Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley Trails Master Plan
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Australian Ramsar Site Guidelines
AUSTRALIAN RAMSAR SITE NOMINATION GUIDELINES Module 4 of the National Guidelines for Ramsar Wetlands— Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia WAT251.0912 Published by While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population the contents of this publication are factually correct, the and Communities Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for the accuracy GPO Box 787 or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable CANBERRA ACT 2601 for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. Endorsement Endorsed by the Standing Council on Environment and Citation Water, 2012. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia 2012 and Communities (2012). Australian Ramsar Site Nomination Guidelines. Module 4 of the National Guidelines for Ramsar Information contained in this publication may be copied or Wetlands—Implementing the Ramsar Convention in Australia. reproduced for study, research, information or educational Australian Government Department of Sustainability, purposes, subject to inclusion of an acknowledgment of the Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. source. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: ISBN: 978-1-921733-66-6 Assistant Secretary The publication can be accessed at http://www.environment. Aquatic Systems Policy Branch gov.au/water/topics/wetlands/ramsar-convention/australian- -
Ord River Hydro-Electric Project
Ord River hydro-electric project Argyle Diamond Mines Pty Limited Report and recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority Environmentai Proieciion Authority Perth, Western Australia Bulletin 615 March, 1992 THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT This report contains the Environmental Protection Authority's environmental assessment and recommendations to the Minister for the Environment on the environmental acceptability of the proposal. Immediately following the release of the report there is a 14-day period when anyone may appeal to the Minister against the Environmental Protection Authority's recommendations. After the appeal period, and determination of any appeals, the Minister consults with the other relevant ministers and agencies and then issues his decision about whether the proposal may or may not proceed. The Minister also announces the legally binding environmental conditions which might apply to any approval. APPEALS If you disagree with any of the assessment report recommendations you may appeal in writing to the Minister for the Environment outlining tbe environmental reasons for your concern and enclosing the appeal fee of $10. It is important that you clearly indicate the part of the report you disagree with and the reasons for your concern so that the grounds of your appeal can be properly considered by the Minister for the En vironmeni. ADDRESS Hon Minister for tbe Environment 18th Floor, Allendale Square 77 StGeorge's Terrace PERTH WA 60<XJ CLOSING DATE Your appeal (with the $10 fcc) must reach the Minister's office no later than 5.00 p.m. on 3 April, 1992. Contents Page Summary aud recommendations 1. Introduction 1 2. -
Lakes Argyle and Kununurra Wetlands Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description
Lakes Argyle and Kununurra Ramsar Site Ecological Character Description Citation: Hale, J. and Morgan, D., 2010, Ecological Character Description for the Lakes Argyle and Kununurra Ramsar Site. Report to the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra. Acknowledgements: Danny Rogers, Australasian Waders Studies Group (expert advice) Halina Kobryn, Murdoch University (mapping and GIS) The steering committee was comprised of representatives of the following organisations: • Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts • WA Department of Environment and Conservation (Kununurra) • WA Department of Water (Kununurra) • Shire of Wyndham East Kimberley Introductory Notes This Ecological Character Description (ECD Publication) has been prepared in accordance with the National Framework and Guidance for Describing the Ecological Character of Australia’s Ramsar Wetlands (National Framework) (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2008). The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) prohibits actions that are likely to have a significant impact on the ecological character of a Ramsar wetland unless the Commonwealth Environment Minister has approved the taking of the action, or some other provision in the EPBC Act allows the action to be taken. The information in this ECD Publication does not indicate any commitment to a particular course of action, policy position or decision. Further, it does not provide assessment of any particular action within the meaning of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth), nor replace the role of the Minister or his delegate in making an informed decision to approve an action. The Water Act 2007 requires that in preparing the [Murray-Darling] Basin Plan, the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) must take into account Ecological Character Descriptions of declared Ramsar wetlands prepared in accordance with the National Framework. -
How Is Water Allocation Decided? Managing Water from the Ord River How the System Works ^ Contact Information Further Informatio
Managing water from Quick water facts How is water allocation decided? the Ord River The priority set by government is for secure and The Ord River is one of the Goomig farmland reliable water supplies to maximise the irrigation most significant waterways in potential of the region, while at the same time Keep River supporting hydro-electricity generation and sustaining Australia. It provides for water Plain to an iconic agricultural project, a healthy downstream river environment. supports local tourism and The Department of Water is responsible for managing sustains a unique Kimberley Carlton Plain Tarrara Bar streamflow gauge Knox Creek and licensing water from the Ord River under the environment. Plain ^ Rights in Water and Irrigation Act 1914 (WA). Its We are seeing the largest Mantinea Green Swamp Ord surface water allocation plan supports the Knox Creek development of irrigated land government priorities through water allocation limits Ivanhoe Plain in the Ord River area since the Ord West which control the total volume of entitlements that can Bank 1960s. The Ord-East Kimberley be issued, and water release rules and water sharing Eight Mile Creek Irrigation Expansion Project NorthernTerritory rules which are managed though licences. plans to increase the size of the Ord irrigation area by !( Kununurra The water release rules are particularly important Ð Lake Kununurra 15,400 hectares in the short Legend Kununurra Diversion Dam Ò during times of below-average storage and dry !( Towns term with potential for further ^ Streamflow gauge Packsaddle periods, and ensure the most effective water sharing. Plain expansion beyond this in ÒÐ Dam site The rules were set using a water balance model Western Australia and into the Roads that weighs up hydrology, water demands, reliability, Rivers Northern Territory. -
East Kimberley Impact Assessment Project
East Kimberley Impact Assessment Project IMPACT STORIES OF THE EAST KIMBERLEY Helen Ross (Editor) Eileen Bray (translator) East Kimberley Working Paper No. 28 ISSN 0 86740 356 X ISBN 0816-6323 ,.- April 1989 A Joint Project Of The: Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies Australian National University Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Anthropology Department University of Western Australia Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia The aims of the project are as follows: 1. To compile a comprehensive profile of the contemporary social environment of the East Kimberley region utilising both existing information sources and limited fieldwork. 2. Develop and utilise appropriate methodological approaches to social impact assessment within a multi-disciplinary framework. 3. Assess the social impact of major public and private developments of the East Kimberley region's resources (physical, mineral and environmental) on resident Aboriginal communities. Attempt to identify problems/issues which, while possibly dormant at present, are likely to have implications that will affect communities at some stage in the future. 4. Establish a framework to allow the dissemination of research results to Aboriginal communities so as to enable them to develop their own strategies for dealing with social impact issues. 5. To identify in consultation with Governments and regional interests issues and problems which may be susceptible to further research. Views expressed in the Projecfs publications are the views of the authors, and are not necessarily shared by the sponsoring organisations. Address correspondence to: The Executive Officer East Kimberley Project CRES, ANU GPO Box4 Canberra City, ACT 2601 IMPACT STORIES OF THE EAST KIMBERLEY Helen Ross (Editor) Eileen Bray (translator) East Kimberley Working Paper No. -
Birdquest Australia (Western and Christmas
Chestnut-backed Button-quail in the north was a bonus, showing brilliantly for a long time – unheard of for this family (Andy Jensen) WESTERN AUSTRALIA 5/10 – 27 SEPTEMBER 2017 LEADER: ANDY JENSEN ASSISTANT: STUART PICKERING ! ! 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Western Australia (including Christmas Island) 2017 www.birdquest-tours.com Western Shrike-tit was one of the many highlights in the southwest (Andy Jensen) Western Australia, if it were a country, would be the 10th largest in the world! The BirdQuest Western Australia (including Christmas Island) 2017 tour offered an unrivalled opportunity to cover a large portion of this area, as well as the offshore territory of Christmas Island (located closer to Indonesia than mainland Australia). Western Australia is a highly diverse region with a range of habitats. It has been shaped by the isolation caused by the surrounding deserts. This isolation has resulted in a richly diverse fauna, with a high degree of endemism. A must visit for any birder. This tour covered a wide range of the habitats Western Australia has to offer as is possible in three weeks, including the temperate Karri and Wandoo woodlands and mallee of the southwest, the coastal heathlands of the southcoast, dry scrub and extensive uncleared woodlands of the goldfields, coastal plains and mangroves around Broome, and the red-earth savannah habitats and tropical woodland of the Kimberley. The climate varied dramatically Conditions ranged from minus 1c in the Sterling Ranges where we were scraping ice off the windscreen, to nearly 40c in the Kimberley, where it was dust needing to be removed from the windscreen! We were fortunate with the weather – aside from a few minutes of drizzle as we staked out one of the skulkers in the Sterling Ranges, it remained dry the whole time. -
Tackling Lake Argyle
Tackling Lake Argyle Masters Swimming Northern Territory Members More than 15 Masters NT swimmers travelled to the recent Lake Argyle Swim event in the eastern Kimberley region of Western Australia. Regulars at the open water competition, the MSNT swimmers swam both the 20km and 10km event in teams of four and two. Lake Argyle is 21 times greater in size than Sydney Harbour and home to about 25,000 crocodiles although the locals assure you “they are only freshies” meaning freshwater crocodiles, which show less man-eating tendencies than their saltwater cousins. That thought was comforting for some of the swimmers but the sight of a croc trap at the boat ramp and a small “freshie” lurking near the finish line was a disturbing thought for others. Fortunately, the locals were right and there have been no incidents with the local croc population during the event! Three teams featuring Darwin Stingers members received line honours – Team BOAT won the 20km duo in record time of 5:04:48; Aquaholics won the 10km quad event 2:17:28; and ; Up for IT placed second in the 20km quad in 5:12:29. Other teams put in a strong showing despite choppy conditions. In the 20km duo Cat Paddle crossed the line in 6:12:30 and placed fourth while in the 20km quad The Quaffers did their swim in 5:54:34 and placed seventh and Aqualicious placed 11th in 6:30:32. One Darwin Stingers member has had a particularly impressive few weeks. Bryannon Ruskin, 32, competed at Nationals in Rockhampton winning gold in the 100m and 50m breaststroke as well as five silvers and three bronze medals. -
Ord River and Parry Lagoons Nature Reserves 2010 Draft Management Plan
Ord River and Parry Lagoons Nature Reserves 2010 Draft Management Plan R N V E M E O N G T E O H F T W A E I S L T A E R R N A U S T ORD RIVER AND PARRY LAGOONS NATURE RESERVES Management Plan 2010 Department of Environment and Conservation Conservation Commission of Western Australia ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This management plan was prepared by Department planning officer Sarah Greenwood with assistance from Paul McCluskey and Laurina Bullen. Assistance was provided by Daryl Moncrieff, Troy Sinclair, Scott Goodson, Allan Thomson and David Grosse. The planning team would like to thank the many other Departmental staff that contributed to and commented on sections of this plan. Special thanks to Jennifer Hale, ecologist and author of the Ecological Character Description for the Ord River Floodplain Ramsar site. Front cover images: Main image: Boardwalk at Marlgu Billabong. Photo by DEC. Other images: Frog; Telegraph Hill interpretive sign. Photos by DEC. ii INVITATION TO COMMENT This draft management plan gives you the opportunity to provide information, express your opinion, suggest alternatives and have your say on how Ord River and Parry Lagoons nature reserves and proposed additions will be managed over the next 10 years. What to consider In making your submission, it is important to understand that legislation and policy impose certain obligations on the Department of Environment and Conservation to manage lands and waters vested with the Conservation Commission of Western Australia and that there may be little room to manage some issues outside of these constraints and responsibilities. -
The Importance of Western Australia's Waterways
The Importance of Western Australia's Waterways There are 208 major waterways in Western Australia with a combined length of more than 25000 km. Forty-eight have been identified as 'wild rivers' due to their near pristine condition. Waterways and their fringing vegetation have important ecological, economic and cultural values. They provide habitat for birds, frogs, reptiles, native fish and macroinvertebrates and form important wildlife corridors between patches of remnant bush. Estuaries, where river and ocean waters mix, connect the land to the sea and have their own unique array of aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna. Waterways, and water, have important spiritual and cultural significance for Aboriginal people. Many waterbodies such as rivers, soaks, springs, rock holes and billabongs have Aboriginal sites associated with them. Waterways became a focal point for explorers and settlers with many of the State’s towns located near them. Waterways supply us with food and drinking water, irrigation for agriculture and water for aquaculture and horticulture. They are valuable assets for tourism and An impacted south-west river section - salinisation and erosion on the upper Frankland River. Photo are prized recreational areas. S. Neville ECOTONES. Many are internationally recognised and protected for their ecological values, such as breeding grounds and migration stopovers for birds. WA has several Ramsar sites including lakes Gore and Warden on the south coast, the Ord River floodplain in the Kimberley and the Peel Harvey Estuarine system, which is the largest Ramsar site in the south west of WA. Some waterways are protected within national parks for their ecosystem values and beauty. -
Birdwatching Around Kununurra
BIRDWATCHING AROUND KUNUNURRA BIRDWATCHING AROUND KUNUNURRA The Visitor Centre can provide town maps and all of Kununurra is 3,247 km north of Perth, in the East these sites are marked on it. Birdwatching Kimberley, with a tropical climate and distinct wet (Nov – March) and dry (April to Oct) seasons. It has an excellent variety of areas that are easily around accessible by 2WD with an exciting list of about 200 bird species including nine finches, many waterbirds, Star Finch Kununurra raptors, honeyeaters and summer migrants (late September to early April ie wet season), many of which are difficult to see elsewhere in WA. visitkununurra.com/images/Documents/ 2013_KVC_Phonebook_fold_out_map.pdf visitkununurra.com/contact-us/ Green kununurra-visitor-centre Pygmy-goose NB Bird species for the area are shown on a separate guide. See Kununurra Bird list Guide No 2B. Acknowledgements Illustrations / photographs John Baas, Georgina Steytler, J N Davies, Pam Agar, John Anderson, Chris Tate, Susan Tingay, Peter Marsack, Keith Lightbody, 1. Kimberleyland Waterfront Holiday Park, Frank O’Connor. Celebrity Tree Park and Lily Creek Lagoon Wendy & Michael. Kimberleyland and Celebrity Tree Park are next to Local information each other on the banks of Lily Creek Lagoon. Guide No 2A Revised Sept 2019 All content is subject to copyright ©. Kimberleyland has a rare finch aviary, with birds John Litherland Jacana by Comb-crested sourced from licensed breeders. Gouldian, Star & Queries to BirdLife Western Australia. BirdLife Western Painted Finch can be seen here if you can’t find them Australia members are offered a variety of activities and elsewhere. Kimberleyland prefers access to be for services including conservation and research .projects, guests, but are open to the public so long as they excursions, campouts, surveys and social activities. -
Leard,It Saidthat Australia Is the Driest Continent on the Planet but I Do Not I
» Submission Number: 208 Attachment A T- WATERING AUSTRAT TA . AN ADDRESS BY PATRICK NEEDHAM TO THE PROBUS CLUB OF GOLD COAST CENTRAL ON THURSOAY 19 OCTORF.R 2006 Good mommg gentlemen - thank you for the opportunity to speak to you on a 9 subject that has become very dear to my heart over recent years ^ howwec'anbest use the most important thing we have after the air we breathe - water . ,Ihave.!leard,it saidthat Australia is the driest continent on the planet but I do not know the criteria which gives rise to such a statement. It would be hard to "find a drier place than the Sahara desert in Africa but of course there are some pretty /~1 dense ram forests over there also. We have deserts in Australia like the .5 imp son Desert and the Tanami desert ,n the north.n Te.Uory and The Great Sandy D;sert and the Gibson Desert in Western Australia. Against that there are areas m some parts of the country which experience monsoonaframs practically eveiyyear: I thmk a more appropriate description would be to say that the huge amount of water we have in Australia happens to be in the wrong place. .I was fortunate to have been in the Kimberley region of Western Australia a little * time ago and saw for the first time the expanse of water known as Lake Argyl e. This man made lake is Australia's largest body of fresh water. This magnificent lake is located 70 kilometres to the south ofKununurra and is part oftheoTdmver irrigation system. -
Cover Page of ERMP
11 Land use This chapter describes the historical and current land-use patterns within and surrounding the Project Area. Potential changes to land use associated with the proposed development are discussed, together with proposed management measures. Traditional use of the region, Aboriginal cultural heritage issues and other aspects of specific relevance to Aboriginal people are addressed in detail in Chapter 12. 11.1 HISTORICAL EUROPEAN LAND USE Pre-1960 The first detailed records of the East Kimberley were made by Alexander Forrest during his 1875–79 expedition, where he noted the irrigation potential of the Ord River area (Western Australian Government 1964). After Forrest’s expedition, flocks of sheep and cattle were moved into the region to create pastoral stations in 1884–85 when the Buchanan, Durack and McDonald families moved to the district (Western Australian Government 1964) primarily from Queensland. The discovery of gold at Halls Creek around 1885 and more substantially in southern Western Australia in the 1890s, created a dependable market for meat, and cattle grazing soon became a dominant part of the local economy. The town of Wyndham was gazetted in 1886. In 1918 the Wyndham abattoir was built and it became the natural focus for the processing and sale of beef (Ministry for Planning and the Kimberley Development Commission 1999). By 1920, cattle numbers in the Kimberley had risen to over 500,000. Thereafter, however, the cattle population has remained virtually static and is now in decline. Despite Forrest’s early recognition of the irrigation potential of the Ord River it was not until 1942 that an experimental irrigation area of approximately 5 ha was developed on the banks of the river in the area known as Carlton Reach.