Managing biodiversity in our cotton 'landscapes'

Charters Towers/Whitsunday local government area

Area of cotton landscape:
49,900 ha

Area of cotton properties:
15,800 ha

Area of remnant vegetation in the cotton landscape:
28,700 ha (58%)

Area of remnant vegetation on cotton properties:
7,730 ha (48.9 %)

Area of threatened ecological communities in the cotton landscape:
6,570 ha (23%)

Area of threatened ecological communities on cotton properties:
1,430 ha (18 %)

Area of priority zones for native vegetation restoration and enhancement:
2,180 ha

Area of priority zones for vegetation:
270 ha


Main vegetation types on cotton properties:

Silver-leaved Ironbark woodlands, Bloodwood woodlands, Brigalow woodlands, Reid River Box woodlands, Eucalyptus persistens woodlands, Semi-arid shrublands.

Main threatened ecological communities on cotton properties:

Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant) (E).


Named wetlands in the cotton landscape:

Cocky Lake Dam, Indian Rock Dam, Murdering Lagoon, Sandridge Dam No 1.

Area of wetlands in the cotton landscape:
2,250 ha (5%)

Area of wetlands in the cotton properties:
250 ha (2%)

Length of major rivers in the cotton landscape:
37 km

Length of major rivers on cotton properties:
6 km

Length of minor water courses in the cotton landscape:
417 km

Length of minor streams on cotton properties:
13 km

Main rivers in the cotton landscape:

Suttor River.


Area of national park in the cotton landscape:
0 ha

Area of state forests in the cotton landscape:
0 ha

Area of travelling stock routes in the cotton landscape:
415 ha

Examples of public land reserves in the cotton landscape:

Burdekin Falls Dam Catchment Area.


Examples of iconic species in the cotton landscape:

Animals: Northern Quoll, Brolga, Magpie Goose, Southern Boobook, Squatter Pigeon, Carpet Python, Frill-necked Lizard, Yellow-belly.

Plants: Brigalow, Carbeen.

Examples of threatened species in the cotton landscape:

Animals: Northern Quoll (E), Rainbow Bee-eater (M), Red Goshawk (V), Southern Black-throated Finch (E), Squatter Pigeon (V), Yellow Wagtail (M), Mount Cooper Striped Skink (V), Ornamental Snake (V), Yakka Skink (V).

Plants: Pink Gidgee (V), Waxy Cabbage Palm (V), Solanum elachophyllum (Q).

View Charters Towers/Whitsunday management actions