Fitzroy Floodplain and Delta (24817)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Fitzroy Floodplain and Delta
Central coordinates: Latitude: -23.4430, Longitude: 150.6780
System: marine, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 0 to 10
Area of KBA (km2): 1007.97054
Protected area coverage (%): 27.84
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA consists of two contiguous wetland areas within the Fitzroy River catchment: the Fitzroy floodplain and delta, and the Hedlow Wetlands to the north of Rockhampton. The Fitzroy floodplain, which extends north-west from Rockhampton, largely consists of cleared and grazed floodplain that generally extends to the banks of dissecting streams, but in some places is bordered by remnant woodland along drainage channels or punctuated by heavily disturbed sedgeland and aquatic macrophytes associated with lagoons. The Fitzroy delta is a 15 km wide strip of wetland that extends approximately 60 km south-east from Rockhampton. The Hedlow Wetlands include Lake Mary, Green Lake, Hedlow Creek and an extensive area of ephemeral floodplain, swamps and permanent small lakes formed in a basin between the coastal hills and ranges north and north-east of Rockhampton. The habitat types found at the site include freshwater lagoons, woodlands and sedgelands, saline coastal flats, mangrove forests, intertidal sand and mud flats, seagrass beds and open marine and estuarine waters. The area is heavily modified, with Brennan (1994) reporting no pristine sites found in a survey of riparian zones and only 17.2% of lower Fitzroy catchment with > 90% of its original vegetation intact.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: Just over 20,000 waterbirds of 61 species were counted on the Fitzroy Floodplain in October 2003, with an earlier count 14,500 waterbirds of 60 species at the same location in October 1994 (DEWHA 2008). The IBA supports regionally significant numbers of Cotton Pygmy-goose (450+ in 1992, 553 in 1994, up to 800 in 2003 and 562 on unknown date), Australasian Grebe, Great Egret (up to 650 in 2003 and 103 on unknown date), Brolga (400 in 1994, 238 in 2003 and 288 on unknown date) and Marsh Sandpiper (up to 900 in 2003 and 462 on unknown date). Other waterbirds recorded in substantial numbers include Royal Spoonbill, Black-necked Stork, Purple Swamphen and Eurasian Coot (DEWHA 2008; Houston and McCabe 1996; A. Briggs in litt. 2008; W. Houston pers. comm.; J. McCabe pers. comm.). The IBA also supports one of only three documented populations of the nationally critically endangered Capricorn or Dawson subspecies of Yellow Chat (Houston et al. 2004a,b; Jaensch et al. 2004). The biome-restricted Bar-breasted Honeyeater is uncommon and the near threatened Australian Bustard is rare in the Fitzroy River region (Atlas of Australian Birds database). Non-bird biodiversity: Coolabah Eucalyptus coolabah open woodlands, Bluegum E. tereticornis and Carbeen E. tessellaris open forest, Paperbark Melaleuca leucadendra fringing forest, and various combinations of these, are the principal vegetation types and represent threatened regional ecosystems; some sedgeland and aquatic macrophytes associated with lagoons are significant wetlands.
Other site values: Private; state or local government.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Savanna | 40 | |
| Forest | 29 | |
| Artificial - Terrestrial | 5 | |
| Marine Intertidal | 2 | |
| Marine Neritic | 2 | |
| Marine Coastal/Supratidal | 16 | |
| Shrubland | 5 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Eradicate or control Hymenachne amplexicaulis. Limit harvesting or redirection of water flows to maintain wetland habitats. Ensure that any future urban expansion does not encroach on habitat for key species.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Intentional use: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Dams & water management/use | Dams (size unknown) | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Suppression in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Unspecified species | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Domestic & urban waste water | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Industrial & military effluents | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Air-borne pollutants | Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Agro-industry grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Oil & gas drilling | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Storms & flooding | Ongoing | |
| Pollution | Garbage & solid waste | Ongoing | |
| Residential & commercial development | Housing & urban areas | Ongoing | |
| Transportation & service corridors | Roads & railroads | Ongoing | |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Recreational activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Brennan, M. (1994) Lower Fitzroy Catchment Remnant Bushland Project, Central Queensland. Report to Rockhampton City Council, Rockhampton. DEWHA (2008) A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ accessed September 2008. Houston, W. and Duivenvoorden, L. (2002) Replacement of littoral native vegetation with the ponded pasture grass Hymenachne amplexicaulis effects on plant, macroinvertebrate and fish biodiversity of backwaters in the Fitzroy River, Central Queensland, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 53: 1235-1244. Houston, W. and McCabe, J. (1996) Waterbirds and Waterbird Habitats of the Freshwater Wetlands of the Lower Fitzroy River. Report to Queensland Department of Environment and Australian Heritage Commission. Rockhampton: Capricorn Conservation Council. Houston, W., Porter, G., O’Neill, P. and Elder, R. (2004a) The ecology of the Critically Endangered Yellow Chat Ephianura crocea macgregori on Curtis Island. Sunbird 34: 10-23. Houston, W., Porter, G., Elder, R., Black, R. and Sheaves, M. (2004b) Rediscovery of Yellow Chats (Capricorn subspecies) on the Fitzroy River Delta, central Queensland. Sunbird 34: 36-42. Jaensch, R., Houston, W., Black, R., Campbell, L., Elder, R. and McCabe, J. (2004) Rediscovery of the Capricorn subspecies of Yellow Chat Ephianura crocea macgregori at Torilla Plain, on the marginal coast of central Queensland. Sunbird 34: 24-35. Wilson, R.W. (1993) Distribution, abundance and habitat use by the Magpie Goose Anseranus semipalmata in the wetlands of the central Queensland coast. MSc. Thesis, James Cook University, Townsville.
Contributors: Thanks to Allan Briggs as compiler.