DOCSLIB.ORG

How Is Water Allocation Decided? Managing Water from the Ord River How the System Works ^ Contact Information Further Informatio

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
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. M1 channel Dunham River releases to meet the different needs, and operational M2 channel constraints. As irrigation expands, the water release The WA Government signed M2N supply channel Ord River Govt EOI 2011 rules will be adjusted slightly to maintain a an agreement with Kimberley Lakes 95 per cent reliability of supply for each phase of Agricultural Investment (KAI) Sorby Hills Mining Area for development of the Goomig Stage 1 areas irrigation development. Stage 2 areas (7,400 ha) and Knox Plain Goomig farmland Vegetation management area Ord River Dam (6,000 ha) expansion areas. ÒÐ Non irrigation areas An additional 2,000 ha will Land not available be developed within existing agricultural areas at the Ord West Bank, Packsaddle Plain and Ord East Bank. ± Lake Argyle There is potential to develop a 0 10 20 further 9,000 ha in the medium Kilometres Ord Ord term in the Carton Plain and Locality Map allocation plan water surface 2013 September surface water allocation plan Mantinea areas. Further information !( KUNUNURRA The Ord surface water allocation plan is available on our website Two additional areas totalling HALLS CREEK !( 5,000 ha known as Cockatoo www.water.wa.gov.au sands have been identified NT The Department of Water is assessing and advising government for possible development. Up WESTERN AUSTRALIA on water supply options should additional water be needed for to 14,000 ha of land has also SA irrigation expansion. If major infrastructure or supply system been identified for possible Lower Ord River Government of Western Australia Department of changes are agreed, then water management arrangements will development in the Northern Water Looking after all our water needs Water resource allocation Western Australia Western be updated accordingly. and planning report series Territory. Report no 48 Map reference: C2114/0004 September 2013 Department of Water 168 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia PO Box K822 Perth Western Australia 6842 Phone: 08 6364 7600 Fax: 08 6364 7601 www.water.wa.gov.au Current and proposed irrigation development areas 96483 300 0913 HowHow the the system system works works WaterWater flows flows from from south south to tonorth north along along the the Ord OrdRiver River and and is isstored stored in inLake Lake Argyle Argyle by theby the Ord OrdRiver River Dam, Dam, andand Lake Lake Kununurra Kununurra by bythe the Kununurra Kununurra Diversion Diversion Dam. Dam. TheThe Department Department of Waterof Water licenses licenses the the Water Water Corporation Corporation to storeto store water water in thein the lakes lakes and and to operateto operate the the dams dams in in accordanceaccordance with with licence licence conditions. conditions. The The Ord Ord Irrigation Irrigation Cooperative Cooperative (OIC) (OIC) and and self-supply self-supply irrigators irrigators hold hold licences licences to taketo take water water from from the the Ord Ord River River downstream downstream of theof the Ord Ord River River Dam. Dam. 2014 SinceSince 1996 1996 a hydropower a hydropower plant plant has has operated operated on onthe the Ord Ord River River Dam. Dam. Water Water is releasedis released through through turbines turbines to generateto generate Looking after all our water needs. electricityelectricity for forlocal local towns towns and and the the Argyle Argyle Diamond Diamond mine. mine. Water Water releases releases for forhydropower hydropower generation generation are are the the largest largest 9482 300 0414 releasesreleases from from Lake Lake Argyle. Argyle. Contact Information IrrigationIrrigation is theis the primary primary consumptive consumptive use use of waterof water from from Lake Lake Argyle. Argyle. The The other other main main water water benefit benefit is foris forthe the lower lower For more information, contact the Kununurra Regional Office on 08 9166 4116 OrdOrd River, River, below below the the Kununurra Kununurra Diversion Diversion Dam. Dam. Flows Flows in thein the lower lower part part of theof the river river come come from from Lake Lake Argyle Argyle and and the the or at 27 Victoria Highway, Kununurra Western Australia 6743. DunhamDunham River, River, and and support support water water dependent dependent ecosystems ecosystems as aswell well as ascommunity community values. values. 2691-0414 Water releases for hydropower Boating and navigation Pacific Hydro Ltd own and operate the Ord River Dam Damming of the Ord River and all year-round releases Power Station under a water supply agreement with for power have significantly enhanced boating and the Water Corporation. The Department of Water sets navigation on the river, with both lakes and the lower power station release rules so that water released for Ord River now being popular boating and tourism power each month does not reduce the reliability of locations. water for irrigation in future years. Even when flows are in excess of minimum required Since operation began, most of the water released environmental flows or natural dry season levels, from the dam has been for hydropower. The volumes the need to store water for longer periods to reliably released have been sufficient to meet Stage 1 provide for increases in water allocations will affect irrigation demands, and are well in excess of the the ease of navigational access. needs of the lower Ord River environment. Boating on Lake Argyle will not be affected by As lake levels decline due to low inflows or high power increased demands but boating access on Lake demand, monthly hydropower releases need to be Kununurra, especially close to the Ord River Dam, reduced to maintain reliability of supply for irrigation. may change. Below the Kununurra Diversion Dam Power generation is restricted when storage levels in already parts of the river are not navigable. the lake are below-average, and some of the demand at the Argyle mine will be met through greater use of Navigational releases for Lake Kununurra are Water for the lower Ord River diesel generators. allowed if Lake Argyle storage levels are high and releases are consistent with the licence for dam The Ord River Dam has significantly changed the river environment. There As more water entitlements are granted for irrigation, operations. The practical arrangements for releases are now year-round flows in the lower Ord River from the diversion dam to the release rules will be adjusted to ensure enough are negotiated with and managed by the Water Mambi Island (66 km downstream), where tidal effects commence. This is in The Ord River Dam Water for irrigation water is retained in storage to provide water for Corporation. contrast with the drying-out periods that occurred naturally before the dam reliable irrigation supplies, hydropower demand and The Ord River Dam was built in the early 1970s to form Lake Argyle and Water for irrigation is either scheme- was built. environmental demands. Water released for irrigation When water levels in Lake Argyle are low or fall provide a reliable water supply to the Ord River Irrigation Area. The dam supplied by the OIC or self-supplied by and the environment can also be used to generate below the trigger levels for hydropower restrictions, The permanent flows over the dry season have altered the river environment captures highly variable runoff from the catchment each wet season and individual users. Up to 905 GL/year of hydropower, and releases solely for hydropower partly specific navigational releases from Lake Argyle and new water-dependent values have been established. stores it in Lake Argyle for later use. The storage enables water to be water entitlements can be granted from meet the lower Ord environment requirements. are not permitted. Releases made specifically for released year-round to generate hydro-electricity, supply downstream the existing infrastructure in the Ord area. enhancing boat navigation on the lower Ord River are While there is a lot of water flowing into the lower Ord now, water flows below irrigators in the irrigation season and sustain the lower Ord River Of particular importance to agricultural not feasible at these levels because they compromise the diversion dam will diminish as increased volumes of water are diverted for environment in dry periods.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ord River Diversion Dam EHR Nomination Rev 2
    ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA Western Australia Division NOMINATION OF ORD RIVER DIVERSION DAM FOR AN ENGINEERING HERITAGE AUSTRALIA HERITAGE RECOGNITION AWARD Diversion Dam and Lake Kununurra on July 20, 1963 PREPARED BY ENGINEERING HERITAGE WESTERN AUSTRALIA ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA DIVISION Revision 2: September 2013 (Original Version: March 2013, Revision 1: Sept 2013) CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 3 2. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE ................................................................................. 4 3. LOCATION ..................................................................................................................... 5 4. HERITAGE RECOGNITION NOMINATION FORM ....................................................... 7 5. OWNER'S LETTER OF AGREEMENT .......................................................................... 8 6. HISTORICAL SUMMARY .............................................................................................. 9 7. BASIC DATA .................................................................................................................. 10 8. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ....................................................................................... 11 8.1 Hydraulic Design Considerations .......................................................................... 11 8.2 Design of Radial Gates and Concrete Works ....................................................... 13 8.3 Site
    [Show full text]
  • Fish Fauna of the Fitzroy River in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia - Including the Bunuba, Gooniyandi, Ngarinyin, Nyikina and Walmajarri Aboriginal Names
    DOI: 10.18195/issn.0312-3162.22(2).2004.147-161 Records of the Westelll Allstralllll1 A//uselllll 22 ]47-]6] (2004). Fish fauna of the Fitzroy River in the Kimberley region of Western Australia - including the Bunuba, Gooniyandi, Ngarinyin, Nyikina and Walmajarri Aboriginal names J J 2 3 David L. Morgan , Mark G. Allen , Patsy Bedford and Mark Horstman 1 Centre for Fish & Fisheries Research, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6]50 KImberley Language Resource Centre, PO Box 86, Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia 6765 'Kimberley Land Council, PO Box 2145, Broome Western Australia 6725 Abstract - This project surveyed the fish fauna of the Fitzroy River, one of Australia's largest river systems that remains unregulated, 'located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. A total of 37 fish species were recorded in the 70 sites sampled. Twenty-three of these species are freshwater fishes (i.e. they complete their life-cycle in freshwater), the remainder being of estuarine or marine origin that may spend part of their life-cycle in freshwater. The number of freshwater species in the Fitzroy River is high by Australian standards. Three of the freshwater fish species recorded ar'e currently undescribed, and two have no formal common or scientific names, but do have Aboriginal names. Where possible, the English (common), scientific and Aboriginal names for the different speCIes of the river are given. This includes the Aboriginal names of the fish for the following five languages (Bunuba, Gooniyandi, Ngarinyin, Nyikina and Walmajarri) of the Fitzroy River Valley. The fish fauna of the river was shown to be significantly different between each of the lower, middle and upper reaches of the main channeL Furthermore, the smaller tributaries and the upper gorge country sites were significantly different to those in the main channel, while the major billabongs of the river had fish assemblages significantly different to all sites with the exception of the middle reaches of the river.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Report on Ministerial Visit to Shanghai, China 3 – 7 November 2018
    Report on Ministerial Visit to Shanghai, China 3 – 7 November 2018 Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Minister Assisting the Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade 1 Overview China is Western Australia’s largest market for merchandise exports, accounting for 47 per cent of the State’s exports in 2017-18 – close to $62 billion worth. As our largest market for agricultural and food exports, China accounted for 22 per cent of agricultural exports in 2016-17, valued at $1.89 billion. The Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC attended the China International Import Expo 2018 (CIIE) in Shanghai from 3 – 7 November 2018 to fly the flag for our relationship with China. The CIIE is a six-day multi-sector tradeshow for imported products, timed with the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Chinese economy to international trade and investment. This event was an initiative by President Xi Jinping, and CIIE is an undertaking on a massive scale. The venue for the expo is the newly constructed National Exhibition and Convention Centre, with an exhibition space of over 28 times the size of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Nineteen Western Australian companies displayed wine, honey, pork and other premium products to an estimated 400,000 Chinese buyers. Minister MacTiernan visited these displays and attended the opening of the Australian Pavilion at the Expo with Australian dignitaries such as the Australian Ambassador to China, Ms Jan Adams, Australian Minister for Trade, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham and
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Recreational Use Management Plan
    Recreational Use Management Plan Iron Ore Mine and Downstream Processing, Cape Preston, Western Australia Mineralogy Pty Ltd October 2006 Recreational Use Management Plan Prepared for Mineralogy Pty Ltd Prepared by Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd Level 1, 629 Newcastle Street, PO Box 81, Leederville 6902, Western Australia T +61 8 9281 6100 F +61 8 9281 6295 www.maunsell.com ABN 20 093 846 925 October 2006 74300904.06 © Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd 2006 The information contained in this document produced by Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd is solely for the use of the Client identified on the cover sheet for the purpose for which it has been prepared and Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd undertakes no duty to or accepts any responsibility to any third party who may rely upon this document. All rights reserved. No section or element of this document may be removed from this document, reproduced, electronically stored or transmitted in any form without the written permission of Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd. Recreational Use Management Plan G:\74300904.06\doc\rep\2006_10_Recreational Use MP_Maunsell.doc Revision I October 2006 Quality Information Document Recreational Use Management Plan Ref 74300904.06 Date October 2006 Prepared by Jamie Shaw Reviewed by Stephen Clark Revision History Authorised Revision Revision Details Date Name/Position Signature Stephen Clark Senior Principle I 24/10/06 Final Environmental Engineer Recreational Use Management Plan G:\74300904.06\doc\rep\2006_10_Recreational Use MP_Maunsell.doc Revision I October 2006 Table of Contents 1.0
    [Show full text]
  • The Invasion of Sturt Creek Basin (Kimberley Region, Western Australia)
    Into the Kimberley: the invasion of the Sturt Creek Basin (Kimberley region, Western Australia) and evidence of Aboriginal resistance Pamela A Smith The extent to which the traditional owners of the upper Sturt Creek basin in the south­ east Kimberley region resisted the exploration and colonisation of their country in the late nineteenth century is generally underestimated and seldom referred to in historical records. This paper documents the exploration and colonisation of the region and anal­ yses accounts of frontier conflict recorded in diaries and other historical documents from this period. These documents provide evidence of many incidents which, when viewed together, suggest that the traditional owners resisted colonisation as best they could without guns, and that the colonists perceived themselves as invaders. The southeast Kimberley was one of the last regions of Australia to be colonised by Europeans. The upper Sturt Creek basin, which occupies much of the southeast Kim­ berley (Figure 1), was the route used by the first European explorers entering the east Kimberley and a major route used by the first pastoralists entering the Kimberley with herds of cattle from Queensland. Much of this land was, and is, the traditional country of Nyininy language speak­ ers (a dialect of Jaru).1 Explorers and early pastoralists would have passed close to, if not through, several important meeting places of the Nyininy including Sweetwater on the Sturt Creek and Wan.gu (or Wungu) near Old Flora Valley (Tsunoda 1981: xvi, 6-7). This study examines the nature of the interaction between the explorers, the colonising pastoralists and the traditional owners, the Nyininy.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]