Knowledge report Ecological and hydrogeological survey of the Great Artesian Basin springs - Springsure, Eulo, Bourke and Bogan River supergroups Volume 1: history, ecology and hydrogeology This report was commissioned by the Department of the Environment on the advice of the Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining. The review was prepared by UniQuest and revised by the Department of the Environment following peer review. September 2014 Ecological and hydrogeological survey of the Great Artesian Basin springs – Volume 1 Copyright © Copyright Commonwealth of Australia, 2014. Ecological and hydrogeological survey of the Great Artesian Basin springs - Springsure, Eulo, Bourke and Bogan River supergroups, Volume 1: history, ecology and hydrogeology, Knowledge report is licensed by the Commonwealth of Australia for use under a Creative Commons By Attribution 3.0 Australia licence with the exception of the Coat of Arms of the Commonwealth of Australia, the logo of the agency responsible for publishing the report, content supplied by third parties, and any images depicting people. For licence conditions see: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/ This report should be attributed as ‘Commonwealth of Australia 2014, Ecological and hydrogeological survey of the Great Artesian Basin springs - Springsure, Eulo, Bourke and Bogan River supergroups. Volume 1: history, ecology and hydrogeology, Knowledge report, prepared by UniQuest for the Department of the Environment, Commonwealth of Australia’. The Commonwealth of Australia has made all reasonable efforts to identify content supplied by third parties using the following format ‘© Copyright, [name of third party] ’. Enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: Department of the Environment, Public Affairs GPO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601 Or by email to: [email protected] This publication can be accessed at: www.iesc.environment.gov.au Acknowledgements This knowledge report was commissioned by the Department of the Environment on the advice of the Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining. The report was prepared by UniQuest with input from: • A/Prof Rod Fensham – School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland • Prof Joan Esterle – School of Earth Sciences, University of Queensland • Dr Sue Vink – Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, University of Queensland • Ms Alexandra Wolhuter – Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry, University of Queensland • Ms Jennifer Silcock – School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland • Ms Kimberley Hines – School of Earth Sciences, University of Queensland • Mr Jeremy Drimer – QLD Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation & the Arts It was revised by the Department of the Environment following peer review by Dr MA (Rien) Habermehl (Consultant Hydrogeologist) and relevant Queensland, New South Wales and South Australian Government departments. page iii Ecological and hydrogeological survey of the Great Artesian Basin springs – Volume 1 Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Australian Government or the Minister for the Environment or the Interim Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Coal Mining or the statutory Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development (IESC). While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the contents of this publication are factually correct, the Commonwealth and IESC do not accept responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the contents, and shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use of, or reliance on, the contents of this publication. page iv Ecological and hydrogeological survey of the Great Artesian Basin springs – Volume 1 Contents Copyright ............................................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................. iii Disclaimer ............................................................................................................................................ iv Contents .................................................................................................................................................. v Summary ................................................................................................................................................ vii Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................................... x Glossary................................................................................................................................................... xi Part 1: Cultural history and ecological values of Great Artesian Basin springs in the Springsure, Eulo, Bourke and Bogan River supergroups ............................................................................................... 1 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Great Artesian Basin springs—background ............................................................................... 2 1.2 Cultural history ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Overview of ecological values .................................................................................................... 8 1.4 Outline of report ....................................................................................................................... 10 1.5 Methods .................................................................................................................................... 10 2 Springsure supergroup ..................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 Historical record ....................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Project surveys and reassessment of spring status................................................................. 16 2.3 Cultural history ......................................................................................................................... 19 2.4 Biological values ...................................................................................................................... 19 3 Eulo supergroup ............................................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Historical record ....................................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Project surveys and reassessment of spring status................................................................. 25 3.3 Cultural history ......................................................................................................................... 29 3.4 Biological values ...................................................................................................................... 37 4 Bourke supergroup ........................................................................................................................... 47 4.1 Historical record ....................................................................................................................... 47 4.2 Project survey and reassessment of status of springs ............................................................ 48 4.3 Cultural history ......................................................................................................................... 55 4.4 Biological values ...................................................................................................................... 62 5 Bogan River supergroup .................................................................................................................. 68 5.1 Historical record ....................................................................................................................... 68 5.2 Project survey and reassessment of spring status .................................................................. 68 5.3 Cultural history ......................................................................................................................... 71 5.4 Biological values ...................................................................................................................... 72 6 Conclusions and recommendations ................................................................................................. 74 6.1 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. 76 page v Ecological and hydrogeological survey of the Great Artesian Basin springs – Volume 1 Part 2—Hydrogeological survey of the Great Artesian Basin springs in the Springsure, Eulo, Bourke and Bogan River supergroups .......................................................................................................... 77 7