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In this section you will find detailed information, including national overviews and state and regional level assessments, from the 2000-2002 National Land and Water Resources Audit theme assessments.
Rangelands - Overview
Mulga Lands
Summary
- Located within the Murray-Darling Basin, including land within Queensland and New South Wales.
- Flat to undulating plains.
- Mulga shrubland and low woodland is the dominant vegetation type.
- Predominantly pastoral leasehold, used for sheep and cattle grazing.
- The main towns are Cunnamulla and Charleville.
- Semi-arid climate with variable and unreliable rainfall.
ATSIC Boundaries
Catchment Basins
Statistical Local Areas
Introduction
The Mulga Lands bioregion includes 253,000 sq. kms of land within both Queensland and New South Wales. 74 % of the bioregion lies within Queensland. Major towns include Charleville, Cunnamulla, Bollon, St George, Quilpie, Hungerford in Queensland and White Cliffs, Wanaaring and Enngonia in New South Wales. The climate is arid to semi-arid.
The Mitchell Highway is a major north-south transport route. Within the bioregion it follows the Warrego River from Enngonia in New South Wales to Cunnamulla and Charleville. The Warrego and Balonne Highways form the two major east-west transport routes to Brisbane, linking most of the major town centres within the region.
Natural Environment
Climate
The region generally experiences summer dominant rainfall with increasing winter rain towards the south of the region. Rainfall is variable and unreliable. Evaporation is high with average monthly evaporation recorded at Charleville varying from 280mm in December to 75 mm in July. The hottest months are January and December when mean temperatures range from 35°C - 21°C . July is the coldest month, when mean temperatures range from 19°C - 5°C .
Climate averages are available for, Quilpie and Charleville: http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/map/climate_avgs/a37.shtml.
For monthly rainfall and temperature graphs refer to Bureau of Meteorology website: www.bom.gov.au/climate/forms/map_forms/new_imagemaps/qld_name.html.
Current seasonal conditions and their historical context can be provided by satellite imagery. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is a measure of the vegetation "greenness". The NDVI for the Mulga Lands bioregion for this year and previous years can be found at: http://www.environment.gov.au/erin/ndvi/ttrace/ml.html.
For additional climate information the Queensland Department of Natural Resources "The Long Paddock" at: www.dnr.qld.gov.au/longpdk provides seasonal variability information and the latest El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) information. "Silo" at: www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/climate/#silo provides agro meteorological data, such as rainfall, temperature, radiation, climate outlook products. The Queensland Department of Natural Resources Patched Point Dataset and Data drill at: www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/silo/index.html, provides information on climatic risk management in agriculture, pastoralism, water resources and natural resource management.
The Mulga Lands are dominated by flat to undulating plains. Surface water in the region is drained by a number of southerly flowing river systems. The majority of the bioregion on the eastern side is within the Murray-Darling Basin. The Wallam, Nebine, Mungallala, Warrego and Paroo Creeks/Rivers drain into the Darling River. The Bulloo River, which flows across the bioregion?s south-western area, terminates in an internal drainage basin in north-western New South Wales. Further to the north-west, the Barcoo and Thomson Rivers flow into Cooper Creek and the Lake Eyre Basin (Sattler & Williams, 1999).
Many of the waterways and ephemeral wetlands within the bioregion are important for waterbird conservation. These include the Paroo Overflow in New South Wales, which comprises distributary channels of the Paroo River, Cuttaburra Creek and Kulkyne Creek and associated wetlands on the Paroo-Warrego Riverine Plains south from Wanaaring to Momba. Other lakes and associated ephemeral wetlands include Lake Wyara and Lake Numalla, north of Hungerford near Currawinya in Queensland, and Lake Bindegolly, which lies west of Cunnamulla, near Thargomindah (Morton, et. al., 1995).
The bioregion includes part of the Surat and Eromanga Basins. The broad geological units consist of Jurassic (141-205 million years ago) sediments overlain by Cretaceous (65-141 million years ago) sediments.
For more detailed geological information and map refer to the Australian Geological Survey Organisation website: www.agso.gov.au/map/ and the Department of Mines and Energy, Queensland: www.dme.qld.gov.au/gsd/index.htm.
The soils are predominantly sandy and infertile with significant areas of clay on southern floodplains. Soil erosion is common across the area.
For further information on soils refer to Dawson (1974), Mills (1980), Mills & Lee (1990) and Sattler & Williams (1999) and the Murray-Darling Basin Soil Information at: www.brs.gov.au/mdbsis.
The bioregion is dominated by mulga (Acacia aneura) shrublands and low woodlands. Poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) and other eucalypts are also dominant with Acacia aneura in the eastern, higher rainfall areas. The more fertile and moist soils support eucalypt woodlands and herblands within floodplains and drainage areas across the bioregion. Also scattered across the area on alluvial soils or fertile soils are brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) in the east, gidgee (A. cambagei) and other Acacia spp. woodlands and shrublands (Boyland 1984, Dawson 1974, Mills 1980, Mills & Lee 1990, Nelder 1984 and Sattler & Williams 1999).
For a list of rare and threatened flora and vegetation descriptions of the bioregion refer to Sattler & Williams (1999).
A review of fauna information in 1997 showed that 256 bird, 56 mammal, 94 reptile and 23 amphibian species have been recorded for the bioregion. The eucalypt woodlands associated with riparian areas show the highest species richness (Sattler & Williams, 1999).
The western quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii geoffroii), once believed to have been present in the bioregion, is presumed to be extinct. The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) and plains rat (Pseudomys australis) are all believed to be Mulga Lands species that are endangered (Sattler & Williams, 1999). For a list of the fauna surveys and rare and threatened fauna refer to Sattler & Williams (1999).
The river systems and associated lakes, creeks, swamps and wetlands have significance to waterbirds including large populations of brolgas (Grus rubicundus) and freckled duck (Stictonetta naevosa) (Morton, et. al., 1995).
Land Tenure & Use
Land tenure is predominantly leasehold with some freehold in the eastern parts of Queensland and the Warrego River floodplain in the central south of Queensland.
The majority of land is dedicated to sheep and cattle grazing. Other localised land uses include mining, oil and gas production and horticulture.
As well as sheep and cattle production, the introduction of irrigation in the St George area has promoted the production of cotton. Wheat, barley, oats, and sunflowers are also grown in the St George area.
Parks and reserves within the region include Currawinya National Park, Hell Hole Gorge National Park, Lake Bindegolly National Park, Thruston National Park, Mariala National Park, parts of Welford National Park, Idalia National Park, Culgoa Floodplain National Park, part of Tregole National Park and Nocoleche and Peery Lake Nature Reserves.
Condition of the landscape
Areas of land within this bioregion are highly degraded due to a combination of over-grazing by sheep and cattle, grazing by feral animals and lack of fire. Significant floristic and structural change has occurred in some areas. There has been a decrease in cover of palatable perennial grasses, increase in native woody plants, soil loss, and loss of ecological function (Mills et. al. 1989, Tongway & Ludwig 1995 andWoinarski, et. al., in prep.).
Ecosystems considered to be endangered and ‘of concern’ in Queensland by Sattler & Williams (1999) are mainly in areas east of the Warrego River. These areas have experienced extensive land clearing and establishment of exotic pastures (Sattler & Williams, 1999).
Condition Of The Landscape
Land degradation
Land degradation has resulted from over-grazing and clearing of marginal lands combined with a reduction in the natural fire regime, this is often manifested by an increase in native woody shrubs. The river system has also declined in quality, principally due to erosion, sedimentation and vegetation change.
In the higher rainfall eastern portion of the bioregion, vegetation clearing has occurred in eucalypt woodlands and Acacia woodlands.
The impact of clearing on biodiversity could be, despite its huge importance and contribution to the pastoral industries, further exacerbated through widespread sowing with buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris). Vertebrate pests such as rabbits, foxes and cats are widespread throughout the region (Woinarski, et. al., in prep.). Goats are also present in the region and are considered a resource as well as a pest depending upon their market value against the value of cattle and sheep production.
Environmental weeds found in localised areas within the bioregion include rubber vine (Cryptostegia grandiflora), mother of millions (Bryophyllum delagoense) and parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculeata) (Woinarski, et. al., in prep.). The invasive weed mesquite (Prosopis spp.) is also a problem within the Mulga Lands bioregion (Morton, et. al., 1995).
Social & Economic Aspects
People
The European explorer Edmund Kennedy first made his way to the Warrego River, at the site that is now Charleville in 1847. Fifteen years later William Landsborough established a camp at a nearby site when searching for the missing explorers Burke and Wills. Landsborough had also been exploring closer to the New South Wales border around Cunnamulla the year beforehand.
Towns such as Charleville and Cunnamulla grew to be prosperous, thriving rural centres in the 1890s and early 1900s due to the expansion of cattle and sheep production and the securing of water through the sinking of bores. Technological developments such as the widespread adoption of refrigeration also assisted the growth of rural areas within the region from the 1890s through the increased capacity to export fresh meat and dairy products to Britain.
Other developments such as closer settlement initiatives encouraged the establishment of smaller holdings in the region, which have subsequently proved to be unsustainable economically and environmentally. Structural adjustment programs and strategies have been initiated to address these viability issues. One such program is the South West Strategy.
The Queensland local governments of Quilpie, Bulloo, Paroo, Balonne, Warroo, Booringa and Murweh and the New South Wales local governments of Bourke and Brewarrina cross the bioregion. The bioregion is within the ATSIC regions of Roma and Bourke and are managed by their respective regional councils, Goolburri and Murdi Paaki (McLennan, 1997). For more information on the Aboriginal people of this region refer to Horton, (1994) and the relevant websites in the reference list.
Resources, References & Contacts
Publications
Boyland, D.E. 1984 Vegetation Survey of Queensland- South Western Queensland. Queensland Botany Bulletin No.4. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
Dawson, N.M. 1974 ‘Land Systems. In Western Arid Region Land Use Study — Part 1. Technical Bulletin No. 12, Division of Land Utilisation, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
Mills, J.R. 1980 ‘Land Systems. In Western Arid Region Land Use Study — Part21. Technical Bulletin No. 22, Division of Land Utilisation, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
Mills, J.R. and Lee, A.N. 1990 ‘Land Systems. In Western Arid Region Land Use Study — Part 3. Technical Bulletin No. 29, Division of Land Utilisation, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
Mills, J.R., Turner, E.J. and Caltabianco, T. (1989) Land Degradation in South West Queensland. Project Report QO089008, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
Horton, D. R. 1994, The Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia, Aboriginal Studies Press for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Canberra, ACT.
Irons N.M. and Quinlan E.E. 1988, A Review of Information Relevant to the Mulga Rangelands of Western NSW , Technical Report No 6 Soil Conservation Service of NSW
McLennan. W. 1997, 1994 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Survey: Social Atlas, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra, ACT.
Morton, S.R., Short, J., & Barker, R.D. with an Appendix by Griffin, G.F., & Pearce, G. 1995, Refugia for Biological Diversity in Arid and Semi-arid Australia, Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, Canberra, ACT.
Nelder, V.J. 1984 Vegetation Survey of Queensland- South Central Queensland. Queensland Botany Bulletin No.3. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.
Sattler, P. & Williams, R. (eds.) 1999, The Conservation Status of Queensland’s Bioregional Ecosystems, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane, Queensland.
Thackway, R. & Cresswell I.D. 1995, An Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation for Australia: a Framework for Setting Priorities in the National Reserves System Cooperative Program, Australian Nature Conservation Agency, Canberra, ACT.
Tongway, D.J. and Ludwig, J.A. 1995 ‘Function and dysfunction in mulga woodlands’,. In: Ecological Research and Management in the Mulgalands (eds M.Page and T. Beutel) Proceedings of Conference held 5-6 July 1994, Gatton College, University of Queensland, Gatton, pp. 85-90.
Walker, P.J. (comp.) 1991, Land Systems of New South Wales: Technical Report No. 25, Soil Conservation Service of NSW.
Woinarski J., Fensham, R., Whitehead, P. & Fisher, A., with map production by Verhagen, C. in preparation, Biodiversity in the Australian Rangelands: a Review of Changes in Status and Threatening Processes. Draft report prepared as a resource document for Project 3: Developing an Adaptive Framework for Monitoring Biodiversity in Australia’s Rangelands, of the National Land and Water Resources Audit, Theme 4 (Rangelands monitoring) by the Tropical Savannas Cooperative Research Centre, Darwin, Northern Territory
Aboriginal languages of Australia:
Aboriginal Studies WWW Virtual Library:
http://www.ciolek.com/WWWVL-Aboriginal.html
Australian Landcare Council:
www.dpie.gov.au/agfor/landcare/org/alc.html.au
Aboriginal Torres Strait Islanders Commission (ATSIC):
www.atsic.org.au/about_atsic/board_regional_councillors/regional_information.htm
Australian Geological Survey Organisation, Geology of Australia:
www.agso.gov.au/map/
Bureau of Meteorology, Climate averages:
www.bom.gov.au/climate/map/climate_avgs/a17.shtml
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/map/climate_avgs/a37.shtml
Bureau of Meteorology, Temperature and rainfall graphs: www.bom.gov.au/climate/forms/map_forms/new_imagemaps/qld_name.html
Bureau of Rural Sciences, Digital Atlas of Australian Soils:
www.brs.gov.au/data/datasets/atlas/index.html
Department of Mines and Energy, Queensland:
www.dme.qld.gov.au/gsd/index.htm
Environment Australia, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) information including bioregional information:
www.environment.gov.au/erin/ndvi/index.html
Murray-Darling Basin Soil Information:
www.brs.gov.au/mdbsis
National Property Management Planning Campaign, The Future profit program:
www.dpi.qld.gov.au/ruraldev/futureprofit/Welcome.html
Queensland Department of Natural Resources. ‘Long Paddock’:
www.dnr.qld.gov.au/longpdk
Queensland Department of Natural Resources. ‘Silo’:
www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/climate/#silo
Queensland Department of Natural Resources. Patched Point Dataset and Data drill:
www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/silo/index.html,
Queensland’s Environmental Protection Agency. National Park information, animal and plant species information including rare and threatened species:
www.env.qld.gov.au
Queenslands Parks and Wildlife Service:
www.env.qld.gov.au/environment/park/discover/
Rural Lifestyles Queensland:
www.rlq.dcilgp.qld.gov.au
State-wide Land cover and Tree Study (SLATS) Vegetation cover and cover change information using Landsat Thematic Mapper ™ satellite imagery:
www.dnr.qld.gov.au/resourcenet/veg/slats/index.html
Link to the Map Maker to make a map using this information.
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