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Mary River (Queensland)
Encyclopedia
The Mary River is a river system in South East
Queensland
, Australia
. The river rises at Booroobin in the Sunshine Coast
hinterland, west of Landsborough
. From its source, the Mary River flows north through the towns of Kenilworth
, Gympie
, Tiaro
and Maryborough
before emptying into the Great Sandy Strait
, a passage of water between the mainland and Fraser Island, near the town of River Heads
, 17 km south of Hervey Bay
.
The river's catchment covers an area of 9595 km2 and is bounded by the Conondale
, Jimma and Burnett Ranges. Major tributaries of the Mary River include Tinana Creek, Munna Creek, Obi Obi Creek, Yabba Creek, Wide Bay Creek and the Susan River
.
The endangered Mary River Turtle
(Elusor macrurus) lives in the river. Other marine life native to the river include the Queensland Lungfish
(Neoceratodus forsteri) and the endangered Mary River Cod
(Maccullochella mariensis). Significant vulnerable and endangered species that live in the river also include endangered Giant Barred Frog, Cascade Tree Frog and Coxen's Fig Parrot and the vulnerable Tusked Frog, Honey Blue-eyed Fish, the Richmond Birdwin Butterfly and the Illidge's Ant-blue Butterfly.
The River was traditionally named Moocooboola by local Aborigines
(the Kabi Kabi
people). The river was subsequently named Wide Bay River by early European explorers. The official name was changed in 1847 (prior to Queensland becoming a separate colony) by Charles Augustus FitzRoy
, then Governor of New South Wales, to Mary River — after his wife Lady Mary Lennox.
It is also a historical Australian river that contains gold as was first discovered in Gympie by James Nash.
announced on April 27, 2006 its intention to dam part of the Mary River at Traveston Crossing
, south of Gympie
. The project was cancelled in November 2009, after being refused approval by federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett.
The action had been planned to create a reservoir "almost as big as the Wivenhoe Dam
" by 2011. The Traveston Dam was projected to inundate an area of fertile farmland, endangered regional ecosystems and small towns more than 1.3 times the area of Sydney Harbour
. There was considerable local opposition to the proposal, with all Mary Valley and Sunshine Coast Shire Councils opposed to the dam proposal on a variety of grounds including: the dislocation of the local community from the inundated area; adverse effects on downstream communities; and environmental impacts such as the removal of one of the few remaining habitats for the vulnerable Queensland Lungfish . More than 20,000 residents formally petitioned the Queensland State Parliament to halt the dam. There were further concerns that the geomechanics of the proposed site were not suitable for damming due to potentially significant leakage
(due to the predominantly sandy substrate) and evaporation problems.
There was strong opposition to the dam from the wider and international community, based on environmental concerns related to the endangered Mary River Cod
, Mary River Turtle
, Giant Barred Frog
, Cascade Tree Frog, Coxen's Fig Parrot, the vulnerable Queensland lungfish
, Tusked Frog, Honey Blue-eyed Fish, the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly and the Illidge's Ant-blue Butterfly. There were also fears for the Dugong, a globally vulnerable species. It was alleged that reduced fresh water flowing to the Great Sandy Strait would have affected the growth of seagrass, the Dugong's primary food source.
The Mary River Turtle and the Queensland Lungfish attracted particular attention regarding their conservation. The Mary River Turtle, whose only known home is the Mary River, is a cloacal ventilator ('bum breather' - it uses oxygen from water taken in through its tail), and is listed in the top 25 most endangered turtle species in the world. The Lungfish also has great significance to evolutionary biologists. It requires the rapids in order to breed, and much of its breeding habitat had already been interrupted by other dams in Queensland. Professor Jean Joss of Macquarie University stated, in a submission to the Senate Inquiry 2007: "The Mary River dam would almost certainly push the lungfish to 'Critically Endangered,' and in the long term will lead to its extinction in the wild." The Mary River Cod, which only lives naturally in the Mary River system, is already Critically Endangered. It is completely protected, and it is illegal to fish them.
The Mary River flows into the Great Sandy Strait
, near wetlands of international significance recognised by the International agreement of the Ramsar convention and Fraser Island World Heritage Area, which attracts thousands of visitors every year.
. In some places the river rose 20 m. In Maryborough the river peaked at 8.2 m while at Gympie the peak was 19.3 m. The Bruce Highway
was closed to the north and south of Gympie and more than 50 homes and businesses were inundated. The high turbidity levels interfered with the natural breeding cycle for some of the river species.
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The river rises at Booroobin in the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
hinterland, west of Landsborough
Landsborough, Queensland
Landsborough is a small town on the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. It is situated north of the Glasshouse Mountains just off Steve Irwin Way, 82 km north of Brisbane...
. From its source, the Mary River flows north through the towns of Kenilworth
Kenilworth, Queensland
Kenilworth is a small town in the upper Mary Valley area of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia. This is a rural area, about 50 km from the coast, with dairy farming as the major industry. Local visitor attractions include a cheese factory and art galleries as well as walking, camping...
, Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
, Tiaro
Tiaro, Queensland
Tiaro is a small town on the Mary River in Queensland, Australia. The town is situated on the Bruce Highway south of Maryborough and north of the state capital, Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Tiaro had a population of 433....
and Maryborough
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
before emptying into the Great Sandy Strait
Great Sandy Strait
The Great Sandy Strait is an 70 km Australian sand passage estuary separating mainland Queensland, from World Heritage listed Fraser Island.-Description:...
, a passage of water between the mainland and Fraser Island, near the town of River Heads
River Heads, Queensland
River Heads is a town in Queensland, Australia, 18 km south of the city of Hervey Bay. The town is built on a narrow peninsula surrounded by the Great Sandy Strait , the mouth of the Mary River and the mouth of the Susan River to the west...
, 17 km south of Hervey Bay
Hervey Bay, Queensland
Hervey Bay is a city in Queensland, Australia. The city is situated approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane, and lies on the coast of a natural bay between the Queensland mainland and nearby Fraser Island. The local economy relies on tourism, for which whale watching, Fraser Island and...
.
The river's catchment covers an area of 9595 km2 and is bounded by the Conondale
Conondale Range
The Conondale Range is a mountain range in Queensland, located between Maleny, Kenilworth, Kilcoy and Jimna. The range is the most westerly part of the Sunshine Coast hinterland and part of the Great Dividing Range. The highest point on the range is Mount Langley reaching 868 m above sea level...
, Jimma and Burnett Ranges. Major tributaries of the Mary River include Tinana Creek, Munna Creek, Obi Obi Creek, Yabba Creek, Wide Bay Creek and the Susan River
Susan River (Queensland)
The Susan River is a short river that flows in an easterly direction, south of Hervey Bay in Queensland. It is a tributary of the Mary River, joining the Mary River at River Heads in the Great Sandy Strait....
.
The endangered Mary River Turtle
Mary River Turtle
The Mary River turtle, Elusor macrurus, is an endangered short-necked turtle that inhabits the Mary River in South-East Queensland, Australia. In the 1960s and 1970s, they were popular as pets in Australia, with about 15,000 sent to shops every year during a ten-year period. They were originally...
(Elusor macrurus) lives in the river. Other marine life native to the river include the Queensland Lungfish
Queensland Lungfish
The Queensland lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri is the sole surviving member of the family Ceratodontidae and order Ceratodontiformes. It is one of only six extant lungfish species in the world...
(Neoceratodus forsteri) and the endangered Mary River Cod
Mary River cod
Mary River cod are a Maccullochella cod found in the coastal Mary River system of southern Queensland, Australia...
(Maccullochella mariensis). Significant vulnerable and endangered species that live in the river also include endangered Giant Barred Frog, Cascade Tree Frog and Coxen's Fig Parrot and the vulnerable Tusked Frog, Honey Blue-eyed Fish, the Richmond Birdwin Butterfly and the Illidge's Ant-blue Butterfly.
The River was traditionally named Moocooboola by local Aborigines
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
(the Kabi Kabi
Kabi
The Kabi people are an Aboriginal Goori people of Australia, and corresponding language group of the South East Queensland coast, stretching from Brisbane up to Bundaberg. In their language, "Kabi" means "No"....
people). The river was subsequently named Wide Bay River by early European explorers. The official name was changed in 1847 (prior to Queensland becoming a separate colony) by Charles Augustus FitzRoy
Charles Augustus FitzRoy
Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, KCH, KCB was a British military officer, politician and member of the aristocracy, who held governorships in several British colonies during the 19th century.-Family and peerage:...
, then Governor of New South Wales, to Mary River — after his wife Lady Mary Lennox.
It is also a historical Australian river that contains gold as was first discovered in Gympie by James Nash.
Traveston Crossing Dam
In light of the region's longest drought in one hundred years, the Queensland GovernmentGovernment of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
announced on April 27, 2006 its intention to dam part of the Mary River at Traveston Crossing
Traveston Crossing Dam
Traveston Crossing Dam was a proposed water project that was initiated by the government of Queensland, Australia, in 2006 as a result of a prolonged drought situation which saw South-East Queensland's dam catchment area receive record-low rain...
, south of Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
. The project was cancelled in November 2009, after being refused approval by federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett.
The action had been planned to create a reservoir "almost as big as the Wivenhoe Dam
Wivenhoe Dam
Wivenhoe Dam is a dam across the Brisbane River a little way upstream from Locker Creek. The dam creates the artificial Lake Wivenhoe. The dam wall is located about by road from the centre of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia....
" by 2011. The Traveston Dam was projected to inundate an area of fertile farmland, endangered regional ecosystems and small towns more than 1.3 times the area of Sydney Harbour
Port Jackson
Port Jackson, containing Sydney Harbour, is the natural harbour of Sydney, Australia. It is known for its beauty, and in particular, as the location of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge...
. There was considerable local opposition to the proposal, with all Mary Valley and Sunshine Coast Shire Councils opposed to the dam proposal on a variety of grounds including: the dislocation of the local community from the inundated area; adverse effects on downstream communities; and environmental impacts such as the removal of one of the few remaining habitats for the vulnerable Queensland Lungfish . More than 20,000 residents formally petitioned the Queensland State Parliament to halt the dam. There were further concerns that the geomechanics of the proposed site were not suitable for damming due to potentially significant leakage
Leakage
Leakage may refer to:*Leakage *Memory leak, in computer science*Leakage *Leakage *Leakage *Leakage...
(due to the predominantly sandy substrate) and evaporation problems.
There was strong opposition to the dam from the wider and international community, based on environmental concerns related to the endangered Mary River Cod
Mary River cod
Mary River cod are a Maccullochella cod found in the coastal Mary River system of southern Queensland, Australia...
, Mary River Turtle
Mary River Turtle
The Mary River turtle, Elusor macrurus, is an endangered short-necked turtle that inhabits the Mary River in South-East Queensland, Australia. In the 1960s and 1970s, they were popular as pets in Australia, with about 15,000 sent to shops every year during a ten-year period. They were originally...
, Giant Barred Frog
Giant Barred Frog
The Giant Barred Frog, Mixophyes iteratus, is a species of barred frogs in Australia. It occurs from south-east Queensland to just south of the Newcastle region in New South Wales...
, Cascade Tree Frog, Coxen's Fig Parrot, the vulnerable Queensland lungfish
Queensland Lungfish
The Queensland lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri is the sole surviving member of the family Ceratodontidae and order Ceratodontiformes. It is one of only six extant lungfish species in the world...
, Tusked Frog, Honey Blue-eyed Fish, the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly and the Illidge's Ant-blue Butterfly. There were also fears for the Dugong, a globally vulnerable species. It was alleged that reduced fresh water flowing to the Great Sandy Strait would have affected the growth of seagrass, the Dugong's primary food source.
The Mary River Turtle and the Queensland Lungfish attracted particular attention regarding their conservation. The Mary River Turtle, whose only known home is the Mary River, is a cloacal ventilator ('bum breather' - it uses oxygen from water taken in through its tail), and is listed in the top 25 most endangered turtle species in the world. The Lungfish also has great significance to evolutionary biologists. It requires the rapids in order to breed, and much of its breeding habitat had already been interrupted by other dams in Queensland. Professor Jean Joss of Macquarie University stated, in a submission to the Senate Inquiry 2007: "The Mary River dam would almost certainly push the lungfish to 'Critically Endangered,' and in the long term will lead to its extinction in the wild." The Mary River Cod, which only lives naturally in the Mary River system, is already Critically Endangered. It is completely protected, and it is illegal to fish them.
The Mary River flows into the Great Sandy Strait
Great Sandy Strait
The Great Sandy Strait is an 70 km Australian sand passage estuary separating mainland Queensland, from World Heritage listed Fraser Island.-Description:...
, near wetlands of international significance recognised by the International agreement of the Ramsar convention and Fraser Island World Heritage Area, which attracts thousands of visitors every year.
2011 floods
The Mary River experienced major flooding during the 2010–2011 Queensland floods2010–2011 Queensland floods
A series of floods hit Australia, beginning in December 2010, primarily in the state of Queensland including its capital city, Brisbane. The floods forced the evacuation of thousands of people from towns and cities. At least seventy towns and over 200,000 people were affected. Damage initially was...
. In some places the river rose 20 m. In Maryborough the river peaked at 8.2 m while at Gympie the peak was 19.3 m. The Bruce Highway
Bruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
was closed to the north and south of Gympie and more than 50 homes and businesses were inundated. The high turbidity levels interfered with the natural breeding cycle for some of the river species.
See also
- List of rivers of Australia
- Dickabram BridgeDickabram BridgeThe Dickabram Bridge is a road and rail bridge over the Mary River near Miva, north-west of Gympie in Queensland, Australia. It was the major bridge on the Kingaroy line....
- Lamington BridgeLamington BridgeThe Lamington Bridge is a road bridge over the Mary River at Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.The heritage listed bridge is one of the earliest concrete bridges in Australia...
- Granville Bridge, MaryboroughGranville Bridge, MaryboroughThe Granville Bridge is a road bridge over the Mary River at Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.The bridge, opened to traffic in 1926, was a second bridge in Maryborough. It was named after a suburb of Granville located on the eastern bank of the Mary River...
External links
- Aerial video of the Mary River Valley and Kenilworth
- Gympie Cooloola Tourism
- Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee
- Save The Mary River
- Help Save the Australian Lungfish
- Community Futures Taskforce
- Queensland State Government's submission to Federal Inquiry
- Queensland Museum -Freshwater Turtles