Introduction to assets by subgroup, class and data source
The total number of ecological water-dependent assets in the PAE of the Galilee subregion is 3973 (from a total of 4122 ecological assets on the asset list). Of the water-dependent assets, 2383 assets are vegetation features, with the remainder surface water features (1439) and groundwater features (151) (Table 7). Most of the vegetation features are groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs). Most of the surface water features are waterholes, pools, rock pools or billabongs. Of the ecological assets, 3610 assets are assessed as dependent on surface water and 3178 assets are assessed as dependent on groundwater. Of these assets, 795 assets are assessed as dependent or possibly dependent on surface water alone, 363 assets are assessed as dependent or possibly dependent on groundwater alone, and 2815 assets are assessed as dependent or possibly dependent on both surface water and groundwater.
Table 8 summarises the assets and their water dependence according to database source. Maps of the distributions of the key data sources are shown in Figure 13 to Figure 22. Total assets cover a large proportion of the 611,000 km2 area of the PAE, giving confidence that the asset register is a thorough basis for the assessment of potential impacts of coal resource developments during later stages of the BA. In some datasets, at least some large assets intersect with only a small part of the PAE and extend far beyond the boundaries of the PAE. This is most strongly the case for the World Heritage Areas dataset, in which the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area lies largely to the northeast of the PAE, and for the WAIT dataset, in which Great Artesian Basin groundwater aquifers and recharge beds extend far to the north, west and south of the PAE.
Table 7 Summary of ecological assets within the preliminary assessment extent (PAE) of the Galilee subregion, according to asset subgroup and class
Subgroup |
Class |
Number of water-dependent assets |
Number of assets dependent on surface water |
Number of assets dependent on groundwater |
---|---|---|---|---|
Groundwater features |
Aquifer, geological feature, alluvium or stratum |
151 |
19 |
151 |
Surface water features |
Floodplain |
5 |
5 |
1 |
Lake, reservoir, lagoon or estuary |
45 |
45 |
20 |
|
Marsh, sedgeland, bog, spring or soak |
109 |
109 |
0 |
|
River or stream reach, tributary, anabranch or bend |
152 |
152 |
8 |
|
Waterhole, pool, rock pool or billabong |
957 |
923 |
883 |
|
Wetland, wetland complex or swamp |
171 |
171 |
83 |
|
Vegetation |
Groundwater-dependent ecosystem |
2201 |
2032 |
1936 |
Habitat (potential species distribution) |
177 |
151 |
93 |
|
Riparian vegetation |
5 |
3 |
3 |
|
Total |
3973 |
3610 |
3178 |
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Table 8 Summary of ecological assets in the preliminary assessment extent (PAE) of the Galilee subregion, according to asset data source
Dataset |
Number of water-dependent assets |
Number of assets dependent on surface water |
Number of assets dependent on groundwater |
---|---|---|---|
Collaborative Australian Protected Areas Database (CAPAD) |
62 |
55 |
35 |
A directory of important wetlands in Australia (DIWA) |
39 |
39 |
30 |
Environmental Assets Database (EAD) |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Great Artesian Basin Groundwater Recharge |
10 |
10 |
10 |
National atlas of groundwater dependent ecosystems (subsurface) |
137 |
134 |
117 |
National atlas of groundwater dependent ecosystems (surface) |
2064 |
1898 |
1819 |
Birds Australia Important Bird Areas (IBA) |
13 |
13 |
13 |
Key Environmental Assets of the Murray-Darling Basin (KEA) – streams |
138 |
138 |
0 |
Key Environmental Assets of the Murray-Darling Basin (KEA) – waterbodies |
11 |
11 |
11 |
Queensland DERM waterbodies |
812 |
778 |
755 |
Queensland DERM waterbodies – Indigenous |
114 |
114 |
114 |
Threatened species listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) |
19 |
13 |
15 |
Threatened regional ecosystems listed under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992 |
40 |
33 |
17 |
Threatened species listed under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992, excluding EPBC Act-listed species |
24 |
23 |
7 |
Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Threatened ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act |
6 |
5 |
5 |
WAIT Burdekin |
31 |
31 |
2 |
WAIT Desert Channels |
214 |
145 |
112 |
WAIT ERIN |
38 |
38 |
4 |
WAIT Fitzroy |
34 |
30 |
5 |
WAIT Queensland Murray-Darling Committee |
7 |
5 |
4 |
WAIT SA Arid Lands |
35 |
34 |
24 |
WAIT Southern Gulf |
113 |
51 |
73 |
WAIT Southwest Queensland |
8 |
8 |
2 |
Total |
3973 |
3610 |
3178 |
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
DERM = Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)
Threatened ecological communities
Seven ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act occur in the Galilee subregion, and six are assessed as water dependent (Table 9). Management plans indicate only ‘The community of native species dependent on natural discharge of groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin threatened ecological community’ depends on groundwater and the ‘Coolibah – Black Box Woodlands of the Darling Riverine Plains’ and the ‘Brigalow Belt South Bioregions threatened ecological community’ depend on surface water. However, the assessment data based on satellite imagery shows that at least parts of the other four ecological communities are likely to be water dependent, and so these assets are also assessed as water dependent on the basis of the precautionary principle.
Table 9 Water-dependent threatened ecological communities listed under the EPBC Act and within the preliminary assessment extent (PAE) of the Galilee subregion
Communitya |
Dependence upon surface water |
Dependence upon groundwater |
Rationale for inclusion in water-dependent asset register |
---|---|---|---|
Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant) threatened ecological community |
Possible |
Possible |
Intersection with Queensland wetland mapping units; some riparian vegetation intercepting groundwater; and evapotranspiration greater than rainfall |
Coolibah - Black Box Woodlands of the Darling Riverine Plains and the Brigalow Belt South Bioregions threatened ecological community |
Yes |
Possible |
Associated with floodplains and drainage areas in which there is possible groundwater-surface water interaction |
Natural Grasslands of the Queensland Central Highlands and the northern Fitzroy Basin threatened ecological community |
Unlikely |
Possible |
Some riparian vegetation intercepting groundwater; and evapotranspiration greater than rainfall |
Semi-evergreen vine thickets of the Brigalow Belt (North and South) and Nandewar Bioregions threatened ecological community |
Possible |
Unlikely |
Intersection with Queensland wetland mapping units |
The community of native species dependent on natural discharge of groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin threatened ecological community |
Unlikely |
Yes |
Great Artesian Basin springs are the only habitat of this community. |
Weeping Myall Woodlands threatened ecological community |
Possible |
Possible |
Intersection with Queensland wetland mapping units; some riparian vegetation intercepting groundwater; and evapotranspiration greater than rainfall |
Data: Australian Government Department of the Environment (Dataset 2), Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 3, Dataset 4, Dataset 5)
aTypology and punctuation are given as they are used in the legislation.
Habitats of threatened species
Of the 39 species listed as threatened under the EPBC Act, 19 species are assessed to rely upon water-dependent habitats, with four species dependent on surface water, six species dependent on groundwater, and nine species dependent on both surface water and groundwater (Table 10). All six EPBC Act-listed species that are only dependent on groundwater are exclusively associated with the community of native species dependent on natural discharge of groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin threatened ecological community (as listed under the EPBC Act). Evidence for dependence on surface water is often much less clear cut. The species occur across a wide range of community types that are more commonly ephemeral rivers, creeks, swamps and floodplains than permanent waterbodies. In such community types, determination of absolute dependence on water in excess of rainfall (i.e. flows down drainage lines and across floodplains) cannot be made with complete confidence, and in all cases the precautionary principle has been applied to assess these species’ habitats.
Of the 78 species listed as threatened under the Nature Conservation Act, excluding those also listed under the EPBC Act, 24 species are assessed to rely upon water-dependent habitats, with 17 species likely or possibly dependent on surface water, one species possibly dependent on groundwater, and six species possibly dependent on both surface water and groundwater (Table 11). Evidence for dependence on surface water or groundwater is not clear cut for most of these species. As for some of the species listed under the EPBC Act, species listed under the Nature Conservation Act occur across a wide range of community types that are more commonly ephemeral than permanent waterbodies. In such community types, determination of absolute dependence on water in excess of rainfall cannot be made with complete confidence, and again the precautionary principle has been applied to assess these species’ habitats.
Table 10 Water-dependent threatened species listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and within the preliminary assessment extent (PAE) of the Galilee subregion
Although examples of individual species are listed, bioregional assessments consider the potential impact to the habitat of species not individual species per se.
Scientific namea |
Common name |
Dependence upon surface water |
Dependence upon groundwater |
Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Acacia ammophila |
A wattle |
Unlikely |
Possible |
Distribution overlaps with the community of native species dependent on natural discharge of groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin EPBC Act-listed threatened ecological community |
Amytornis barbatus barbatus |
Grey Grasswren (Bulloo) |
Yes |
Unlikely |
Occurs in lignum and canegrass on swampy floodplains in the drainage basin of the Bulloo River |
Austrobryonia argillicola |
Tobermorey Melon |
Yes |
Possible |
Grows along ephemeral creeks and in poorly drained areas on cracking clay plains. Most abundant in seasonal swamps, clay pans and run-on areas |
Chlamydogobius micropterus |
Elizabeth Springs Goby |
Unlikely |
Yes |
Great Artesian Basin springs are the only habitat of this asset species. |
Chlamydogobius squamigenus |
Edgbaston Goby |
Unlikely |
Yes |
Great Artesian Basin springs are the only habitat of this asset species. |
Denisonia maculata |
Ornamental Snake |
Yes |
Possible |
Found on floodplains, undulating clay pans and along the margins of swamps, lakes and watercourses |
Eriocaulon carsonii |
Salt Pipewort |
Unlikely |
Yes |
Great Artesian Basin springs are the only habitat of this asset species. |
Eryngium fontanum |
Blue Devil |
Unlikely |
Yes |
Great Artesian Basin springs are the only habitat of this asset species. |
Geophaps scripta scripta |
Squatter Pigeon (southern) |
Yes |
Possible |
Usually sighted close to permanent water bodies |
Lawrencia buchananensis |
A shrub |
Yes |
Possible |
Known from a single population in highly specific saline habitats along the shores of Lake Buchanan |
Livistona lanuginosa |
Waxy Cabbage Palm |
Yes |
Possible |
Occurs only along sandy river and creek channels that flow only for part of the year, but with permanent pools or soaks |
Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda |
Star Finch (eastern) |
Yes |
Possible |
Recorded from damp grasslands, sedgelands or grassy woodlands near permanent water or areas of regular inundation |
Pezoporus occidentalis |
Night Parrot |
Possible |
Possible |
Likely on claypans, floodplains or the margins of salt lakes, and creeks or other water bodies |
Poephila cincta cincta |
Black-throated Finch (southern) |
Yes |
Possible |
Prefers open grassy woodland habitats adjacent to water sources or riparian strips |
Pristis pristis (Pristis microdon) |
Largetooth Sawfish |
Yes |
No |
Spawns in estuaries and young fish live in freshwater riverine habitats up to 500 km inland |
Rostratula benghalensis (sensu lato) |
Australian Painted Snipe |
Yes |
Possible |
Occurs in shallow freshwater (occasionally brackish) wetlands, both ephemeral and permanent |
Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis |
Redfin Blue Eye |
Unlikely |
Yes |
Great Artesian Basin springs are the only habitat of this asset species. |
Sclerolaena blakei |
A small shrub |
Possible |
No |
Only been collected in depressions and channels on gravelly downs |
Sclerolaena walkeri |
A small shrub |
Possible |
No |
Occurs on saline river flats and floodplains |
Data: Australian Government Department of the Environment (Dataset 2)
aTypology and punctuation are given as they are used in the legislation.
Table 11 Water-dependent threatened species listed under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992 (but not listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) and within the preliminary assessment extent (PAE) of the Galilee subregion
Although examples of individual species are listed, bioregional assessments consider the potential impact to the habitat of species not individual species per se.
Scientific namea |
Common name |
Dependence upon surface water |
Dependence upon groundwater |
Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adelotus brevis |
Tusked Frog |
Yes |
Possible |
Found near creeks, ditches and ponds |
Arthraxon hispidus |
Hairy-joint Grass |
Yes |
Yes |
In wet forest, often near creeks or swamps, and around freshwater springs and mound springs |
Botaurus poiciloptilus |
Australasian Bittern |
Yes |
Possible |
Preferred habitat is wetlands with tall dense vegetation at the edges of pools or waterways |
Bursaria reevesii |
A shrub |
Yes |
Unlikely |
Along drainage lines and in creek beds |
Chalinolobus dwyeri |
Large-eared Pied Bat |
Possible |
No |
Requires forest or woodland near watercourses |
Epthianura crocea crocea |
Yellow Chat |
Yes |
Unlikely |
At Curtis Island, Torilla Plain and the Fitzroy Delta |
Epthianura crocea macgregori |
Yellow Chat (Dawson) |
Yes |
Unlikely |
Habitat restricted to channels, basins and/or depressions with wetlands of sedges, rushes and grasses |
Erythrotriorchis radiates |
Red Goshawk |
Yes |
No |
Habitat must contain permanent water |
Eucalyptus raveretiana |
Black Ironbox |
Yes |
Possible |
On the banks of watercourses |
Fontainea venosa |
Bahrs Scrub Fontainea |
Possible |
No |
In vine forest along creeks |
Furina dunmalli |
Dunmall's Snake |
Possible |
No |
In open forest on floodplains |
Grevillea hockingsii |
A shrub |
No |
Possible |
Occasionally found on the edge of soaks containing Melaleuca |
Haloragis exalata subsp velutina |
Tall Velvet Sea-berry |
Possible |
No |
Formerly known from swamp vegetation |
Huperzia phlegmarioides |
Layered Tassel Fern |
Yes |
Unlikely |
Occurs in lowland swamps and along watercourses |
Hypochrysops apollo apollo |
Apollo Jewel Butterfly |
Yes |
No |
Dependent on water-dependent Ant Plant (Myrmecodia beccarii) |
Lophochroa leadbeateri |
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo |
Yes |
Possible |
Inhabits habitats within easy reach of water |
Macrotis lagotis |
Greater Bilby |
Possible |
No |
Favourable parts of range now include drainage systems, salt lake systems and other alluvial areas |
Malurus coronatus |
Purple-crowned Fairy Wren |
Yes |
Possible |
Inhabits dense riparian vegetation with trees, shrubs, rushes and/or sedges |
Myrmecodia beccarii |
Ant Plant |
Yes |
No |
In open woodlands of Melaleuca viridiflora or mangroves |
Neoroepera buxifolia |
A shrub |
Yes |
No |
Occurs along creek banks or in creek beds with riparian vine thicket or vine forest |
Ninox rufa queenslandica |
Rufous Owl (southern subspecies) |
Possible |
No |
Wet, forested gullies |
Picris barbarorum |
A daisy |
Yes |
No |
A plant of river banks and floodplains |
Pimelea leptospermoides |
A small shrub |
Possible |
No |
Partly found in woodlands where prolonged flooding occurs |
Samadera bidwillii |
Possible |
No |
Commonly found adjacent to temporary and permanent watercourses |
Data: Australian Government Department of the Environment (Dataset 2)
aTypology and punctuation are given as they are used in the legislation.
