DOCSLIB.ORG

What Is So Unique About Porcupine Gorge?

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
What Is So Unique About Porcupine Gorge? Factsheet 11 – What is so unique about Porcupine Gorge? Quirky fact : Sedimentary rocks Australian Curriculum Links are the second major Year Subject Curriculum Links rock group. They are 5 Geography ACHGK030 cool rocks, meaning Science ACSSU043, ACSSU094 they form at the 7 Geography ACHGK038 earth’s surface, Science ACSSU112 mostly under water. 8 Geography ACHGK048, ACHGK049, ACHGK050, They usually consist ACHGK052 of layers or strata. Science ACSSU153 Background Information Often known as the ‘Little Grand Canyon’, Porcupine Gorge National Park lies within the Savannah plains and extends for more than 25 kms along Porcupine Creek surrounded by open woodland and grassland. The creek cuts a meandering path through a deep canyon that reveals sedimentary rock strata spanning hundreds of millions of years. A thin, hard, basalt cap, the product of geologically recent lava flows, has protected much of the older underlying rock, but where this capping has been worn away, the scouring action of waterborne particles has excavated a deep chasm into the softer sandstone. The culprit, Porcupine Creek, reduces to a string of clear pools in winter and becomes a torrential cascade during the wet season (summer). In the wider section of the gorge, the eroding action of the creek has also created the Pyramid, a monolith of multicoloured sandstone rising from the floor of the gorge. Wind and water have coloured and sculpted the sandstone to form fluted channels, boulders, potholes and shallow caves. Permanent deep pools, each with its resident turtles, are lined with casuarinas (sheoaks) and melaleucas (paperbarks), while various eucalypts and acacias including the rare pink gidgee precariously root in the cliffs above. The gorge and surrounding area is rich with cultural history. Three traditional Aboriginal groups, the Gutjal, Jirandali and Mitjumba continue their traditional connections to Country within the park. The Tattoos, just a few kilometres up the road, is the site of Aboriginal and European carvings as well as spectacular rock formations. The gorge is home to currawongs, parrots and the occasional soaring bird of prey. Closer observation reveals a wide variety of birds including the black duck, red-winged parrot, black bittern and numerous honeyeaters. The gorge becomes a focal point for many animals in the dry season while others, such as the wallaroo, rock wallaby and rufus bettong, are Porcupine Gorge National Park permanent residents. 72 Outback Queensland Education Handbook | Australian Curriculum Factsheets Inquiry Questions Subject Years Questions ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Geography 5 How do plants and animals that live at Porcupine Department of National Parks, Recreation, Gorge cope with fire and floods? Sport and Racing www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/porcupine- 7/8 What process formed the gorge? gorge/index.html What do different people groups Tourism and Events Queensland www.queenslandholidays.com.au/ value about these landscapes? destinations/outback/things-to-see-and-do/ Science 5/6 What are the links between this environment porcupine-gorge-national-park/index.cfm and the feature of things that live here? Flinders Shire Council www.flinders.qld.gov.au 7/8 How does scientific understanding help people to manage the Diamantina’s REFERENCES environment and resources? Flinders Discovery Centre – Porcupine Gorge National Park Information Brochure About.com: geology Points of Interest www.geology.about.com/cs/basics_ Porcupine Gorge, via Hughenden roxmin/a/aa011804b.htm Towering cliffs of coloured sandstone, pockets of vine forest Department of Environment and Heritage and deep permanent waterholes along Porcupine Creek contrast Protection wetlandinfo.ehp.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts- strikingly with the Savannah plains surrounding Porcupine Gorge. maps/national-park-porcupine-gorge/ Kennedy Developmental Road (73 kms north of Hughenden) FURTHER INFORMATION via Hughenden QLD 4821 Flinders Discovery Centre Cost: Entry to the park is free, however fees apply for camping 37 Gray Street, Hughenden QLD 4821 Phone: (07) 4741 2970 Hours: Open 24 hours per day Email: [email protected] Contact: Information, access and maps available at www.epa.qld.gov.au/ www.flinders.qld.gov.au parks_and_forests/find_a_park_or_forest/ White Mountains National Park, via Hughenden Moorrinya National Park, via Hughenden m a i v e r e 52 B r 58 n BLACKBRAES u BURKE & WILLS r R i v NATIONAL d JUNCTION e r 380 e PARK k TOWNSVILLE i n QUEENSLAND 200 AGGABUNDI R i r v 246 e UNPOWDER e r v 200 i R F l i n d e r s 134 KAJABBI r y PORCUPINE WHITE BALFE’S u r c GORGE MOUNTAINS CREEK 26 n 235 CHARTERS o NATIONAL NATIONAL l R i v e r TOWERS PARK 158 C PARK 44 90 JULIA HOMESTEAD QUAMBY CREEK 50 PENTLAND 43 134 MAXWELTON RICHMOND CLONCURRY 44 46 HUGHENDEN LAKE DALRYMPLE NELIA 50 TORRENS CREEK 43 PRAIRIE 119 77 112 106 112 150 64 110 STAMFORD 144 MOORRINYA McKINLAY NATIONAL DUCHESS 76 PARK 60 67 Townsville 84 360 S KYNUNA CORFIELD u r 205 t t v e Mt Isa COMBO 248 e r R i r 209 WATERHOLE e A Rockhampton v Longreach CONSERVATION i MORANB R PARK 83 FOREST 229 DEN o Charleville 164 74 d BRISBANE NATIONAL n WINTON PARK a y 146 MIDDLETON l e r MUTTABURRA B Outback Queensland Education Handbook | Australian Curriculum Factsheets 73.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Report on the Administration of the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (Reporting Period 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020)
    Report on the administration of the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (reporting period 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020) Prepared by: Department of Environment and Science © State of Queensland, 2020. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. For more information on this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5470. This publication can be made available in an alternative format (e.g. large print or audiotape) on request for people with vision impairment; phone +61 7 3170 5470 or email <[email protected]>. September 2020 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Nature Conservation Act 1992—departmental administrative responsibilities ............................................................. 1 List of legislation and subordinate legislation ..............................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Dynamics of Water on the Skin of Australian Carphodactyline and Diplodactyline Geckos
    This file is part of the following reference: Vucko, Matthew John (2008) The dynamics of water on the skin of Australian carphodactyline and diplodactyline geckos. Masters (Research) thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/3249 The Dynamics of Water on the Skin of Australian Carphodactyline and Diplodactyline Geckos M.Sc. thesis submitted by Matthew John Vucko B.Sc. McGill University Grad. Dip. Res. Meth. James Cook University April 2008 For the degree of Masters by Research School of Marine and Tropical Biology James Cook University Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia Title page photo Top – Strophurus krysalis (juvenile); spine from the dorsal surface of Phyllurus ossa; Oedura marmorata (Winton population) Middle – Hair sensor with bottlebrush-shaped bristles from Carphodactylus laevis; three drops on the dorsal surface of Lucasium steindachneri; primary scale from Phyllurus nepthys Bottom – Saltuarius cornutus (juvenile); spinules from the primary scale of Phyllurus ossa; Carphodactylus laevis in a defense posture Photo credit: Matthew J. Vucko Statement of access I, the undersigned, author of this work, understand that James Cook University will make this thesis available for use within the university library, via the Australian Theses Network, or by other means allow access to users in other approved libraries. I understand that as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and beyond this. I do not wish to place any restriction on access to this thesis. ............................................... ......................................... Signature Date i Statement of sources Declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education.
    [Show full text]
  • Moorrinya National Park Management Plan 2011
    Desert Uplands, Einasleigh Uplands and Mitchell Grass Downs Bioregions Prepared by: Planning Services Unit Department of Environment and Resource Management © State of Queensland (Department of Environment and Resource Management) 2011 Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act 1968, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited without the prior written permission of the Department of Environment and Resource Management. Enquiries should be addressed to Department of Environment and Resource Management, GPO Box 2454, Brisbane Qld 4001. Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. This management plan has been prepared in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act 1992. This management plan does not intend to affect, diminish or extinguish native title or associated rights. Note that implementing some management strategies might need to be phased in according to resource availability. For information on protected area management plans, visit <www.derm.qld.gov.au>. If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3224 8412. This publication can be made available in alternative formats (including large print and audiotape) on request for people with a vision impairment.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on the Administration of the Nature Conservation Act 1992
    Report on the administration of the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (reporting period 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015) Prepared by: Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. © State of Queensland, 2015. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. For more information on this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5470. This publication can be made available in an alternative format (e.g. large print or audiotape) on request for people with vision impairment; phone +61 7 3170 5470 or email <[email protected]>. October 2015 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Nature Conservation Act 1992 —departmental administrative responsibilities ............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Mount Dore Mine Lease Expansion
    Mount Dore Mine Lease Expansion Baseline Ecological Assessment Prepared for Ivanhoe Australia Level 1, 282 Wickham Street Fortitude Valley, Queensland, 4006 PO Box 419, Fortitude Valley, 4006 Queensland, Australia Telephone +61 7 3852 3922 Facsmile +61 7 3852 4766 Email: [email protected] Web: www.placedesigngroup.com PLACE DESIGN GROUP DISCLAIMER This report has been prepared in accordance with the scope of services described in the contract or agreement between PLACE Design Group Pty Ltd ACN 082 370063 (PDG) and the Client. The report relies upon data, surveys, measurements and results taken at or under the particular times and conditions specified herein. Any findings, conclusions or recommendations only apply to the aforementioned circumstances and no greater reliance should be assumed or drawn by the Client. Furthermore, the report has been prepared solely for use by the Client and PDG accepts no responsibility for its use by other parties. REVIEW AND APPROVAL Authored by: Valerie Bares Position: Senior Environmental Manager Authored by: Chris Kahler Position: Botanist (Ecological Interpretation) Reviewed by: Anna Maccheroni Position: Senior Environmental Planner Approved by: Chris Isles Position: Manager – Planning Date: 28/07/2012 Document ICM08_MtDore_Ecological Assessment_v1.0.doc Reference: Report: Post-wet Season Ecological Assessment for the Mount Dore ML Expansion DOCUMENT HISTORY Date Change Description Version No. 22/06/2012 Draft for Client Review 1.0 DRAFT 28/07/2012 Original 1.0 Ivanhoe Australia Mount Dore
    [Show full text]
  • Bioregions Throughout the Flinders Shire
    PO Box 274, HUGHENDEN QLD 4821 37 Gray Street, HUGHENDEN QLD 4821 (07) 4741 2970 [email protected] BIOREGIONS THROUGHOUT THE FLINDERS SHIRE A bioregion is an area constituting a natural ecological community with characteristic flora, fauna, and environmental conditions and bounded by natural rather than artificial borders. Throughout Queensland there are 13 different bioregions. Within the Flinders Shire four of these bioregions can be found. To the northeast is the Einasleigh Uplands and to the northwest is the Gulf Plains, to the south is Mitchell Grass Downs and to the Southeast are the Desert uplands. Einasleigh Uplands The Einasleigh Uplands bioregion straddles the Great Dividing Range in inland Northeast Queensland. It covers an area of 12,923,100 hectares, which is about 7.5% of Queensland. The major land use in this bioregion is extensive grazing, but mining and cropping are locally significant. It is known in this area as basalt gorge country, basalt is a type of lava. It has weathered to form rich red or black volcanic soils. Surface water in the bioregion is drained by both east and west flowing rivers. The major catchments within the Einasleigh Uplands Bioregion are the Burdekin River and Flinders River. This bioregion largely consists of a series of ranges and plateau surfaces, varying in altitude between 100m in the west to 1100m in the east. The bioregion contains a number of protected areas. They are: • Bulleringa National Park • Hann Tableland National Park • Chillagoe – Mungana Caves National Park • Porcupine Gorge National Park • Dalrymple National Park • Undara Volcanic National Park • Great Basalt Wall National Park • Palmer River Goldfields The Einsleigh Uplands is particularly significant for macropods (common name) and contains more species of rock wallaby than anywhere in Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • Nature Conservation
    Kevin’s Corner Project Environmental Impact Statement L L Nature Conservation L1 Flora and Fauna Assessment L2 Aquatic Ecology Assessment L3 Stygofauna Assessment KC A4 fly sheets.qxp:Layout 1 19/9/11 12:02 PM Page 1 Kevin’s Corner Project Environmental Impact Statement Flora and Fauna L1 Assessment Kevin’s Corner Project Terrestrial Flora and Fauna Assessment Prepared for: Hancock Galilee Pty Ltd September 2011 Document History and Status Issue Rev. IssuedTo Qty Date Reviewed Approved 1 0 URS 1 13/02/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 2 1 URS 1 10/03/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 3 2 URS 1 11/03/11 K. Macpherson A. Pearce 4 3 URS 1 28/03/11 J Stibbard A. Pearce 5 4 URS 1 08/04/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 6 5 URS 1 03/07/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 7 6 URS 1 27/07/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 8 7 URS 1 22/08/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 9 8 URS 1 06/09/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 10 9 URS 1 07/09/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 11 10 URS 1 20/09/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 12 11 URS 1 20/09/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce 13 12 URS 1 21/09/11 P. Jackson A. Pearce Author: Julie Byrd Project Manager: Andrew Pearce Name of Client : Hancock Galilee Pty Ltd Name of Project: Kevin’s Corner Project Terrestrial Flora and Fauna Title of Document: Assessment Document Version: Final Rev 12 This controlled document is the property of AustralAsian Resource Consultants Pty Ltd and all rights are reserved in respect of it.
    [Show full text]
  • Buffel Grass) As an Invasive Species in Northern Queensland
    IMPACTS AND MANAGEMENT OF CENCHRUS CILIARIS (BUFFEL GRASS) AS AN INVASIVE SPECIES IN NORTHERN QUEENSLAND Thesis submitted by Janice JACKSON B.Agr.Sc. (Hons 1) (U.Q) in May 2004 For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Tropical Plant Sciences School of Tropical Biology James Cook University STATEMENT OF ACCESS I, the undersigned, the author of this thesis, understand that James Cook University will make it available for use within the University Library and, by microfilm or other means, allow access to users in other approved libraries. All users consulting this thesis will have to sign the following statement: In consulting this thesis I agree not to copy or closely paraphrase it in whole or in part without the written consent of the author; and to make proper public written acknowledgement for any assistance which I have obtained from it. …………………………………………… …………………………… Janice Jackson STATEMENT OF SOURCES DECLARATION I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given. …………………………………………… …………………………… Janice Jackson ii Abstract Cenchrus ciliaris L. (buffel grass) (Poaceae) is recognized as one of Australia’s most serious environmental weeds. This introduced grass is associated with loss of native species and alteration of fire regimes. However there is considerable controversy regarding its weed status as it is also highly valued as a pasture species for arid and semi-arid zones.
    [Show full text]
  • 2017-18 Report on the Administration of the Nature Conservation Act 1992
    Report on the administration of the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (reporting period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018) Prepared by: Department of Environment and Science and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries © State of Queensland, 2018. The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence. Under this licence you are free, without having to seek our permission, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication. For more information on this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5470. This publication can be made available in an alternative format (e.g. large print or audiotape) on request for people with vision impairment; phone +61 7 3170 5470 or email <[email protected]>. October 2018 ii Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Nature Conservation Act 1992—departmental administrative responsibilities ............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 9 September 2013 Mr Trevor Ruthenberg MP Chair Health And
    Queensland Government Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing 9 September 2013 Mr Trevor Ruthenberg MP Chair Health and Community Services Committee Parliament House George Street BRISBANE QLD 4000 Email: [email protected] Dear Mr Ruthenberg Thank you for the opportunity for the Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing to present at the recent public briefing on the Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2013 (NCOLA Bill). As part of this briefing there were five questions taken on notice, with a response required from the department by 9 September 2013. I am pleased to provide the following responses to each of these questions to assist the Health and Community Services Committee in its inquiry into the NCOLA Bill. Question #1 The Committee requested information on the average cost of litigation paid per year by the State Government as a result of personal injuries sustained in national parks. The Committee further queried whether the savings from not being sued would go back into infrastructure, upkeep and management of tracks such as the Great Walk in Spring brook or Purlingbrook Falls. Department Response Advice from the department's In-house Legal team confirms it is not possible to provide a realistic average yearly figure for litigation because a large payment amount for a single claim in any one year will skew the statistics. What is expended yearly depends on claims made, claims settled and claims decided in the courts. A difference also exists between the investigation and legal costs that the State incurs and the payout amounts for successful claims.
    [Show full text]
  • Thesis Title
    Factors determining the spread and impact of the exotic grass Indian couch (Bothriochloa pertusa) into native ecosystems Gabrielle Lebbink Bachelor of Science Honours 1 A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2020 School of Biological Sciences Abstract The invasion by exotic plant species into native plant communities is a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem function across the globe. In many cases, their widespread establishment and spread is facilitated by their deliberate introduction for pasture, lawn and soil conservation. This thesis discusses the impact, spread and management of invasive pasture species within Queensland, Australia, with a particular focus on the exotic grass species Bothriochloa pertusa (Indian couch). Bothriochloa pertusa was introduced in 1939 and in recent decades its spread and observed dominance throughout the landscape has raised concerns about the impacts of this species on native biodiversity. I investigated the impacts of B. pertusa on floristic diversity and discuss these results in the context of Queensland’s recent and rapid intensification of land-use. In Chapter 2, I used comprehensive mapping data and results from field surveys to investigate changes in land-use and the cover of prominent invasive species over time (1996 – 2018), within a focus area of Queensland. I found that despite policy developments aimed at reducing land-clearing and protecting threatened ecosystems during this time, land-clearing still occurred at a rate of 36,960 ha per year in the study area, mainly for the expansion of grazing and cropping agricultural systems. Remaining fragments of native vegetation experienced a significant increase in the cover and occupancy of the invasive pasture species, B.
    [Show full text]
  • Nature Conservation Act 1992
    Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992 Nature Conservation (Protected Areas) Regulation 1994 Current as at 27 November 2015 Information about this reprint This reprint shows the legislation current as at the date on the cover and is authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel. A new reprint of the legislation will be prepared by the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel when any change to the legislation takes effect. This change may be because a provision of the original legislation, or an amendment to it, commences or because a particular provision of the legislation expires or is repealed. When a new reprint is prepared, this reprint will become a historical reprint. Also, if it is necessary to replace this reprint before a new reprint is prepared, for example, to include amendments with a retrospective commencement, an appropriate note would be included on the cover of the replacement reprint and on the copy of this reprint at www.legislation.qld.gov.au. The endnotes to this reprint contain detailed information about the legislation and reprint. For example— • The table of reprints endnote lists any previous reprints and, for this reprint, gives details of any discretionary editorial powers under the Reprints Act 1992 used by the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel in preparing it. • The list of legislation endnote gives historical information about the original legislation and the legislation which amended it. It also gives details of uncommenced amendments to this legislation. For information about possible amendments to the legislation by Bills introduced in Parliament, see the Queensland Legislation Current Annotations at www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Leg_Info/ information.htm.
    [Show full text]