WetlandUpdate August 2026

Fitzroy Great Barrier Reef Connecting Catchments Aquatic Conservation Assessment

Updated Aquatic Conservation Assessments (ACAs) are available for the riverine and non-riverine (i.e. palustrine and lacustrine) freshwater wetlands for seventeen catchments in the Fitzroy Great Barrier Reef Connecting Catchments. The results of the Fitzroy Great Barrier Reef connecting catchments ACA supersede the ACAs from the Great Barrier Reef Catchments Riverine ACA (v1.1) and Great Barrier Reef Catchments Non-riverine ACA (v1.3).

View the Fitzroy Great Barrier Reef Connecting Catchments Summary Report, Flora, Fauna and Ecology Expert Panel Report and Information Sheet.

The riverine and non-riverine data and reporting (information on specific environmental values, by location) may be accessed through WetlandMaps. Information on specific environmental values, by location, is also available via Environmental reports online. For further information on AquaBAMM and the ACA results email biodiversity.planning♲detsi.qld.gov.au.

Catchment Stories: Burrum, Kolan and Horticulture Wide Bay-Burnett

To effectively manage a catchment it is important to have a collective understanding of how it works. Catchment stories use map journals, integrated spatial information, photographs, animations and an informative narrative to demonstrate the features of catchments.

These stories describe the location, extent and values of the Burrum catchment (which includes the Burrum, Isis, Gregory and Elliott catchments), Kolan catchment, and tells a the story of Horticulture in these regions. The stories demonstrate the key features which influence water flow, including geology, topography, rainfall and run-off, natural features, human modifications and land uses. The stories also contain key information on the values of the catchment. The Horticulture Wide Bay-Burnett Catchment Story explains the background and importance of Horticulture in the region.

The information was compiled using the walking the landscape process, where experts systematically work through a catchment in a facilitated workshop, incorporating diverse knowledge of the landscape, to develop catchment stories.

The links below takes you to the transcript page, click the link at the top of the transcript page to go to the Catchment Story:

New Ecology pages - Pollinators and Pollination

Two pages have been added to the Ecology section, to assist with identifying and understanding the components and processes of wetlands in the broader catchment, as part of the Whole-of-System, Values-Based Framework:

• Pollinators
• Pollination

Mangrove dieback and recovery in the Gulf of Carpentaria Map Story updated

The Mangrove dieback and recovery in the Gulf of Carpentaria Map Story has been updated with new reports for each mangrove community, updated links and other functionality improvements.

The information provided in the Mangrove dieback and recovery in the Gulf of Carpentaria Map Story is based on the updated Mangrove trajectory to recovery post dieback in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland report (released 2025). It provides updated statistical information on mangrove change by catchment across the Queensland portion of the Gulf of Carpentaria and establishes a baseline to monitor the trajectory of recovery or decline of the mangrove and associated communities[1].

Mapping shellfish reefs in southeast Queensland for protection, management and restoration

The Shellfish Reef Mapping in South East Queensland (report) has been added to Intertidal molluscs including shellfish reefs, shellfish veneers and isolated shellfish individuals and Structural macrobiota composition pages. The project was undertaken as a collaboration between the Global Wetlands Project (GLOW), Griffith University, the University of the Sunshine Coast, and the Queensland Government.

Updated pages on Climate Change

The Changes in Climate and Assessing climate variability and wetlands pages have been updated. The page structure and written content were updated, and include reference to new blue carbon content on Queensland Government site and new reports.

Updates

Updated layers on WetlandSummary and WetlandMaps

• All Aquatic Conservation Assessment layers (including bounding areas)
• Basins
• Aquatic Biopassage Structures (Fishways)
• Catchment Stories
• Drainage divisions
• Local government areas
• Protected Areas
• Sub-basins
• Geology (WetlandMaps)

Programs, Policy and Legislation pages

Reviewed and updated content to maintain accuracy and relevance, including:

• Links and references to State code 11: Removal, destruction or damage of marine plants, and Code for accepted development for tidal works, or work completely or partly in a coastal management district.
• Link and references to the Queensland Coastal Management Plan.
• Australia's Strategy for Nature 2024-2030
• Nature Repair Market (Nature Repair Act 2023)

Additional links

• Just add salt: opening the floodgates for coastal wetland restoration video has been added to the Videos and interactive maps page.
• A link to ReefTube: Reef Guardian Council Grants Project video series has been added to the Videos and interactive maps page.
• The new National Directory of Important Shorebird Habitat (DCCEEW) has been added to the Shorebirds (Ecology) page. The Directory also includes BirdLife Australia's Migratory Shorebird Directory - Online Tool.
• Shellfish Reef Mapping in South East Queensland (report) has been added to the Structural macrobiota composition and Intertidal molluscs including shellfish reefs, shellfish veneers and isolated shellfish individuals pages.
• Review of the condition of Great Artesian Basin water and its environment has been added to the Wetland management tools and guides
• Luscombe Weir removal and river restoration was added to the Removal of barrier page.
• Great Barrier Reef Ecosystem Accounts, experimental estimates has been added to the Economic valuation of ecosystem services page.

WetlandUpdate

The WetlandUpdate is a regular bulletin sent to subscribers to provide you with the latest WetlandInfo resources and tools, as well as case studies, video information and new project fact sheets.

View previous WetlandUpdates

WetlandInfo feedback and improvements

Contact us via email for feedback, information or questions about wetlands.

WetlandInfo feature species

The feature species for July 2026 is the Crinia tinnula, the Wallum froglet.

Additional information

• Targeted species survey guidelines - Wallum froglet Crinia tinnula
• Atlas of Living Australia
• Wallum froglet Crinia tinnula - Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee

This section is updated regularly, so stay tuned for more!

References

1. ^ Accad, A, Li, J, Dowling, R, Ngugi, M, Neldner, VJ, Turpin, G & Body, LS (2025), Mangrove trajectory to recovery post dieback in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Queensland, Queensland Herbarium and Biodiversity Science (Brisbane) and Australian Tropical Herbarium (Cairns) , Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Last updated: 9 July 2026