also contains a component on constructed wetlands design.

An independent evaluation of the first phase of the Queensland Wetlands Program (2003-2009) in 2009.

The evaluation, conducted by Halcrow Pacific Pty Ltd and Institute of Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, was to determine the Program’s effectiveness in meeting its aim and project objectives.

The Program aim is to support projects that will result in long-term benefits to the sustainable use, management, conservation and protection of Queensland wetlands.

The evaluation looked at the Program’s five focus areas:

• improving the wetland information base
• wetland planning arrangements
• on-ground activities to protect and rehabilitate wetlands
• education and capacity building
• communication, monitoring, evaluation and reporting and review.

Developed to assist wetland managers including landholders, local councils and Natural Resource Management bodies to undertake effective wetland rehabilitation. The guidelines draw on existing research and experience including works undertaken in the Queensland.

Produced under the Great Barrier Reef Queensland Wetlands Program, Wetland Care Australia was commissioned, by the Australian Government.

To help reduce the challenges of accessing wetland science the Queensland Wetlands Program with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines developed a report that focuses on:

• information relating to causal relationships between wetlands and Great Barrier Reef water quality
• research on how wetland ecosystems function
• research on the role wetlands play in landscape processes—in particular the improvement of downstream water quality
• research assessing the ‘health’ of wetlands in an ecological context; and the implications of research for the protection, management and restoration of degraded wetlands.

In 2007, an independent review was undertaken to analyse how wetland activities aligned between regional bodies and the objectives of the QWP.

It contains detailed regional profiles for each of the 14 natural resource management regions of Queensland with each profile identifying key achievements, wetland activities and future directions.

The review concluded that many of the regional body wetland activities were contributing to the QWP objectives and were complemented and supported by the products from the QWP.

The Report evaluates the GBR Coastal Wetland Protection Programme including a description of achievements against objectives, an evaluation of the success of the pilot programme, and the appropriateness of approaches used.

Conceptual model case studies for selected wetlands in Queensland. Site-specific information and science on a wide variety of wetland issues. Informs and supports management. The technique used for developing the conceptual models can be implemented by local wetland managers anywhere in Queensland.

This online portal is used for querying information on specific environmental values, by location.

Report types:

• matters of state environmental significance
• regional ecosystems
• terrestrial biodiversity and aquatic conservation values.