The Burdekin CCI commissioned the Australian Centre for Tropical
Freshwater Research (ACTFR) to identify and prioritise the issues
of concern for water quality in the Burdekin region as part of the
process of the development of the Burdekin WQIP.
The Burdekin river basin comprises two principal areas of land
use: the Burdekin River Catchment and the Lower Burdekin. Both
areas have different water quality concerns. The Burdekin River
Catchment, containing a number of major sub-catchments, is
dominated by grazing, thus defined as the Burdekin
Rangelands. The Lower Burdekin, comprising the Burdekin
delta, is an area of intense agriculture, principally sugar cane
production.
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Cane harvesting in the Burdekin.
Photo: Tom McShane
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Each of these areas, as a result of different land uses, have
different water quality issues tthat need to be addressed. The
Burdekin Rangelands provide large amounts of sediment derived from
grazing-related erosional processes causing suspended sediments to
be transported by the river. The Lower Burdekin, on the other hand,
is affected by the fertilisers and herbicides used in the irrigated
sugar cane industry, producing high levels of dissolved nutrients
and significant levels of herbicide residues.
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Grazing by waterways in the Upper
Burdekin. Photo: S. Connor
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ACTFR have provided a detailed review of the known and potential
pollutants in the region, the sources of
pollutants based on modelling and monitoring data and
lists the principal threats to water quality for each of
the two areas of the Burdekin region. It also provides an
indication of important threats associated with the freshwater
bodies in the Burdekin region.