Inspiring Community Connection to Mary River Stories
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Inspiring Community Connection to Mary River Stories A project of the Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee Many people, too numerous to all mention here, have contributed to this project in various ways. We thank you for your time and commitment. There are so many amazing stories to tell, and we invite you to contribute to this evolving creation and help us inspire community connections to Mary River stories. Please send your comments and thoughts to [email protected] Tanzi and Glenbo, November 2012 Mary River Catchment Be Natural Coordinating and Landcare Australia Committee Be Natural Cereals and Snacks The MRCCC is a community partnered with Landcare Australia based catchment management to help local Landcare groups Hughes Bevly by Photo group based in Gympie. Since tackle environmental issues and to the MRCCC was formed in connect with the wider community. 1992 we have been partnering and learning together with The partnership between Be Natural This book is dedicated landholders, schools, primary and Landcare Australia is based around the premise of taking small producers, conservation to Peter Oliver, who was groups and all levels of steps towards making an ongoing difference, and the projects funded government to create a and will always be an sustainable and productive by the Be Natural Landcare Grants program aimed to support local catchment. inspiration to all who groups tackle a range of local To find out more contact us environmental issues. at the MRCCC... care for the Mary River. For further information about Mary River Catchment Landcare Australia and the Resource Centre: Landcare movement please visit Main photo on cover Phone 07 54824766 www.landcareonline.com.au Arkin Mackay Tozer Park Road, Gympie. This project is proudly supported by : Donations to the MRCCC Public Fund are tax deductible Creating an inspiring learning experience for Craig and Gabrielle Latta and Gabrielle Craig Our River Community Photo © Photo Todd Fauser Todd Photo © Photo The Mary River is literally the life that flows through the wider community of humans, domestic animals and wild creatures that make their living along her banks and estuaries. Stories of their life cycles, histories and interconnections provide a powerful means of conveying river science and community aspirations in interesting, holistic and engaging ways. so roll on Mary... 1 2 Reflection by Glenbo Photo © Arkin Mackay Photo © Arkin Mackay Photo © Arkin Mackay Photo © Susie Duncan Photo © Arkin Mackay Why do we care about Mary? The Mary River is literally the life that flows generations. Any of us might catch a lungfish through the wider community of humans, or a turtle, wondering at these remarkable and domestic animals and wild creatures that make unique creatures before letting them return to their living along her banks and estuaries. living their lives along the river. Water from the Mary River nourishes cities, towns As both a source and a symbol of life flowing and fertile farmland from the Conondale Range through us, the Mary River connects us all north as far as Hervey Bay. Especially during the dry between the mountains and the sea, giving us a seasons characteristic in south-east Queensland, sense of our place among the broader network of farms and human communities rely on the Mary creatures that live along and in the river. River for their life-blood. During these dry spells, the Mary can stop flowing over one of the tidal barrages for several months of the year. In spite of this, the Mary nurtures forests, plains, and waterways that support valuable and endangered wildlife, right out to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island. When the Mary is in flood, her surging flood-plumes nourish valuable Photo © Eva Ford © Eva Photo estuarine eco-systems, including mangroves and seagrasses. An astonishing number of valuable and endangered species depend on the Mary River for their lifeline. Because the Mary River cares for so much valuable life, we need to care for her in return. The Mary is mostly a slender river, only broadening in her northern, lower reaches before her waters reach the sea in the International Ramsar-listed Great Sandy Strait, in the lee of World Heritage Fraser Island. Rare dolphins, vulnerable whales and We care for the Mary dugongs, and six of the world’s seven marine turtles (two of which are endangered) live in this valuable because she cares for us and endangered waterway. Many visitors come to enjoy the scenic treasures of the area, and to marvel at the spectacular wildlife. In her upper reaches, the Mary winds through her valley supporting a remarkable biodiversity of creatures. The other rivers across the south-east Queensland region have had their flows severely impacted by dams and barrages. The Mary is the last river in this area to reliably flow freshwater to the sea, supporting a sensitive and valuable estuarine and marine ecosystem. Photo © Eva Ford © Eva Photo Tragically, sometimes we humans don’t know what we’ve got until it’s gone. The communities of humans and wildlife who live along the Mary River nearly lost the life-giving flow of their river. But fortunately, we were given a second chance to appreciate and care for our life-giving river, when the proposed dam on the Mary River floodplain was stopped. Now future generations of our children can still camp, fish and play along the banks of the Mary, just as indigenous families have done for many Eva Ford Eva Photo © Photo ARTICLE BY ADELE COOMBS 3 It’s not the biggest, it’s not the longest, but I reckon it’s one of the most Stewart Riddell Stewart important rivers Photo © Photo in Australia... HERVEY BAY PROfessOR MRCCC Tim FLannerY ‘two On The GReaT divide’ Photo © Photo abc Tv Susan R AND MARYBOROUGH FRASER ISL Myrtle Ck Tinana Ck Munna Ck Mary RAINBOW BEACH Wide bay Ck River MRCCC GYMPIE GOOMERI Six Mile Ck Photo © Photo Amamoor Ck NOOSA Kandanga Ck Belli River Eva Ford Eva Yabba Ck Mary Obi Obi Ck Photo © Photo MALENY CALOUNDRA BRIBIE ISLAND 4 Photo © Arkin Mackay Arkin © Photo Photo © Bob Simpson Photo Why this book? The Mary River is home to hundreds of We also learn about the patterns and cycles different species that all rely on a healthy that govern the interconnectedness of the ecosystem in some way. Human members land, water, biodiversity and people. of the Mary River catchment also rely Of these five species, three are endangered, on a healthy river for recreation, water, one is considered vulnerable, and one is in environmental services, spiritual and decline. These five represent the dozens of cultural enjoyment. other threatened species associated with the This booklet introduces five species who, Mary River and also all of the species that we CONTENTS together, tell a story of what makes the might consider common, but who still play an Mary River so special. They show we can integral role in the ecosystem. As the stories care for the Mary River. of these species will illustrate, they each have By learning the story of these species, a special affinity for an important and distinct p 6 the habitat they need, the life cycles they part of the river ecosystem. They are among Actions experience and the things that are currently the species that continue to play a special role threatening their survival, we gain a in the Mary River community, as they have and issues glimpse of the complexity of the river. done for millennia. p 7 Get to know Mary p 8 A lot goes on p 10 Mary River turtle p 12 Mary River cod Craig and Gabrielle Latta and Gabrielle Craig HABITAT p 14 © Photo Just like we humans, the creatures of the Mary River have Australian particular needs that must be met in order for them to survive lungfish and flourish. These needs are provided by their habitat. Over a day, through the seasons and over longer climatic cycles, the river changes. Human intervention has also changed the river greatly. The quality of the habitat will determine whether or not species p 16 can survive these changes and be able to adapt. As you will see, Giant the habitats needed by our five species are complex and change Barred over their life cycle. In many cases this complex world is hidden frog from the human eye. p 18 p 20 p 21 BACK PAGE Freshwater Learning from ...to create a Contacts and mullet the past... river of our references dreams 5 Overpowered Actions and by cat’s claw issues vine Rivers and estuaries are integral parts of our community. Despite their familiarity to us, freshwater ecosystems such as rivers and creeks are among the most threatened and also least understood parts of the planet. Management of river systems requires some different ways of thinking MRCCC than we use when managing the land only. Rivers are highly complex systems © Photo with many interconnections between up and downstream, groundwater and surface water, the land and the freshwater, freshwater and saltwater. Plants and Smothered by animals move through these connections. water hyacinth Identifying actions to ensure recovery of biodiversity in this kind of system requires a holistic approach that takes into account this connectivity as well as the complex MRCCC social, cultural and economic roles that freshwater plays. © Photo Actions that contribute to the recovery of the river, to its biodiversity and to Glenbo by Photo supporting vibrant communities along i’ve seen the river’s banks occur within this changes to the complex interconnected system. This river over my complexity was embraced by the original lifetime. i can’t human inhabitants of the area, and the sit back and do guiding laws of Mimburi that governed nothing.