Our region
Located in North-Eastern Queensland, our region covers eight per cent of the State. It spans a great variety of landscapes, with a land area of approximately 134,000km2 and 12,000km2 of sea country (figure 1). The Burdekin River catchment is the second biggest in Queensland covering an area approximately the size of Tasmania. It defines much of our region, along with the adjoining smaller coastal catchments of the Don River, Haughton River, Ross River and Crystal Creek at the most northern extent.
Our natural resources
Our region has outstanding natural resources. Our coastal and marine area is dominated by the iconic Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and the region contains the southern extent of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, and Bowling Green Bay National Park – an internationally-recognised Ramsar-listed site containing one of Australia’s largest wetlands (Shilton, 2005). Our region’s ecosystems span three bioregions, and are highly-productive, richly diverse, and contain many organisms found nowhere else. Two of Australia’s National Biodiversity Hotspots are found here. Pasture lands are distributed throughout the Burdekin rangelands and inland coastal areas. Soils suitable for dryland and irrigated cropping are also located in areas throughout the region. These areas provide our community with substantial environmental, economic and social benefits.
Our people
The region’s population of about 240,000 has grown by approximately 30 per cent since 2005, with most new growth occurring in Townsville. The Queensland Treasury expects approximately 140,000 additional residents by 2036 (Queensland Government Statistician’s Office, 2015b). The population is concentrated in the major urban centres of Townsville (the largest tropical city in Northern Australia), Ayr, Bowen and Charters Towers. Many inland centres are very small, and service large, sparsely scattered pastoral properties or mines (see Figure 2). These often isolated communities are facing the twin challenges of declining numbers and increasing average ages. The Traditional Owners of country have the longest and deepest connection with the region’s natural resources, and play an important role in protecting our natural resources for future generations.
Our enterprises
Beef production, cane growing, horticulture, and commercial fishing have been established in our region for well over a century. The region is also heavily-reliant on mining, energy industries and tourism. Agriculture dominates the landscape, with beef cattle grazing covering over 96 per cent of the region’s land area. While less than nine per cent of the population is involved in grazing, it is by far the most important employer in rural and remote areas. The Burdekin Shire contains Northern Australia’s largest irrigation area, with approximately 1,100 km2 under irrigation, using both groundwater and surface water (Department of Agricultural and Fisheries, 2013). Dryland cropping is widespread in the Belyando-Suttor sub-catchment. The local tourism industry is also highly-focused on showcasing our region’s natural assets.
The region is a hub for natural resource value-adding industries, associated essential services, and expertise, and is home to key research institutions focused on the environment and NRM. The two major ports of Abbot Point and Townsville connect our resources with world markets, and Townsville is strategically connected to major road and rail networks to the north, south and west of the region.
Governments have identified the Northern Australia zone as having strong potential for future agriculture and infrastructure development and expansion (Australian Government, 2015b). Our region is uniquely-positioned to accommodate agricultural expansion, diversification and value-adding opportunities. While agriculture and mining could be expanded in the region, any decision must consider implications for natural resources, including water availability, land capacity, biodiversity and protecting coastal wetland, marine and reef environments.