Western Cape and Gulf freshwater biogeographic province
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Wetland extents
Based on wetland mapping version 7.0
Western Cape and Gulf freshwater biogeographic province wetland area by system 2021
System
Area (ha )
% wetlands area
% total area
Total
2,209,367
100.0%
4.7%
Total excluding riverine and artificial/highly modified riverine
1,282,203
58.0%
2.7%
Artificial and highly modified
19,444
0.9%
0.0%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural)
670,155
30.3%
1.4%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Lacustrine (natural)
4,536
0.2%
0.0%
Lacustrine (slightly modified)
8,742
0.4%
0.0%
Lacustrine (unknown degree of modification)
11
0.0%
0.0%
Palustrine (natural)
575,369
26.0%
1.2%
Palustrine (slightly modified)
3,949
0.2%
0.0%
Riverine
927,162
42.0%
2.0%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (highly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural)
670,155
30.3%
1.4%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Lacustrine (artificial)
11,933
0.5%
0.0%
Lacustrine (highly modified)
7,282
0.3%
0.0%
Lacustrine (natural)
4,536
0.2%
0.0%
Lacustrine (slightly modified)
8,742
0.4%
0.0%
Lacustrine (unknown degree of modification)
11
0.0%
0.0%
Palustrine (artificial)
225
0.0%
0.0%
Palustrine (highly modified)
1
0.0%
0.0%
Palustrine (natural)
575,369
26.0%
1.2%
Palustrine (slightly modified)
3,949
0.2%
0.0%
Riverine (artificial)
3
0.0%
0.0%
Riverine (highly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Riverine (natural)
927,047
42.0%
2.0%
Riverine (slightly modified)
115
0.0%
0.0%
For definitions of artificial, highly modified, modified, slightly modified and natural wetlands, see the Queensland Wetland Mapping Method - A Method to Provide Baseline Mapping of Wetland Extent and Changes in Wetland Extent in Queensland .
Western Cape and Gulf freshwater biogeographic province wetland area by habitat 2021
Habitat
Area (ha )
% wetlands area
% total area
Total
1,244,712
100.0%
2.6%
Mangroves - Casuarina
0
0.0%
0.0%
Mangroves - other
183,326
14.7%
0.4%
Salt marsh and salt flats
485,180
39.0%
1.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline lake
900
0.1%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake
1,234
0.1%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake
1,007
0.1%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp
37,986
3.1%
0.1%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp
1,362
0.1%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp
15,076
1.2%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp
102,649
8.2%
0.2%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp
4,175
0.3%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp
9,901
0.8%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp
205,043
16.5%
0.4%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp
261
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp
84,935
6.8%
0.2%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp
21,210
1.7%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp
89,709
7.2%
0.2%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp
175
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp
11
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp
14
0.0%
0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid
164
0.0%
0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal
395
0.0%
0.0%
Mangroves - Casuarina (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Mangroves - Casuarina (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Mangroves - other (natural)
183,326
14.7%
0.4%
Mangroves - other (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Salt marsh and salt flats (natural)
485,180
39.0%
1.0%
Salt marsh and salt flats (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (natural)
892
0.1%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (slightly modified)
8
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake (slightly modified)
1,234
0.1%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (natural)
1,007
0.1%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (natural)
37,327
3.0%
0.1%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified)
659
0.1%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (natural)
1,335
0.1%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified)
27
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural)
14,225
1.1%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified)
851
0.1%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (natural)
102,028
8.2%
0.2%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified)
621
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (natural)
4,175
0.3%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural)
9,759
0.8%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified)
142
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural)
204,927
16.5%
0.4%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified)
115
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (natural)
261
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural)
84,527
6.8%
0.2%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified)
408
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (natural)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural)
21,165
1.7%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified)
45
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural)
88,759
7.1%
0.2%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified)
949
0.1%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (natural)
175
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (natural)
11
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (natural)
14
0.0%
0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (natural)
164
0.0%
0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (slightly modified)
0
0.0%
0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (natural)
386
0.0%
0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (slightly modified)
9
0.0%
0.0%
Disclaimer
Areas do not include marine or estuarine waters but do include estuarine wetland vegetation (e.g. mangroves and tidal flats).
All statistics are approximate and generated based on data transformed to a customised Albers equal-area projection, thus allowing wetland extent change for different regions of Queensland to be comparable.
Areas may change over time as mapping approaches improve.
Totals may not match the sum of individually displayed figures due to the rounding of displayed figures.
Wetland extent changes
Western Cape and Gulf freshwater biogeographic province wetland extent change by system
System
2021 area (ha )
2019 area (ha )
2017 area (ha )
2013 area (ha )
2009 area (ha )
2005 area (ha )
2001 area (ha )
pre-clear area (ha )
2021/pre-clear percentage
Total
2,209,367
2,208,966
2,208,660
2,212,182
2,211,478
2,210,348
2,209,161
2,191,057
* 99.9%
Artificial and highly modified
19,444
18,999
18,571
17,746
17,045
15,815
14,496
0
n/a
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural)
670,155
670,155
670,159
670,162
670,162
670,162
670,162
670,906
99.9%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
n/a
Lacustrine (natural)
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,907
92.4%
Lacustrine (slightly modified)
8,742
8,741
8,737
8,732
8,641
8,693
8,679
0
n/a
Lacustrine (unknown degree of modification)
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
0
n/a
Palustrine (natural)
575,369
575,422
575,440
576,053
576,141
576,180
576,254
580,369
99.1%
Palustrine (slightly modified)
3,949
3,949
3,949
3,604
3,670
3,658
3,645
0
n/a
Riverine
927,162
927,154
927,257
931,338
931,271
931,294
931,380
934,875
99.2%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (highly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
n/a
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural)
670,155
670,155
670,159
670,162
670,162
670,162
670,162
670,906
99.9%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
n/a
Lacustrine (artificial)
11,933
11,833
11,839
11,349
10,688
9,756
8,598
0
n/a
Lacustrine (highly modified)
7,282
6,937
6,507
6,189
6,151
5,859
5,625
0
n/a
Lacustrine (natural)
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,536
4,907
92.4%
Lacustrine (slightly modified)
8,742
8,741
8,737
8,732
8,641
8,693
8,679
0
n/a
Lacustrine (unknown degree of modification)
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
0
n/a
Palustrine (artificial)
225
225
222
205
203
197
194
0
n/a
Palustrine (highly modified)
1
< 1
< 1
< 1
< 1
< 1
75
0
n/a
Palustrine (natural)
575,369
575,422
575,440
576,053
576,141
576,180
576,254
580,369
99.1%
Palustrine (slightly modified)
3,949
3,949
3,949
3,604
3,670
3,658
3,645
0
n/a
Riverine (artificial)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
0
n/a
Riverine (highly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
n/a
Riverine (natural)
927,047
927,039
927,142
931,223
931,156
931,178
931,264
934,875
99.2%
Riverine (slightly modified)
115
115
115
115
115
115
115
0
n/a
* Total 2021/pre-clear percentage excludes artificial and highly modified
Western Cape and Gulf freshwater biogeographic province wetland extent change by habitat
Habitat
2021 area (ha )
2019 area (ha )
2017 area (ha )
2013 area (ha )
2009 area (ha )
2005 area (ha )
2001 area (ha )
Total
1,244,712
1,243,531
1,243,553
1,243,824
1,243,979
1,244,005
1,244,057
Mangroves - Casuarina
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mangroves - other
183,326
183,326
183,326
183,326
183,322
183,322
183,322
Salt marsh and salt flats
485,180
485,180
485,184
485,187
485,190
485,190
485,190
Arid and semi-arid saline lake
900
900
900
900
900
900
900
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake
1,234
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake
1,007
1,007
1,007
1,007
1,007
1,007
1,007
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp
37,986
37,986
37,986
37,993
37,996
37,999
37,999
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp
1,362
1,362
1,362
1,362
1,362
1,362
1,362
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp
15,076
15,076
15,077
15,077
15,077
15,077
15,115
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp
102,649
102,659
102,665
102,673
102,677
102,684
102,699
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp
4,175
4,175
4,175
4,175
4,175
4,175
4,175
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp
9,901
9,942
9,942
9,942
9,942
9,942
9,949
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp
205,043
205,043
205,055
205,059
205,121
205,130
205,114
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp
261
261
261
261
261
261
261
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp
84,935
84,935
84,935
84,938
84,938
84,943
84,944
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp
21,210
21,210
21,211
21,393
21,403
21,404
21,412
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp
89,709
89,709
89,709
89,773
89,848
89,848
89,848
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp
175
175
175
175
175
175
175
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal
395
395
395
395
395
396
396
Mangroves - Casuarina (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mangroves - Casuarina (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Mangroves - other (natural)
183,326
183,326
183,326
183,326
183,322
183,322
183,322
Mangroves - other (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Salt marsh and salt flats (natural)
485,180
485,180
485,184
485,187
485,190
485,190
485,190
Salt marsh and salt flats (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (natural)
892
892
892
892
892
892
892
Arid and semi-arid saline lake (slightly modified)
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake (slightly modified)
1,234
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (natural)
1,007
1,007
1,007
1,007
1,007
1,007
1,007
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (natural)
37,327
37,327
37,327
37,334
37,338
37,340
37,340
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified)
659
659
659
659
659
659
659
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (natural)
1,335
1,335
1,335
1,335
1,335
1,335
1,335
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified)
27
27
27
27
27
27
27
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural)
14,225
14,225
14,226
14,226
14,226
14,226
14,264
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified)
851
851
851
851
851
851
851
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (natural)
102,028
102,039
102,044
102,053
102,057
102,063
102,079
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp (slightly modified)
621
621
621
621
621
621
621
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (natural)
4,175
4,175
4,175
4,175
4,175
4,175
4,175
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (natural)
9,759
9,800
9,800
9,800
9,800
9,800
9,807
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp (slightly modified)
142
142
142
142
142
142
142
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural)
204,927
204,928
204,940
204,944
205,007
205,026
205,011
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified)
115
115
115
115
114
104
103
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (natural)
261
261
261
261
261
261
261
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural)
84,527
84,527
84,527
84,530
84,530
84,535
84,536
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified)
408
408
408
408
408
408
408
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (natural)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (natural)
21,165
21,166
21,166
21,348
21,361
21,363
21,370
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp (slightly modified)
45
45
45
45
41
41
41
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (natural)
88,759
88,759
88,760
89,147
89,152
89,154
89,155
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp (slightly modified)
949
949
949
625
696
694
693
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (natural)
175
175
175
175
175
175
175
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (natural)
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (natural)
14
14
14
14
14
14
14
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (natural)
164
164
164
164
164
164
164
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid (slightly modified)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (natural)
386
386
386
386
386
387
387
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal (slightly modified)
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
Disclaimer
Areas do not include marine or estuarine waters but do include estuarine wetland vegetation (e.g. mangroves and tidal flats).
All statistics are approximate and generated based on data transformed to a customised Albers equal-area projection, thus allowing wetland extent change for different regions of Queensland to be comparable.
Areas may change over time as mapping approaches improve.
Totals may not match the sum of individually displayed figures due to the rounding of displayed figures.
Australian Land Use and Management Classification (ALUMC)
Western Cape and Gulf freshwater biogeographic province land use
ALUMC code and description
Area (ha )
% total area
Total
47,350,503
100.0%
2.1 Grazing native vegetation
37,165,681
78.5%
2.1.0 Grazing native vegetation
37,165,681
78.5%
1.2 Managed resource protection
4,356,517
9.2%
1.2.0 Managed resource protection
1,581,753
3.3%
1.2.2 Surface water supply
9,808
0.0%
1.2.5 Traditional indigenous uses
2,764,956
5.8%
1.1 Nature conservation
3,195,288
6.7%
1.1.3 National park
2,796,466
5.9%
1.1.4 Natural feature protection
171,686
0.4%
1.1.7 Other conserved area
227,136
0.5%
6.5 Marsh/wetland
1,990,844
4.2%
6.5.0 Marsh/wetland
1,963,293
4.1%
6.5.1 Marsh/wetland - conservation
27,551
0.1%
1.3 Other minimal use
181,098
0.4%
1.3.0 Other minimal use
15,590
0.0%
1.3.1 Defence
5,517
0.0%
1.3.3 Residual native cover
159,898
0.3%
1.3.4 Rehabilitation
94
0.0%
6.1 Lake
181,033
0.4%
6.1.0 Lake
177,882
0.4%
6.1.1 Lake - conservation
3,144
0.0%
6.1.2 Lake - production
7
0.0%
6.3 River
147,266
0.3%
6.3.0 River
143,354
0.3%
6.3.1 River - conservation
3,912
0.0%
5.8 Mining
30,774
0.1%
5.8.0 Mining
19,263
0.0%
5.8.1 Mines
7,878
0.0%
5.8.2 Quarries
1,385
0.0%
5.8.3 Tailings
1,779
0.0%
5.8.4 Extractive industry not in use
468
0.0%
4.3 Irrigated cropping
20,487
0.0%
4.3.0 Irrigated cropping
8,394
0.0%
4.3.2 Irrigated beverage and spice crops
147
0.0%
4.3.3 Irrigated hay and silage
1,372
0.0%
4.3.5 Irrigated sugar
10,574
0.0%
6.2 Reservoir/dam
17,062
0.0%
6.2.0 Reservoir/dam
16,482
0.0%
6.2.1 Reservoir
2
0.0%
6.2.2 Water storage - intensive use/farm dams
577
0.0%
5.4 Residential and farm infrastructure
12,385
0.0%
5.4.1 Urban residential
2,341
0.0%
5.4.2 Rural residential with agriculture
2,591
0.0%
5.4.3 Rural residential without agriculture
2,049
0.0%
5.4.4 Remote communities
841
0.0%
5.4.5 Farm buildings/infrastructure
4,563
0.0%
3.3 Cropping
9,830
0.0%
3.3.0 Cropping
7,433
0.0%
3.3.3 Hay and silage
2,397
0.0%
6.6 Estuary/coastal waters
9,156
0.0%
6.6.0 Estuary/coastal waters
9,156
0.0%
2.2 Production native forests
7,763
0.0%
2.2.0 Production native forests
7,763
0.0%
5.7 Transport and communication
6,681
0.0%
5.7.0 Transport and communication
2,298
0.0%
5.7.1 Airports/aerodromes
4,191
0.0%
5.7.2 Roads
6
0.0%
5.7.3 Railways
77
0.0%
5.7.4 Ports and water transport
25
0.0%
5.7.5 Navigation and communication
84
0.0%
4.4 Irrigated perennial horticulture
6,377
0.0%
4.4.0 Irrigated perennial horticulture
1,936
0.0%
4.4.1 Irrigated tree fruits
3,370
0.0%
4.4.2 Irrigated olives
49
0.0%
4.4.3 Irrigated tree nuts
393
0.0%
4.4.4 Irrigated vine fruits
90
0.0%
4.4.5 Irrigated shrub berries and fruits
202
0.0%
4.4.8 Irrigated citrus
337
0.0%
3.6 Land in transition
4,709
0.0%
3.6.0 Land in transition
406
0.0%
3.6.3 Land under rehabilitation
4,300
0.0%
3.6.5 Abandoned perennial horticulture
3
0.0%
5.5 Services
4,297
0.0%
5.5.0 Services
4
0.0%
5.5.1 Commercial services
491
0.0%
5.5.2 Public services
508
0.0%
5.5.3 Recreation and culture
3,291
0.0%
5.5.4 Defence facilities - urban
2
0.0%
5.3 Manufacturing and industrial
813
0.0%
5.3.0 Manufacturing and industrial
658
0.0%
5.3.2 Food processing factory
15
0.0%
5.3.3 Major industrial complex
127
0.0%
5.3.6 Oil refinery
12
0.0%
5.3.8 Abandoned manufacturing and industrial
< 1
0.0%
5.2 Intensive animal production
749
0.0%
5.2.2 Feedlots
197
0.0%
5.2.3 Poultry farms
22
0.0%
5.2.5 Aquaculture
222
0.0%
5.2.6 Horse studs
173
0.0%
5.2.7 Saleyards/stockyards
134
0.0%
4.2 Grazing irrigated modified pastures
595
0.0%
4.2.0 Grazing irrigated modified pastures
595
0.0%
4.5 Irrigated seasonal horticulture
462
0.0%
4.5.0 Irrigated seasonal horticulture
305
0.0%
4.5.3 Irrigated seasonal vegetables and herbs
156
0.0%
5.9 Waste treatment and disposal
283
0.0%
5.9.0 Waste treatment and disposal
56
0.0%
5.9.2 Landfill
159
0.0%
5.9.3 Solid garbage
7
0.0%
5.9.5 Sewage
61
0.0%
3.1 Plantation forests
214
0.0%
3.1.0 Plantation forests
101
0.0%
3.1.1 Hardwood plantation forestry
9
0.0%
3.1.2 Softwood plantation forestry
104
0.0%
5.6 Utilities
84
0.0%
5.6.0 Utilities
11
0.0%
5.6.1 Fuel powered electricity generation
18
0.0%
5.6.5 Electricity substations and transmission
33
0.0%
5.6.6 Gas treatment, storage and transmission
< 1
0.0%
5.6.7 Water extraction and transmission
22
0.0%
5.1 Intensive horticulture
17
0.0%
5.1.0 Intensive horticulture
15
0.0%
5.1.5 Abandoned intensive horticulture
2
0.0%
3.2 Grazing modified pastures
16
0.0%
3.2.0 Grazing modified pastures
16
0.0%
6.4 Channel/aqueduct
12
0.0%
6.4.0 Channel/aqueduct
2
0.0%
6.4.1 Supply channel/aqueduct
9
0.0%
6.4.2 Drainage channel/aqueduct
< 1
0.0%
4.1 Irrigated plantation forests
7
0.0%
4.1.0 Irrigated plantation forests
7
0.0%
3.4 Perennial horticulture
3
0.0%
3.4.0 Perennial horticulture
3
0.0%
Drainage divisions
Drainage basins
Drainage sub-basins
Regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies
Local government areas
100K map tiles
Climate zones
Desert
Equatorial
Grassland
Subtropical
Tropical
Bioregions
Biogeographic subregions
IBRA bioregions
IBRA subregions
Bioregional assessment areas
Marine meso-scale bioregions
East Cape York (ECY)
Karumba-Nassau (KAN)
Wellesley (WLY)
West Cape York (WCY)
Marine provincial bioregions
Northeast Shelf Transition
Northern Shelf Province
Regional plans
World Heritage areas
Ramsar internationally important wetlands
none
DIWA nationally important wetlands
National parks
Marine parks (Queensland)
Study areas
none
Report cards
none
Conservation parks
State forests
Forest reserves
Resources reserves
Timber reserves
Royton Timber Reserve
Fish habitat areas
Coastal management district
Available (all have been combined since February 2012)
Nature refuges
Aquatic Conservation Assessments (AquaBAMM) and others
Wetland (aquatic ecosystem) type—conceptual models
Wetland (aquatic ecosystem) type—management profiles
Groundwater dependent ecosystem type—conceptual models
Healthy Land and Water conceptual models
none
Water resource planning areas
Aquatic ecosystem monitoring programs
Point source monitoring
none
Wetland soil indicator case studies
Wetland management case studies
none
Wetland projects
Area specific conceptual model case studies
none
Paddock to Reef (P2R) report cards
Water Quality Improvement Plan catchments
Eastern Cape York
Annie River, Saltwater Creek and Fifteen Mile Creek (Eastern Cape York)
Deighton River (Eastern Cape York)
Jack River and Beattie Creek (Eastern Cape York)
Kennedy River and Little Kennedy Creek (Eastern Cape York)
Laura River (incl. Mosman River, Kennedy Creek) (Eastern Cape York)
Little Laura River (incl. Shepherd, Pine Tree creeks) (Eastern Cape York)
Marrett River, Sandalwood and Birthday creeks (Eastern Cape York)
Morehead River, Healy Creek and Hann River (Eastern Cape York)
Normanby estuarine waters (incl. Bizant, Normanby, Saltwater and others adjacent Princess Charlotte Bay) (Eastern Cape York)
Normanby /lower Laura rivers (incl. Brown, Cabbage Tree creeks) (Eastern Cape York)
Normanby River - lower and Bizant River (Eastern Cape York)
Normanby - upper (incl. West, East and Granite Normanby Rivers, Bridge Ck) (Eastern Cape York)
North Kennedy River (Eastern Cape York)
EPP (Water) scheduled environmental values and water quality objectives
none
Shorebird zones
Biopassage structures
Name
Construction year
Structure types
Stream name
Arraw Dam
2019
Rock Ramp
Norman Creek
Augustus Downs
2012
Culvert
Leichhardt River
Bynoe River
2010
Cone
Bynoe River
Charlston Dam
2019
Bypass
Finnegan Creek
Cloncurry Weir
2015
Rock Ramp
Cloncurry River
Doomadgee Road
2009
Rock Ramp
Gregory River
Escott
2009
Cone
Nicholson River
Gin Arm
2009
Rock Ramp
Gin Arm Creek
Glenore Weir
2016
Cone
Norman River
Little Bynoe
2014
Cone
Little Bynoe River
Magowra Creek
2011
Culvert
Magowra Creek
Pear Tree Creek
2011
Culvert
Pear Tree Creek
Wernadinga Road
2009
Cone
Flinders River
View information about legislation and policies
Wildlife
Note: Wildlife statistics are based on information that has been submitted to the DETSI WildNet database and converted to a 10km² grid. The grid information has been intersected with the mapping polygons to determine the species lists. Click here to view the species grid metadata .
Information from WildNet can also be accessed via Wildlife Online and WetlandMaps .
Rare or threatened includes species listed as extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or conservation dependent under either the Nature Conservation Act or Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
Disclaimer: While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this product, the Queensland Government and Australian Government make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaim all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which might be incurred as a consequence of reliance on the product, or as a result of the product being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason.
AreaType-fbp
This page should be cited as:
Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2013) Western Cape and Gulf freshwater biogeographic province — facts and maps, WetlandInfo website, accessed 8 May 2025 . Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/fbp-western-cape-and-gulf/