Magical Moments - A Favourite Sandhill Where Bearded Dragons and the Western Rivers Carer Can Be Found.

Magical Moments - A Favourite Sandhill Where Bearded Dragons and the Western Rivers Carer Can Be Found.

I have a place I love to go to alone or to share with others. It was many years ago that I discovered this sandhill, and I am fortunate to visit this favourite spot at least once each year. This sandhill is located west of Windorah (Queensland) and my favourite time to visit is just prior to sunset if you wish to have an authentic outback experience. Sit back, and I shall take you to this sandhill where Bearded Dragons and the Western Rivers Carer likes to congregate.

“Red sandhills emerge majestically from the stark countryside of south-west Queensland. Imagine climbing a sandhill prior to sunset and sitting and watching Mother Nature put on her dusk light show. To wiggle your toes in the smooth clean outback sand; to listen to the absolute silence that is only punctuated by a random bird call as they wing their way back to the desert shrub they call home; to sniff the clean, dry air; to take in the 360 degree vista of the sunset in front of you and the falling darkness behind you is one of life’s most magical moments – and one that makes Outback Queensland a special place to Bearded Dragons and Western Rivers Carers”.

Bearded Dragons are commonly found in Western Queensland, and many old timers say that when you see a bearded dragon walking along with their heads and tails raised, this could be an indicator of rain. I liken this upward curved stance and body position to a smile – and as we all know, rain brings smiles to the faces of all who live and work on the land. In the last few days, there have been some wonderful falls of rain in isolated patches. May those proud bearded dragons keep smiling and walking with a curved up tail and head!!

To do before you die – Climb a Western Queensland sand hill…………..barefoot!!

To do before you die – Climb a Western Queensland sand hill…………barefoot!!

Did you know sand dunes cover 40% of the Australian continent?

The Western Rivers region surrounding the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers and Cooper’s Creek is a vast landscape that has a sporadic distribution of sand dunes throughout the entire area. So how is it that these dunes are here?

In 2009, the dunes we can see are actually isolated areas of sand which emerge from the floodplains – which are a clay rich black soil / mud dominated environment ranging from 2 – 9 metres deep. This means that the floodplain area has buried sand channels at its base which can be up to 50 metres deep under the ground, and the only visible bits are the tops of the dunes, which we can see and label sand hills. The tops of these dunes often act as a barrier that confines the overbank river and creek flows to certain area – which means that the flood water is contained to certain areas closer to waterholes.

You know that list we all have mentally compiled of 100 things to do before you die? Does your personal list include climbing a Western Queensland sand hill?

Lake Eyre Basin – Liveable, Ephemeral and Biodiverse!

Lake Eyre Basin – Liveable, Ephemeral and Biodiverse!

Close your eyes and image and imagine a unique part of Australia that covers one-sixth of the driest continent on earth and has an abundance of plant and animal life in a natural arid and semi-arid environment that is home to a Yacht Club; premium organic beef breeding properties; large pelican colonies; ancient and rare Waddi trees and an aerial view of an abstract artists canvas of braids and criss-crossy lines that are waterways. Now think of the terms ‘boom and bust’ in relation to rivers and wetlands and drop these into the image you have generated – and title this image with the name “Lake Eyre Basin”.

The Western Rivers Carer was recently priveleged to be in Alice Springs to attend the Lake Eyre Community Advisory Committee and the Scientific Advisory Group meetings where all things that matter to the Lake Eyre Basin were discussed.

The Lake Eyre Basin is one of the largest internally draining river systems in the world, and covers nearly one-sixth of Australia, including areas of South Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory and a small portion of New South Wales. Lake Eyre (a great salt lake) is the terminal point of the drainage system, and the three major river systems that drain into the Lake are the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers and Cooper’s Creek. The Lake Eyre catchment is one of the last unregulated dryland river systems worldwide and is located in arid and semi-arid parts of the driest inhabited content. All tributaries to Lake Eyre are ephemeral in nature, meaning that run off is reduced to one flood or a series of floods in a short period, and there are very long periods when the beds of the rivers are dry.

The rivers and catchments in the Lake Eyre Basin are generally in good condition, and contain intact aquatic ecosystems. These critical aquatic habitats are home for many species and in particular, migratory waterbirds. The permanent water holes are critical refuges for aquatic plants and animals. The rivers fluctuate dramatically between consisting of highly fragmented disconnected water holes and well connected systems encompassing enormous tracts of inundated floodplain. Most of the Lake Eyre Basin overlies the Great Artesian (groundwater) Basin.

Almost all of the non-desert parts of the Lake Eyre Basin are used for low intensity livestock grazing, predominantly beef cattle and sheep. These industries are viewed as having low impacts on the land and diversity. Indigenous communities have maintained their traditional links with the land, and important cultural sites have been protected and preserved. The key threats to the area include introduced pest plants and feral animals and their impacts on waterholes; intensified surface water extraction as a result of development and the impact of climate change.
For more information on the Lake Eyre Basin, please visit www.lakeeyrebasin.org.au.

Western Rivers Carer Mixes it with the Landcare Larrikins and Legends

Western Rivers Carer Mixes It With the Landcare Larrikins and Legends

Last week, the Queensland State Landcare Conference was held in Longreach. What a wonderful three days of discussion, workshops, networking and sharing! The topics covered during the conference ranged from caring for our soils (cracked soil is so desirable); improving grasses and pastures (kiss my grass); the value of adding Charcoal-Carbon to our enhance our soil (nature helping nature, it’s only natural); how rural Australia is perceived (think totally forgotten about, as evidenced by a Qld Tourism advertisement) and how our traditional owners are undertaking some cutting edge landcare and sustainability initiatives throughout the state (fabulous stuff happening in all areas by many giving people).

It was also pleasing to note that Minister Robertson (Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and Minster for Trade) announced that the draft Cooper’s Creek water resource plan and any future proposal to declare a Wild River over Cooper’s Creek will be released together, in order to ensure that both protective water /river management documents are consistent with each other. Consultation will occur simultaneously, so stakeholder feedback can be sought in relation to both documents, and all the information will be available together. By coupling these together, it will also communicate strongly to other states what Queensland’s unique vision is for this magnificent part of the Lake Eyre Basin.

Loving the Namatjira Look!

Loving the Namatjira Look!

Isn't this an iconic Central Australian scene - made famous by an Aboriginal Artist called Albert Namatjira (1902 - 1959) who painted in an European style? White gum trees and the rugged, raw landscape featured in his numerous paintings. The Western Rivers Carer was reminded of his magnificent works on a recent trip to Alice Springs, when she saw this tree (and many others) whilst exploring the Todd River.

Alice Springs played host last week to 30 amazing people who have an interest in a very special part of Australia that is known as the Lake Eyre Basin (LEB). This is one of the largest internally draining river systems in the world, and covers one sixth of Australia's land mass. The Lake Eyre Basin group and committee consist of a variety of traditional owners, government representatives, scientists, conservationists, community members and business people who are passionate about ensuring this basin is managed in such a way that it can be enjoyed by future generations of people, plant and animal communities.

The Western Rivers Carer was delighted to represent the Australian Floodplain Association and share with the LEB group and committee details of proposed river protection planned for the Queensland catchments of the Georgina and Diamantina Rivers and Cooper's Creek in the LEB.

Soil of the Cooper's Creek Floodplains

Soil of Cooper’s Creek Floodplain Area

Have you ever wondered what the channel country floodplain soils are made from?


Heavily cracked clays dominate the present Cooper floodplain. These clay dominant soils exhibit shrinkage in dry weather, and we observe this as cracks. However, after rainfall or flooding, the swelling of the surface clays closes the cracks and forms a highly effective moisture seal that prevents further floodplain infiltration.

Cooper’s Creek (and the Diamantina and Georgina Rivers) predominantly transport a clay-rich mud load made up of 4–20% sand; 25–60% silt and 35–65% clay. This mud is commonly sand sized pellets but also contains a high suspended sediment concentration. The dust storms which have descended upon Eastern Australia in recent days are this very sediment being transported by air across our vast countryside. The Western Rivers Carer experienced the first dust storm on the ground, however was fortunate to be in a plane flying to Alice Springs and happened to fly over and above the second dust storm. And for all those people cleaning up after the dust storms and wondering what advantages there might be…………….think seafood! Much of this dust will drop into the Pacific Ocean and add rich nutrients to the water…………..which shall result in tasty and abundant food sources for our marine animals.

Grazing does not impact adversely on the heavy, cracking, self mulching clays of the floodplain. Cooper’s Creek country after flooding produces superb natural cattle fattening pastures……. can you just taste that organic beef direct from the Channel Country?