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Burrum catchment storyThe catchment stories use real maps that can be interrogated, zoomed in and moved to explore the area in more detail. They take users through multiple maps, images and videos to provide engaging, in-depth information. Quick facts
Quick linksView the Burrum catchment story TranscriptThis map story is part of a series prepared for the catchments of Queensland. We would like to respectfully acknowledge the First Nations peoples of the land and waters on which this project takes place, and Elders both past and present. We recognise the ongoing effort to protect and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, which will leave a lasting legacy for future Elders and leaders. Cover image. Burrum River, Photo by Gary Cranitch ©️Queensland Museum. Table of contents
Understanding how water flows in the catchmentTo effectively manage a catchment it is important to have a collective understanding of how the catchment works. This story map gathers information from experts and other data sources to provide that understanding. The information was gathered using the ‘walking the landscape’ process, where experts systematically worked through a catchment in a facilitated workshop, to incorporate diverse knowledge on the landscape features and processes, both natural and human. It focused on water flow and the key factors that affect water movement. The story map was prepared by the Queensland Wetlands Program in the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation in collaboration with local partners. The story map was prepared by the Queensland Wetlands Program in the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation in collaboration with local partners. Navigating this catchment storyThis catchment story contains several interactive elements. These features are designed to assist your viewing experience, so read on for tips on how to best use them.
Main image: Horticulture near Apple Tree Creek, photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum. Water movementThis catchment story describes the location, extent and values of the Burrum catchment. It demonstrates the key features which influence water flow, including geology, topography, rainfall and runoff, natural features, human modifications and land uses. Knowing how water moves in the landscape is fundamental to sustainably managing the catchment and the services it provides. Burrum catchmentThe Burrum catchment is located between Bundaberg and Hervey Bay within the Burnett Mary Regional Group natural resource management area. It is mostly within the Bundaberg and Fraser Coast regional council areas with small areas in the North Burnett Regional council areas, and within both the Burnett and Mary Water Plan areas. The catchment covers approximately 3,351 square kilometres ( click for animation ). The catchment includes the Burrum River together with:
And several smaller creeks including:
Waterways flow to the Great Sandy Marine Park,Hervey Bay, the Great Sandy Strait internationally listed Ramsar-listed site and the Great Sandy Biosphere, and onto the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park in the north. Great Sandy Biosphere Map The Burrum is a Great Barrier Reef catchment. Water and associated pollutants such as excess sediments, nutrients, pesticides and litter from the catchment can enter the Great Barrier Reef lagoon during large floods with flow-on effects to flora and fauna including corals, seagrass, turtles and dugongs. The Great Barrier Reef is World Heritage-listed and a Commonwealth and State marine park. The Burrum catchment is adjacent to the Burnett and Mary catchments. There are hydrological connections within the coastal parts of these catchments through groundwater. Values of the catchment—EconomicA range of different land uses are found in the Burrum catchment. Land use is dominated by grazing on native pastures together with:
Horticulture and sugarcane are very important to the economy and communities of the Burrum catchment, particularly in the North Isis, Gregory and Elliott subcatchments, and along the Woongarra Coast. Horticulture and sugar cane are supported by the rich, well-drained soils, available groundwater supply, the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme (BWSS) , the consistent weather, and the labour and infrastructure within the catchment. Follow the link to read an associated story on the Horticulture industry. Main image: Horticulture near Qunaba, photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Waterways of the Burrum catchment and Hervey Bay support commercial and recreational fisheries. Fishing is popular in the estuaries, on the tidal flats and on offshore reefs. Commercial fishing is important to the local economy and includes trawl, net, line and pot fisheries. Crab fisheries include mud crabs in the Great Sandy Strait and sand crabs in Hervey Bay. Spearfishing is popular on the reefs off Hervey Bay , and other areas such as off Burnett Head to Elliott Heads, Great Sandy Marine Park (where zoning allows) and offshore near Bargara. Tourism provides significant economic values to the catchment. These activities include whale watching, snorkelling, swimming, boating, beach-walking and horticultural exhibits. The area also acts as a tourism gateway to K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) and the southern Great Barrier Reef. Good infrastructure is in place to support these tourism activities. Environmental and SocialThe Burrum catchment provides important habitat for many marine, freshwater, terrestrial and groundwater dependent species and includes several protected areas:
There are many areas of wetland or contains wetlands in the catchment including:
The Burrum Coast wetlands support several wetland plants approaching their geographic limits (e.g., Strangea linearis, Callistemon pachyphylla and Melaleuca sieberi), and several protected species such as the paperbark tree Melaleuca cheelii, tiny wattle (Acacia baueri subsp. baueri) and an alyxia (Alyxia sharpei), and wallum frogs such as the wallum froglet (Crinia tinnula). Burrum Heads, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum The Burrum catchment contains waterways with good connections between fresh to brackish to salt water, such as the Elliott (and associated Yellow Waterholes Creek) and Cherwell rivers and Beelbi and Marsh creeks. These waterways provide important fish habitats especially for diadromous fishes that need to move between fresh and salt water to complete their life cycles and are protected within declared fish habitat areas and the Great Sandy Marine Park. Intertidal wetlands include trees (mangroves), grasses, herbs and sedges (saltmarshes), seagrasses, fringing coral reefs and communities, rocky shores, coffee rock reefs, boulders, gravel, sandflats and mudflats, adjacent to subtidal wetlands such as seagrasses, algae, coral reefs and communities, shellfish, rocky shores, coffee rock, boulders, gravel, sand and mud. Point Vernon, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Intertidal and subtidal ecosystems provide habitat for threatened and migratory species, and ecosystems and species at their southern and northern range limits, including shorebird and nesting marine turtles . The wider Burnett-Mary region supports six species of protected marine turtles and Mon Repos is the largest loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) rookery in the southern Pacific with well-developed tourist infrastructure. The waters of the Great Barrier Reef, Hervey Bay and the Great Sandy Strait support iconic marine mammals such as humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and dugong (Dugong dugon). Seagrass meadows provide foraging and nursery habitat for dugong (note: mapping shows maximum extent of seagrass recorded over time and is subject to seasonal change). The foraging values of different species of seagrass also differ, with the shallow water seagrass preferred by dugong over deeper water seagrasses. The World Heritage-listed K'gari, one of the most iconic tourism destinations in Australia, supports a wide range of species and ecosystems and is culturally and recreationally important. The area supports a range of wetland types and values. Further information about some of the different types of wetlands across the catchments is provided below:
Geology and topographyThe geology of a catchment fundamentally affects how the water in the catchment flows both above, and below, the ground and is also critical for soil formation. Several different rock units combine to make up the geology of the Burrum catchment, and while most of the catchment is relatively flat, the area to the west has some areas of higher relief. The geological story of these rock units, from west to east, can be considered largely in three main phases:
The headwaters of the catchment are dominated by metamorphic geologies (mudrock/arenite, mostly the Hodgkinson Formation) and sandstones (Gilbert River Formation and Dalrymple Sandstone) on high elevations. There are some granites (Kennedy Province) in the upper areas of the Annan River basin. Water flow is fast off these hard geologies, particularly where slopes are steep. There are areas of more porous geologies, which allow for groundwater infiltration, including small areas of basalt, large areas of sand in the north-east, and alluvium and colluvium on the lower elevations. The geological layers of the catchment are listed below from older (generally deepest layers) to younger (generally uppermost layers). The older granitoid and metamorphic rock units formed during the assembly of the eastern part of the continent from 350 to 220 million years ago. These older, harder rock units in the western reaches are the highest parts of the catchment, where water runs off rapidly.
Intertidal muddy sandflat, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum
Sea levels rose and fell during the ice ages (less than 10 mya) - Provided by Warwick Brown
The catchment is unusual in that there is very little alluvium (material formed by river deposition) and floodplain. The rivers have incised into deeper geologies such as the Burrum Coal Measures , and the Elliott Formation , remaining within their channels and not spilling over onto a floodplain. Groundwater flows from the Elliott Formation have filtered down into the incised channel, providing maintenance of baseflows. The Elliott River itself is partly a groundwater-fed system due to being entirely within the Elliott Formation. The Elliott River, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Folds and FaultsA series of fault lines running northwest to southeast folded many of these geologies into anticlines (upfolds) and synclines (downfolds) in such a manner that the older geological rocks are exposed in some places on the surface. The faulting and folding also disrupt groundwater flows, resulting in patches of the Elliott Formation Aquifer leaking into the Burrum Coal Measures aquifer beneath. North of the Isis River, the Maryborough Basin geologies lie largely in horizontal layers, but south of the Isis there has been much more folding and faulting. Point Vernon is a rocky peninsula where the Burrum Coal Measures and Maryborough Formation are exposed. A series of anticlines to the east has exposed this sequence of older harder geologies in rocky shores at Booral and River Heads, and in the Great Sandy Strait islands of Woody (Tooliewah) and Little Woody, and at Boon Boon Rocks. Further information about some of the different types of geologies and aquifers is provided below:
Natural features - RainfallThe Burrum catchment has a subtropical climate with temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 degrees Celsius. There is a hot, humid and wet summer to autumn, with a drier winter and spring. Most rainfall falls as part of northern monsoons, cyclones or troughs in late summer to early autumn. Average annual rainfall ranges between 900 to 1,000 millimetres per year. Surface waterRainfall runs off rapidly from the relatively hard upper catchment into creeks and eventually the rivers and water storages of the catchment such as Lenthalls Dam ( view animation *). The northern parts of the catchment are part of the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme and Burnett Basin Water Plan , where water is transferred within the Burrum, from the Isis River via channel and pipeline network, and via Gregory River and Elliott River. See horticulture tab for further details. The remaining water either sinks into the ground where it recharges groundwater systems and supports a variety of terrestrial and groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs). The smaller channels and gullies eventually flatten out to form larger waterways that flow through lower lying land. They pass through unconsolidated areas (such as sand) which store and release water, prolonging flow. Water is discharged very slowly from the groundwater aquifers (notably the Elliott Formation) following high groundwater recharge events, and flows into waterways, maintaining base flow. In areas dominated by surface flow, the hydrological seasonality associated with these wet and dry season flow conditions are important to the ecological character, function and associated values of aquatic ecosystems. Groundwater base flow, associated with the sand masses, maintains the flows in waterways. Rainfall also maintains the flows in waterways and provides for groundwater base flow. Rainfall also recharges the Elliott Formation and Hummock Basalt groundwater systems. Groundwater and aquifersThe Maryborough Basin underlies much of the catchment with the porous geologies supporting many aquifers including Elliott (Cenozoic), Burrum (Cretaceous), Grahams Creek (Cretaceous) and Duckinwilla (Triassic to Jurassic). The Coastal, Alluvial and Basalt (e.g., the Hummock Basalt ) aquifers overlay the Maryborough Basin. The porous layers of the Maryborough Basin , which underlies much of the area, are likely to discharge groundwater into the sea through wonky holes, and the large sand masses and other unconsolidated geologies also allow for extensive groundwater infiltration, storage and discharge. The system surrounding the Great Sandy Strait and Hervey Bay has substantial groundwater influence from a range of porous geologies. Surface aquifers are recharged by intense rainfall events. The Elliott Formation Aquifer is an unconfined aquifer consisting mainly of deep sands, silt and conglomerate, including discrete beds of gravel. Where the Elliott Formation beds run horizontal to the surface (i.e., north of the Isis River) this is a thick, productive aquifer whose hydraulic head runs southwest to northeast, with recharge occurring in the top of the catchments and discharge closer to the coast. The Elliott Formation Aquifer discharges into streams and the intertidal area. Beneath the Elliott Formation Aquifer is a deeper confined aquifer, the Fairymead Beds , which are overlaid by the Gooburrum Clay aquitard. The Fairymead Beds are comprised of unconsolidated sands, gravels and clays running along an old river valley. They extend out offshore – discharging as wonky holes to the north. South of the Isis River, the aquifers are thin and heterogeneous and provides little potential groundwater extraction. The older aquifers (e.g., Burrum, Graham’s Creek) are recharged by rainfall where they outcrop along the western side of the Maryborough Basin , or through the very porous overlying Elliott Formation. These old aquifers are highly heterogeneous and less productive and have higher salinity compared to the Elliott Formation Aquifer, which is fresh except where seawater intrusion occurs along the coastal fringe. The dams around Childers in the Burrum Coal Measures have saline influences from the underlying geology. Groundwater is stored in fractures and in the pore space between the sandstone grains with recharge, discharge and flow paths influenced by faults and folds. Creek lines in the Burrum subcatchment cut through the Elliott Formation Aquifer into the Burrum Coal Measures. These creeks support terrestrial groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs), including the endemic Goodwood gum (Eucalyptus hallii). Not all Maryborough Basin geologies are aquifers. The Maryborough Aquitard ( Maryborough Formation ) is a siltstone-dominated groundwater flow barrier between the Burrum and Grahams Creek aquifers. Fault lines and folds south of the Isis River have exposed this aquitard on the surface, particularly in the mid Isis River and near Lenthalls Dam. Lenthalls Dam, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Both Pleistocene (2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago) and Holocene (11,700 years ago to present) dunes are aquifers and support many freshwater wetland groundwater dependant ecosystems and dune systems receive recharge from rainfall and surface flows. The Hummock Basalt recharges directly from rainfall and discharges vertically to the Elliott Formation. Being close to the coast the Elliott Formation can be vulnerable to seawater intrusion where water extraction has depleted freshwater in the aquifer. VegetationVegetation affects how water flows through the catchment, and this process is affected by land use and management practices. Vegetation slows water, retaining it longer in the landscape and recharging groundwater aquifers, and reduces the erosion potential and loss of soil from a catchment. Developments and human activities change the shape of the landscape and can modify water flow patterns. Several different vegetation types combine to make up the original native (preclearing) vegetation of the Burrum catchment. Large areas of remnant vegetation remain in the bioregional corridor between Maryborough and Childers, and within coastal national parks. Explore the swipe map* showing vegetation clearing over time, using either of the options below.
Most of the catchment is dominated by eucalypt woodlands. The upper catchment includes rainforest and scrubs, wet eucalypt and plantation. The lower catchment is dominated by other coastal communities and heath, with melaleuca and mangrove communities along waterways. Melaleuca wetland at Burrum Heads, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Most of the area to the north of the Elliott River, and around Hervey Bay, is cleared. Modified featuresChannels and infrastructureBuildings and important infrastructure such as roads , railways (zoom for more detail) and creek crossings create barriers and low permeability surfaces that redirect water through single points or culverts, leading to channelling of water. Urbanisation along the Woongarra Coast and in Hervey Bay has hardened surfaces and rainfall runs off as stormwater, rather than infiltrating into the porous sand dunes and Hummock Basalt, and roads impede water flow and aquatic fauna passage. Dams and weirsLake Lenthall supplies urban water for Hervey Bay and is managed by Wide Bay Water (Fraser Coast Regional Council). Water is released from Lake Lenthall to Burgowan Water Treatment Plant. Weir at Howard, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Water use and infrastructure of the catchment include:
These storages and infrastructure influence how and when water flows through the catchment and to other catchments by inter-catchment transfers. Urban development, artificial lakes and sand extraction are also altering the hydrology of wetlands and creeks south of Burrum Heads. Burrum Weir (Weir 2) is fitted with a pool and weir aquatic fauna passage structure (fishway) that is not considered suitable for the fish community of the Burrum River. Other dams and weirs can act as barriers to fauna passage during baseflow conditions, with movement during flood conditions only. Lake Lenthall is stocked with barramundi (Lates calcarifer), yellow belly (Macquaria ambigua) and bass (Percalates novemaculeata) and provides recreational fishing values. Wongi Waterholes is a groundwater dependent wetland of importance to the First Nations peoples. During high inflows to Lake Lenthall, the higher water levels can drown out the Wongi Waterholes. The waterholes are spring fed and water is pumped out of the waterholes so they are not flooded. Many farm dams capture overland flow water. This is only managed in the Burnett water plan’s Coastal Burnett Overland Flow area , with limits on the volume that can be stored without the need for a water licence. Water Supply Scheme and irrigationSouth of the Isis River, water use is mainly for urban and rural purposes. North of the Isis River, the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme (BWSS) supports irrigated horticulture and agriculture on the more productive soils via a complex network of dams, weirs, channels and pipelines . The infrastructure has been developed to support irrigated horticulture and agriculture in the Burrum and adjacent Burnett and Kolan catchments, as part of the BWSS managed by Sunwater. The original purpose of the reticulation was to provide surface water to augment irrigation and as an alternative to groundwater extraction close to the coast. Historically, excess groundwater extraction in the Woongarra area for irrigated horticulture and agricultural use caused seawater intrusion into the freshwater aquifer. By providing a surface water supply as an alternative to reliance on groundwater, seawater intrusion was limited. Seawater intrusion was also limited by the introduction of groundwater management including:
With a large proportion of surface water allocated to irrigation, the hydrological processes of the catchment have changed. Many waterways have been dammed to provide water storage for surface or groundwater as part of the reticulated irrigation systems. In the Burrum catchment, a network of channels and pipelines transport the water to holding storages and pumping stations to distribute to water users. There are two holding storage dams to the south of the Elliott Escarpment, built mainly for macadamia and irrigation in general. See the Wide Bay Burnett Horticulture for further details. Groundwater boresThere are many groundwater bores across the catchment. Most groundwater extraction is from the Elliott Formation Aquifer associated with the Elliott Formation in the Isis, Gregory and Elliott subcatchments and the deeper Fairymead Beds (paleochannels). Residential areas along the Burrum River and coastal villages east of Burrum Heads use bores to extract freshwater from the coastal dune systems. Parts of surface and groundwater resources of the Burrum catchment are regulated by the Burnett Basin Water Plan and Mary Basin Water Plan. Groundwater resources in the Burrum catchment are managed as part of the Coastal Burnett Groundwater Management Area and departmental bores are regularly monitored for groundwater and salinity levels. The water plan ensures sustainable water use including supporting surface and groundwater dependent ecosystems. Water qualityWater quality for people and environmentWaterways, wetlands, estuarine and marine systems are all environments that provide critical ecosystem services and have high tourism, aesthetic, cultural, recreational and economic values. The values can be impacted by poor water quality from urban, peri-urban, industry and agricultural land-uses. The Burrum is a Great Barrier Reef catchment. Runoff from the Burrum catchment enters to the southern Great Barrier Reef lagoon and Coral Sea to the north of Hervey Bay, and the catchment forms part of the broader Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. Poor water quality, which can be caused by elevated levels of fine sediments, nutrients and pesticides can have detrimental impact on Great Barrier Reef ecosystems as well as localised coastal and marine values, particularly freshwater, estuarine, coastal and inshore marine ecosystems. Fine silts and other suspended solids can settle where freshwater meets saline water and can also result in increased concentrations of nutrients. Herbicides can act as photosynthesis disruptors for seagrass and mangroves, reducing growth, biomass, leaf area, and causing dieback, impacting their ability to provide habitat and food. Pesticides can disrupt food webs and can impact on a wide range of marine organisms and ecosystems. Increases in the volume and speed of runoff can increase erosion in the landscape and the stream channels, resulting in sediment being carried downstream and reducing water quality. Water quality is also influenced by runoff and point source inputs such as sewage treatment plants (STPs) and additional inputs such as septic tank seepage and stormwater discharge. There are several STPs that receive sewage from the catchment and local area, however, septic tanks are used in parts of the catchment. Water quality policies and programsThe Australian and Queensland governments have a joint commitment to protect the Great Barrier Reef, formalised through strategic plans, such as the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan, the Reef 2050 Catchment Water Quality Strategy and the Reef 2050 Wetlands Strategy. The intent of the Reef 2050 Catchment Water Quality Strategy is to improve the water quality flowing from the catchments adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef, including the Burrum River and wider Burnett Mary region. This strategy uses best available independent scientific advice as provided by the Scientific Consensus Statement 2022, and establishes water quality targets that have been set for 35 river catchments, including the Burnett-Mary region, that flow to the Great Barrier Reef. These targets define how much land-based pollution needs to be reduced to meet the ecological thresholds that protect the Reef’s ecosystem, and supports their recovery. The Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Modelling Program, as part of the Paddock to Reef program, estimates average annual loads of key pollutants (sediment, nutrients and pesticides) for each of the 35 catchments draining to the Great Barrier Reef. It assesses progress towards the Reef Plan 2050 water quality targets. A technical report has been prepared for the Burnett Mary region. Key features> - SummaryKey features of the Burrum catchment include:
The subcatchmentsA catchment is an area with a natural boundary (for example ridges, hills or mountains) where all surface water drains to a common channel to form rivers or creeks. Larger catchments are made up of smaller areas, sometimes called subcatchments. The Burrum catchment consists of large and small subcatchments . Within a subcatchment, reaches of a river or creek and its surrounds are broken down into sub-units based on similar characteristics. The characteristics of each subcatchment are different, and therefore water will flow differently in each one. The Burrum catchment includes the following subcatchments and sub-units. Burrum subcatchment
Isis subcatchment
Gregory subcatchment
Elliott
BurrumThe Burrum subcatchment contains both fresh and salt water reaches, and the intertidal reaches are part of the Burrum estuary declared fish habitat area and Great Sandy Marine Park. The intact hydrology, groundwater-fed (in part) channels of the lower catchment (in parts) and both intertidal and freshwater wetlands make it a very important fish nursery habitat. Intertidal areas, such as creeks, tidal flats and beaches, are also popular for recreational fishing, boating, swimming, snorkelling, beach walking, sporting activities and picnicking. Diverse fish fauna (seventeen species) have been recorded in the intertidal reaches, including yellowfin bream (Acanthopagrus australis), mangrove jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus), bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus), barred javelin (Pomadasys kaakan) and several species of mullet, including diamond scale mullet Liza subviridis, fantail mullet Valamugil georgii, greenback mullet Liza subviridis and sea mullet Mugil cephalus. Fourteen species are diadromous and require access to freshwater to complete their life cycle. Freshwater fish include rainbowfish (Melanotaenia spp.) and purple spotted gudgeon (Mogurnda adspersa). A network of sandbanks, mangrove islands, channels and rock bars line the Burrum estuary, which widens at the mouth. Shorebirds roost on the sandbanks and feed on the sandflats across the subcatchment, including the beach stone-curlew (Esacus neglectus), far eastern curlew (Numenius madagascariensis), bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica), great knot (Calidris tenuirostris), red knot (Calidris canutus), and greater sand plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii) lesser sand plover(Charadrius mongolus). Intertidal seagrasses grow on the broad tidal flats, with subtidal seagrass meadows offshore, providing foraging and nursery habitat for dugong, marine turtles and fish. The extent of seagrass meadows varies over time and is influenced by freshwater flows and can be buried by sediment-laden runoff. The fringing reefs off Hervey Bay support the southernmost mainland coral reefs in eastern Australia including IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) listed corals. Upper Burrum to Lenthall's DamRunoff is rapid from the hard, hilly country of the Upper Burrum to Lenthall's dam subcatchment, which is underlain by older metamorphic and granite geologies. Land use is a mix of national park, grazing on native pastures and forestry (plantation and native) together with water storage (Lake Lenthall). Closer to the dam is pine plantation grown on mostly flat-crested sandstone hills (Burrum Coal Measures). Wongi Waterholes is a groundwater dependent wetland of importance to the First Nations peoples, which has permanent water and abundant Gahnia sieberana. The waterholes are spring fed and water is pumped out of the waterholes so they are not flooded. Lake Lenthall, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Lake Lenthall is stocked with barramundi, yellow belly and bass and provides recreational fishing values. A series of five gates open and close automatically in response to water levels, with water released to two weirs near Howard. There is no aquatic fauna passage structure (fishway) on the dam. The dam provides water supply for Hervey Bay. The dam wall was raised in 2008 to provide more water. Lenthalls Dam to Burrum Weir 1In the Lenthalls Dam to Burrum Weir 1 subcatchment, the narrow river valley opens into a wider, undulating landscape within a low vegetated plateau. The channel has incised into the sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures and there are Elliott Formation duricrust caps in some parts. Riparian vine forest grows along parts of the channel upstream of Burrum Weir 2 and immediately downstream of Lenthalls Dam. Surrounding remnant vegetation includes 'contains wetlands' on alluvial, deeply weathered sediments and sandstones. Water is extracted from Weir 1 , and there is a barrage at the tidal limit to separate fresh and salt water at this weir. A pipeline transfers water from the weir pools to the Cassava Dams in the Beelbi Creek catchment, where water is processed at Burgowan for use in Hervey Bay. Nurseries have water allocations from Weir 1. Historically, water levels in Weir 1 fluctuated, but the weir pools are now kept full to enable release of freshwater flows to the estuary during the wet season. Weir 1 in flood, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Stocked barramundi and bass are known to move into the weirs when the dams spill, and the waterways also support native water rats (rakalis, Hydromys chrysogaster), purple spotted gudgeons and rainbowfish. Land use is dominated by native forestry (Wongi State Forest) in the valley, with grazing on native pastures on the lower parts. The township of Torbanlea is surrounded by rural residential and most properties have a small dam. Burrum Estuary to Cherwell River junctionIn the Burrum Estuary to Cherwell River Junction subcatchment the upper estuary flows through narrow alluvium, which is adjacent to flat undulating Elliott Formation duricrusts that are slightly elevated above the river banks. The channel is rocky immediately downstream of weir 1 near Howard, but the banks and waters are otherwise mostly muddy (very fine sediment) with sandbanks downstream. Weir 1 has a steep drop, which impedes movement of fish and other aquatic fauna. River banks are steep with very narrow riparian vegetation, and mangroves along the banks and on islands downstream. Burrum River, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum The main street of the Howard township is sewered, but surrounding properties use septic tanks. Hundreds of rural residential properties surround the town and extend along the river, many with their own dams, and bores (saline to brackish water) for gardens and tanks for drinking water. Cherwell RiverThe Cherwell River subcatchment is dominated by grazing on native pastures, together with forestry and other minimal use in the upper parts and residential in the lower parts. The Cherwell River does not have any anthropogenic barriers in the lower reaches. The upper parts are a low, mostly vegetated plateau of imperfectly drained Elliott Formation duricrusts. Parts of the channel have incised into the sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures with only very narrow alluvial flats. In the lower parts, the western bank supports remnant vegetation, but the eastern bank is dominated by rural residential uses including dams, bores and a network of roads. The system is likely partially groundwater-fed, as groundwater spills over from the Elliott Formation into the Burrum Coal Measures. Most of the system is well-vegetated and there are both surface expression and terrestrial GDEs. Melaleuca quinquinervia dominated wetlands and occasional Melaleuca cheelii follow these drainage lines. Burrum estuary right bank to mouthIn the Burrum estuary right bank to the mouth of the subcatchment, the Isis River joins the Burrum River, and the Burrum River joins the Burrum estuary. The subcatchment is dominated by undulating, low sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures intermittently capped with Elliott Formation duricrusts. Burrum River looking downstream with Buxton on the left bank, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum The township of Burrum Heads straddles this subcatchment and the adjacent subcatchments to the east. The township is expanding through the adjacent dune system via lake and cut-and-fill developments, and modifying swale wetland hydrology. Lakes have experienced poor water quality and algal blooms. Most of the coastal development is on septic apart from Burrum Heads township and the main parts of Toogoom township which are sewered. Stands of mangroves in this part of the catchment potentially provide a denitrifying treatment for upstream runoff. In Burrum Coast National Park, hot wildfires are a risk to peat systems in the national park. Township of Burrum Heads, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Beelbi CreekThe upper Beelbi Creek subcatchment consists of undulating, low hills of sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures with old coal mines, and Elliott duricrust (both aquifers). To the east is a volcanic basalt ridge with colluvial Takura Beds at its base, and an extensive sand dune system. Land use is dominated by grazing on natural pastures, together with minimal uses, forestry and rural residential development. Hydrology of the upper subcatchment is modified, with a pipeline from Lenthalls Dam connecting to the Burgowan and Cassava dams. In the east, a series of low parallel sand ridges and swales extend to the coast, consisting of fine white sand dunes over a clay base, with coarser-grained Holocene frontal dunes near the coast. Both dune systems are porous, allowing infiltration to swale wetlands mostly within the Burrum Coast National Park. These GDEs include swale wetlands, wet heaths, melaleuca forests, grass/herb/sedge swamp and the protected Melaleuca cheelii. Beelbi Creek is also well connected to Marsh Creek in the north and to the tidal flats and broad tidal delta extending kilometres offshore, all of which fall within the Beelbi declared fish habitat area. Marsh Creek is also a protected green zone of the Great Sandy Marine Park. Beelbi Creek, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum A rock wall has been installed near housing in response to coastal erosion around the southern entrance to Beelbi Creek. Urban cut-and-fill and lake developments extends from the armoured shoreline along the east bank and frontal dunes at Toogoom to the entrance to O'Regan's Creek in the adjacent subcatchment. O'Regan's CreekThe upper O'Regan's Creek subcatchment is a basin surrounded on three sides by the hard shaley hills of the Maryborough Formation, overlaid by pockets of Takura Beds colluvium and a steep volcanic Dundowran Basalt ridgeline to the east. The shallow estuary winds through a wide pass in the basin to emerge onto very broad tidal flats to the south of Holocene dunes and swales. Groundwater is retained in this very wet system due to the underlying and surrounding hard Maryborough Formation aquitard. Surface expression and terrestrial GDEs comprise much of the subcatchment. Freshwater reaches are shallow and indistinct, composed largely of palustrine wetlands (coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree melaleuca and eucalypt swamps). Dune systems are also porous groundwater systems. Mouth of O'Regan's Creek, which is also an important shorebird habitat, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum The connectivity from fresh to intertidal wetlands provides important fish nursery habitat. Historically, Holocene dunes were sandmined and today there is urban development either side of the creek mouth on the beach ridges and hills behind (Craignish) as far east as Dundowran. Eli CreekThe upper Eli Creek subcatchment is dominated by the undulating shaley hills of Maryborough Formation with small pockets of Tertiary basalt and Elliott duricrust. To the east lies Point Vernon, an elevated rocky peninsula of sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures intersected by north-south fault lines and anticlines, through which groundwater may be discharging. The rest of the subcatchment is sand and mud deposits, with a series of Holocene dunes and swale freshwater wetlands connected to tidal wetlands of saltmarsh and mangroves in the west. The creek meanders across a broad tidal flat in Gatakers Bay to discharge over a coral reef at Point Vernon. Natural values of the subcatchment include:
Values are recognised by the Great Sandy Marine Park Conservation zoning. Land use in the upper parts of the subcatchment is largely grazing on native pastures together with irrigated horticulture (e.g., pineapples near Dundowran) and cropping. The lower catchment contains mostly urban residential with a series of urban lake developments (cut-and-fill canal estates) constructed on freshwater wetlands. Rapid runoff from the Maryborough Formation aquitards joins rapid runoff from hardened urbanised and low-lying coastal areas. Mangrove and saltmarsh wetlands behind the dune system receive much of this runoff which is trapped following rain events. Mouth of Eli Creek, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Treated water from Eli Creek Sewage Treatment Plant is used on the nearby golf course, cane farms and plantations. Point Vernon to UranganThe urbanised Point Vernon to Urangan subcatchment is underlain by mostly sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures topped by occasional Elliott Formation duricrusts. Maryborough Formation hard mudstones and siltstones form a ridge line to the southwest. A series of low Holocene dunes and swales runs east from Tooan Tooan Creek to Urangan. Point Vernon, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Natural values of the subcatchment include:
Urangan Pier, a historical jetty that extends some 800 metres offshore, is popular for sightseeing and fishing. Grey mangroves growing on gravel and boulder substrate on low energy rocky shore, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum The hydrology of the subcatchment is altered by urban development including hard surfaces and a network of roads and stormwater drainage. A narrow foreshore reserve retains some remnant vegetation. The banks and bed of Tooan Tooan Creek have been hardened, except close to the mouth where it runs across a broad tidal flat and coral reef. A series of rock walls have been installed around Urangan to reduce coastal erosion. Many swale wetlands have been converted to urban lakes which have water quality issues due to birds, nutrients and blue-green algae, which is exacerbated by catchment runoff. A series of stormwater drains pipes freshwater directly onto the beach. Historical photos show storm surges along the Esplanade. Pulgul Creek to River HeadsSee the Great Sandy Strait and surrounding catchments catchment story for a detailed discussion of this subcatchment. IsisThe Isis River joins the Burrum estuary between the Cherwell and Gregory rivers. The geology to the north of the Isis River is significantly different, as layers of the Maryborough Basin lie parallel in horizontal bands. Groundwater flow is largely uninterrupted, compared to the folding and faulting characteristic of further south. The Isis has a deeply incised channel that is partially groundwater-fed, and no alluvial floodplain. Upper Isis to ChildersMuch of the Upper Isis to Childers subcatchment consists of granites and old volcanics giving rise to rugged, steep country. Five creeks run to the east through sandstones (including Myrtle Creek and Tiaro Coal Measures), then join to run northward towards Apple Tree Creek. Water runs off this largely vegetated catchment into incised, cobbly/rocky channels with waterholes and some alluvium. Land use includes national park, grazing and forestry. Oaky Creek surrounds, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Apple Tree Creek and ChildersThe Apple Tree Creek and Childers subcatchment is an elevated, dissected plateau of Elliott Formation deeply weathered sediments sitting over sedimentary geologies (Tiaro Coal Measures). Overlying these geologies is a younger cap of basalt which has weathered to volcanic soils (ferrosols). To the west are granite hills with thin alluvium in the valleys. To the east is a ridgeline formed by the Burrum Syncline. Riparian vegetation grows mainly in the incised channel and there are some patches of ‘contains wetlands’ south of the Childers plateau. Granite country is mostly vegetated. Upper Apple Tree Creek, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Groundwater is available on the north side of the Isis in the basalt and Elliott Formation well-drained soils, which are recharged by direct rainfall. There are many bores, some of which pump into dams. Dams in the valleys are salty when they encounter sedimentary coal measures. South of the Isis, folding has disrupted the horizontal strata of the Maryborough Basin layers such that drainage is imperfect and groundwater shallow and inaccessible. The soils and available groundwater have been an important ecosystem service. Farming began on the Childers Plateau with cane and mixed crops (1890s) followed by horticulture (1960s). Today mostly tree crops (macadamias, avocados) and cane are grown. Tree crops in the area also access the BWSS water supply. Childers to Isis River BarrageIn the Childers to Isis River Barrage subcatchment, the river channel encounters the Burrum Syncline. To the south of the Isis River the Graham’s Creek Formation old volcanics and the hard mudstone/siltstone of the Maryborough Formation creates a pinch point for the river. On the northern bank and further downstream to the estuarine boundary, the Elliott Formation duricrusts form a cap overlaying sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures mostly in the channel. The Isis River Barrage separates freshwater (left) from estuarine waters (right), Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum The main channel of the Isis is a series of rocky waterholes upstream from the weir, which is the estuarine limit. Most of the southern side of the Isis is remnant vegetation that contains wetlands. Grazing on native pastures is the main land use on the north side of the river, with some rural residential and irrigated horticulture and cropping. Natural values of the subcatchment include:
Isis EstuaryThe Isis estuary subcatchment consists of an incised estuarine channel through a low plateaux of Elliott Formation duricrusts over sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures. On the southern bank of the river imperfectly drained Elliott Formation duricrust is well-vegetated, containing wetlands. A weir separates estuarine water from upstream freshwaters. Downstream the Isis joins the Burrum estuary which further broadens north of Buxton. Pockets of mangroves occur below the weir, becoming more extensive downstream to the confluence with the Isis and Burrum rivers. The rocky bed of the estuary extends several kilometres downstream from the weir. Diverse intertidal ecosystems include mangroves, saltmarsh, rock bars and reefs, sandbanks and a network of channels, which provide fish habitat and nurseries. Burrum and Isis River confluence, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Fish recorded downstream from the weir include mullet (diamond scale Liza subviridis, fantail Valamugil georgii, and sea Mugil cephalus), barred javelin, bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) and the eel (Conger verreauxi). Ten diadromous fish species were recorded below the weir. Recreational fishing is very popular in the Isis and adjacent Burrum estuary. The township of Buxton on the north bank of the Isis adjoins the Burrum estuary. There are some rock walls and a boat ramp. Freshwater wetlands and GDEs are potentially feeding the estuary with groundwater as it seeps out of the Burrum Coal Measures and Elliott Formation. GregoryThe Gregory subcatchment wraps around the Isis subcatchment. The middle reaches are surrounded by well-drained, deeply weathered Elliott Formation soils with accessible groundwater that is suitable for irrigated horticulture (tree crops) and cropping (sugar cane). The estuary joins the wide Burrum estuary north of the Isis, surrounded by extensive Pleistocene and Holocene dunes. A lack of alluvial floodplain is a feature of this subcatchment where the main channel is deeply incised and is mostly groundwater-fed from deep draining geologies. Upper GregoryThe upper valley of the Upper Gregory subcatchment comprises old, hard mixed metamorphic geologies of the Gympie Group and granites. The river then flows northward through sedimentary rocks of the Brooweena Formation. Water runs rapidly off this hard country into an intermittent waterway consisting of occasional waterholes. Land use is predominantly grazing on native pastures and native forestry. Middle Gregory farmland, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum The incised channel of the Middle Gregory to weir subcatchment passes through rolling hills and shallow valleys. To the south lies the northern edge of the Childers plateau, capped by deeply weathered basalt (ferrosols) overlying well-drained Elliott Formation sediments. The Burrum Syncline creates a ridge running northwest. The river passes around this ridge of volcanic Graham’s Creek Formation and hard mudstone/siltstone Maryborough Formation (aquitards) before heading eastward. Further downstream the well-drained Elliott Formation sediments transition to imperfectly drained duricrusts overlying sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures in the incised river valley. Plentiful groundwater is found in the upper reaches, notably within the Elliott Formation which is recharged through rainfall. Groundwater pools behind the constriction formed by the Maryborough Formation aquitard. Much of the riparian vegetation is found within the incised channels, which contain wetlands (locally Melaleuca along drainage lines). Middle Gregory surrounds, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Land use is mainly farming, including tree crops (macadamias, avocados and mangoes), blueberries, raspberries and beetroot, with sugar cane on lower hillslopes. Irrigated horticulture and cropping are provided by the well-drained soils and reliable water supply. East of Childers are rural residential properties. Towards the estuary is grazing and national park. Natural values of the subcatchment include:
There are many bores that access the Elliott Formation Aquifer. The Burnett Water Supply Scheme pipes irrigated water southward from Lake Gregory in the upper Elliott catchment to Cordalba and local farm dams. The intent is to retain water within the system rather than let groundwater levels drop, thus farm dams are acting as sediment and nutrient sinks. This may influence nutrient retention patterns in soil and water. Some dams are salty where they intercept the Burrum Coal Measures underlying geology. Stockyard CreekThe Stockyard Creek subcatchment joins the estuarine area of the Gregory River downstream of the weir on the Gregory. Much of the lower subcatchment is underlain by relatively flat sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures and poorly drained Elliott Formation duricrusts. Riparian vegetation is supported by tracts of remnant vegetation. Stockyard Creek has brackish to salt water connectivity to the Gregory estuary. The Gregory River near Woodgate, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Natural values of the subcatchment include:
Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) at Woodgate Beach, Photo by Maria Zann Horticulture is an important land use of the upper Stockyard Creek catchment due to the reliable groundwater and well-drained soils. Lower Gregory EstuarineThe Lower Gregory estuarine subcatchment is flat and mostly vegetated. Geology is poorly drained Elliott Formation duricrusts, with sedimentary Burrum Coal Measures in the incised channel and mangroves line the estuary. There is continuous flow over the weir, which forms a tidal barrage, however there is no aquatic fauna passage structure (fishway). Looking across the Gregory River estuary towards the Burrum and Isis Rivers with Buxton to the right, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum The lower Gregory forms a multi-branched estuary with diverse sandbars, channels, banks, saltmarsh and mangroves before joining the wide Burrum estuary. To the east are extensive parallel Pleistocene dunes, and closer to the coast Holocene sand dunes in Burrum Coast National Park. Gregory River looking upstream, photo by Maria Zann Extensive freshwater wetlands and wallum heaths occur with mangroves and saltmarsh in the Burrum Coast National Park downstream of the confluence with the estuary. Downstream mangrove stands provide an ecosystem service of denitrification for upstream runoff. Wallum Banksia (Boronia falcifolia) near the lower Gregory River, Photo by Maria Zann Natural values of the subcatchment include:
The local Council manages the weir which separates fresh from tidal water. Thirteen diadromous fish species have been recorded below the weir, many of which need to migrate to freshwater to spawn, and only one diadromous species above the barrage. Hot wildfires are a risk to the wetlands, especially peatlands. Theodolite and Coonarr CreeksIn the Theodolite and Coonarr Creeks subcatchment, a series of parallel Pleistocene dunes and younger Holocene dunes and swales extends from the north bank of the Burrum to the Elliott River. The creeks have short estuaries draining the network of freshwater swale wetlands of the Burrum Coast National Park. Both estuaries are connected from brackish to salt water and to surrounding palustrine wetlands. A diversity of intertidal and subtidal ecosystems is found in the estuaries and adjacent marine environments including saltmarsh, mangroves, sandbanks and channels. Offshore are extensive seagrass meadows. Theodolite Creek mouth, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Natural values of the subcatchment include:
The subcatchment includes the township of Woodgate. Fishing, boating, swimming, camping and beach-walking are popular in the subcatchment. Four-wheel driving occurs on the beach and in the national park. Some saltmarsh is in poor condition where driving on the saltpans has broken the benthic micro-algal crust. Sand mining occurs in the dunes at Coonarr Creek. Melaleuca wetland, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum ElliottThe Elliott River subcatchment is highly porous and dominated by the deeply weathered and well-draining Elliott Formation sediments. The Elliott Formation Aquifer is highly productive, supporting irrigated horticulture including tree crops and mixed small crops (fruit and vegetables) and cropping (sugar cane). The lower Elliott is groundwater-fed, with connectivity from fresh to salt water. The Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme (BWSS) supplements groundwater use. Upper ElliottThe Upper Elliott subcatchment is a slightly elevated, undulating landscape almost entirely comprised of Elliott Formation sediments, with shallow channels of minor alluvium. The Elliott Formation Aquifer recharges in the western part of the catchment as its hydraulic gradient flows north-east toward the coast. Wetlands follow drainage lines and are more intact in the national park. Land use includes plantation forestry, minor native forestry, tree crops (macadamias, avocados) sugar cane and small areas of national park. The natural hydrology is supplemented by the Burnett Water Supply Scheme. Pipelines supply irrigated water from holding storages, including Lake Gregory (Isis Balancing Storage). Lake Gregory, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Accessible groundwater, reticulated water from the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme (BWSS) and well-drained soils provide for irrigated horticulture and sugar cane. Nutrients and pesticides have potential to drain into the highly porous soils. Upper Elliott NorthThe Upper Elliott north subcatchment is a very flat, open landscape dominated by vertical weathering of the porous Elliott Formation soils. Closer to the coast, towards Elliott Heads, the Hummock Basalt has weathered to whiter soils with high levels of magnesium. Riparian vegetation follows the incised channel of the Elliott River, whereas Yellow Waterholes Creek has minimal vegetation. Groundwater from the Elliott Formation Aquifer runs into the river which has seamless connectivity to the estuary. The Elliott River northside, with Riverview to the west Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Land use includes diverse horticulture including tree crops (avocados, macadamias), mixed vegetables (e.g., capsicum, zucchini, melons, chillis, figs, passionfruit, greenhouses, cut flowers) and sugar cane together with processing plants, packing sheds and warehouses closer to Bundaberg. North of the river entrance Elliott Heads is a coastal township. The area is popular for fishing, boating, swimming and beach walking. Groundwater from the Elliott Formation Aquifer is extracted through many bores. Irrigated water from the Bundaberg Water Supple Scheme supplements groundwater use. Groundwater use needs to be carefully managed to minimise saline ingress and to maintain freshwater flows to the river and offshore. Wind influenced (Aeolian) topsoil loss is a risk in this open landscape. Elliott River SouthThe Elliott River south subcatchment is a flat landscape characteristic of the highly porous Elliott Formation that continues south of the river. On the southern side of the estuary are sand deposits and Holocene parallel dunes and swales which connect to Coonarr Creek in very high tides and periods of high rainfall. This area contains dune vegetation including wallum and wet heath ecosystems. The Elliott River is groundwater-fed from the Elliott Formation Aquifer. Looking southward from prawn farm on the north side of the Elliott River, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Land use includes forestry, national park, tree crops (macadamias) and sugar cane. Natural values of the north and south Elliott River subcatchments include:
Woongarra CoastThe Woongarra Coast subcatchment features a cone-shaped hill (hummock) that is the centre of a volcanic basalt plain that overlies the Elliott Formation between the Elliott River and the mouth of the Burnett. The Hummock Basalt has weathered to deep, fertile red ferrosols which are blacker and contain more boulders closer to coast. The landscape is dominated by deep drainage into the groundwater which is recharged by direct rainfall. Groundwater discharges in the intertidal area through both unconfined aquifers. Irrigation infrastructure, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Much of the former Woongarra scrub has been cleared, and the few drainage lines lack riparian vegetation. Several small estuaries along the boulder coastline receive farm runoff. Moderate wave action and limited runoff has contributed to these estuaries forming connections to the sea which vary through the tidal cycle (will close and open), and alternate between fresh and salt water. Where surrounded by agricultural and urban development, there can be water quality issues. Woongarra Coast land uses, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum Land use includes high value mixed vegetable crops including sweetpotatoes, strawberries with some sugar cane on the less productive soils. Many bores tap into groundwater in the Hummock Aquifer, however water supply for horticulture is supplemented by irrigated water from the BWSS to prevent saline ingress. Natural values of the subcatchment include:
The Woongarra Coast is popular for snorkelling, spearfishing, swimming, nature tourism (turtle watching), beach walking, bike riding, and sightseeing. The townships of Burnett Heads and Bargara are popular with tourists and retirement towns are expanding southward and into the hinterland. Hardened surfaces are contributing to surface stormwater runoff and nutrient input in the pools formed when the tide is low, and into the marine environment when the tide is high. Riflerange Creek at Bargara, Photo by Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum ConclusionThe Burrum catchment shows how natural and modified features within the landscape affect how how water flows. These issues need to continue to be managed to ensure that the significant natural, cultural and social values of the catchment are protected and maintained, and to minimise impacts within the catchment to the receiving waters of Great Sandy Marine Park and downstream in the Great Barrier Reef, while providing for residential, farming and other important land uses of the catchment. Knowing how the catchment functions is also important for future planning, including climate resilience. With this knowledge, we can make better decisions about how we manage this vital area. AcknowledgmentsDeveloped by the Queensland Wetlands Program in the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation in collaboration with local partners.
This resource should be cited as: Walking the Landscape – Burrum Catchment Story v1.0 (2026), presentation, Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Queensland. Images provided by: Burnett Mary Regional Group and Gary Cranitch © Queensland Museum The Queensland Wetlands Program supports projects and activities that result in long-term benefits to the sustainable management, wise use and protection of wetlands in Queensland. The tools developed by the Program help wetlands landholders, managers and decision makers in government and industry. Contact wetlands@detsi.qld.gov.au or visit https://wetlandinfo.detsi.qld.gov.au DisclaimerThis catchment story has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within the document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this education module is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. Data source, links and informationSoftware UsedArcGIS for Desktop | ArcGIS Online | ESRI StoryMaps Some of the information used to put together this catchment story can be viewed on the Queensland Globe. The Queensland Globe is an interactive online tool that can be opened inside the Google Earth™ application. Queensland Globe allows you to view and explore Queensland spatial data and imagery. You can also download a cadastral SmartMap or purchase and download a current titles search. More information about the layers: Source Data Table Flooding Information: Bundaberg Regional Council Fraser Coast Regional Council North Burnett Regional Council Other references*Note - If you have been directed here via a reference hyperlink, to return to the section you were previously reading, use your browser's 'back button' to resume reading where you left off.*
Last updated: 28 July 2026 This page should be cited as: Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2026) Burrum catchment story, WetlandInfo website, accessed 4 August 2026. https://wetlandinfo.detsi.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/processes-systems/water/catchment-stories/burrum/ |
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