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Fraser Island
Fraser Island is the world’s largest sand island and as part of the Great Sandy National Park is one of Australia’s eleven World Heritage areas. The island hosts hundreds of crystal clear, freshwater streams that flow silently through its dense, cool rainforests, and is home to an incredible array of birds, insects, mammals and rare rainforest plant species.
A crystal clear Fraser Island stream. Photo: Andrew Walker-Morison
Conservation and cultural values
The wild streams, lakes and wetlands of Fraser Island are the lifeblood for this international icon. Visited by hundreds and thousands of tourists every year from all over the world, the crystal clear creeks of Eli and Wangoolba, and the great scenic lakes such as Wabby and Mackenzie, are cherished as oasis-like swimming holes. They also provide the habitat, food and watering points of many rare and unique Australian animals and plants. This includes the secretive and rare Ground Parrot, the Red Goshawk, Dingoes, the threatened Illidges Ant-Blue Butterfly, and the huge Angiopteris Fern, boasting the largest fern fronds in the world.
The wetlands of Fraser Island – some recognised internationally under the Ramsar convention – are a distinguishing feature of the island. Fraser has 342 recorded bird species, many of which depend on these wetlands for habitat, such as the Brolga, Royal Spoonbill, Great Egret and Pied Cormoront.
The streams of Fraser Island provide a permanent freshwater flow into the mangroves and estuaries around the island. These ecosystems are essential for the survival of surrounding marine ecosystems (particularly that of Hervey Bay) and a huge diversity of marine life, including colonies of the endangered Dugong and sea turtles, fish, crustaceans, oysters and dolphins.
Many of the other rivers that feed vital freshwater into the region have become polluted and overused from poor land practice, making the freshwater flows of Fraser Island more essential than ever before.
The Badtjala people are the traditional owners of Fraser Island 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 area.
Threats
Irresponsible tourism (eg. littering and four-wheel driving in sensitive areas) and invasive weeds and pest animals are the major immediate threats to Fraser Island’s natural values. Wild Rivers adds another layer of protection and safeguard to this important place.