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Gregory River
From its origin in the Northern Territory, the Gregory River flows through Queensland's arid Gulf Savannah before joining with the Nicholson River and streaming into the Gulf of Carpentaria. Along the way, its clear, green, fast flowing waters sustain the remnants of a prehistoric rainforest and unique northern Australian wildlife.
Clear cool waters tumble over a small oasis-like waterfall created by limestone concretions that have precipitated out of the lime-rich waters. Photo: Wayne Lawler / Ecopix
Conservation and cultural values
Fed by limestone springs, the immense Gregory River is one of few rivers in this region that flow all year round thanks to a strong groundwater influence in the area from Australia’s largest karst terrain. It is bordered by white sandy beaches in some places and limestone cliffs in others and is recognised by canoeists as one of Australia's best courses.
In the dry season, when most other rivers in the Gulf Savannah are baked into cracked red earth, Wallabies, Wallaroos, Bats, Olivine Python, Fairy Martins, Wedge Tailed Eagles and all sorts of birds, rely on the Gregory to quench their thirst.
A life saving oasis in rugged country, the Gregory River and its wetlands are part of the Thorntonia Aggregation, a system of wetlands in which more than half of Queensland's international migratory birds can be found. The Gregory's year round flow is essential to the survival of these wetlands and is also critical to the health of the Gulf of Carpentaria's seagrass beds and dugong populations. There is also a direct relationship between the river's annual flows and the abundance of prawns available to the Gulf's lucrative fishing industry.
The Gregory River makes up the Southern border of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, established to protect fossils preserved over millions of years by its lime rich waters.
The Maga-Kutana, Wakabunga, Nguburinjo, Ganggalida amd Mingin people are the traditional owners of the Gregory River catchment area and maintain strong cultural and spiritual connections with the land and rivers. The traditional ecological knowledge and health of these communities is in turn critical to the ongoing health of this wild river system.
Threats
Low agricultural suitability has meant that only a few zones in the Gregory area have been used for pastoral agriculture and these have been affected by some erosion and pasture degradation associated with grazing. The most contentious development in the area is the Dutch Century Zinc mine, only 30km from the river. Expansion of mining for minerals such as zinc and copper are a threat to the Gregory’s wild river values. Wild River protection will restrict in-stream mining in the area, as well as help manage the growing threat of invasive weeds in the region.