Find out more about Channel Country and the rivers that flow to Lake Eyre, Cape York’s natural wonders, and the Coral Sea.
Outback Queensland covers 1.1 million square kilometres—almost two-thirds of the state. Stretching from the tropical rainforests of Cape York to the Gulf Country’s savanna plains and the vast flood plains of the Channel Country, our Outback is as diverse as the people and wildlife who call it home.
In these environments live an extraordinary range of native plants and animals. From cassowaries and cuscus in the rainforests of Cape York to bilbies and budgerigars in the desert lands of western Queensland, 72% of Australia’s native bird species, 85% of its mammals and just over half its native reptiles and frogs live in Queensland. Many of these species exclusively call the Outback home.
The health and future of Outback Queensland is at risk. More hands-on work to remove feral animals and noxious weeds, as well as prevent destructive fires, is essential to sustain communities and safeguard nature.
To ensure that these landscapes are protected, Pew works with partners to advocate for three key measures: support landholders by expanding the Nature Refuges program; grow the successful Indigenous Ranger program; and create new well-managed national parks for all Queenslanders.
Covering one-sixth of Australia, the rivers and wetlands of the Lake Eyre Basin act as an enormous internal drainage system for the continent, fed by some of the world’s last unregulated river systems. The Cooper Creek, Diamantina River and Georgina River make up what is known as Channel Country, taking water from the tropical north inland into Australia’s driest deserts to fill Lake Eyre.
After heavy rainfall, the Channel Country rivers flood across hundreds of kilometres. Long-dry flood plains and river channels burst into life, with a mass of native plant growth. Waterbirds from around Australia flock in to feed and breed. As the waters subside, other birds and animals move in to feast on abundant insects and seeds. Local graziers depend on the flood plains for lush growth on which they can fatten cattle. The extraordinary boom and bust of life along these rivers is one of the great natural phenomena of Australia.
Because the Channel Country rivers are so vital, the Queensland Parliament listed the rivers for protection under the Wild Rivers Act in 2011. The act came about because a diverse group of affected parties—from graziers and Aboriginal landowners to scientists and environmentalists—joined together to pressure the government to protect the state’s healthy river systems. The Wild Rivers Act provided essential protection from large-scale destructive projects such as mining in flood plains and irrigated agriculture.
Pew is working to secure long-term protection for the Channel Country’s natural river flows, wetlands and flood plains. Through our work with the Western Rivers Alliance—a partnership of graziers, conservation groups and Traditional Owners—we aim to permanently protect the region’s major river systems and flood plains: the Cooper Creek, Diamantina River and Georgina River. Pew, alongside graziers and Traditional Owners, is concerned that mining companies are moving to exploit shale gas reserves in the Channel Country. The region’s clean, green organic beef industry would be placed at risk if large-scale polluting industry were to damage groundwater and river systems.
Fracking for shale gas remains an uncertain technology, and Pew is urging the government to deliver on its promise to protect the Channel Country’s extraordinary river systems, which support vibrant communities and sustainable businesses and flow inland to fill Lake Eyre.