16 March 2021

Highlights:

• Turtle discovered by Steve Irwin could be sent to extinction by a dam
• Community members raising funds to protect the turtle
• Dam will return just 26 cents in benefits for every dollar it costs

Back in 1990, renowned naturalist Steve Irwin was fishing with his father Bob when he spotted an unusual looking turtle in the Burdekin River system. The pair captured and photographed the animal before releasing it back into the wild. The photos were sent to a researcher who believed it was new to science. 

It took another three years until scientists could examine a real turtle and confirm that it was in fact a new species. In honour of the Irwins, the turtle was named Elseya irwini, commonly known as Irwin's Turtle. 

Pristine Urannah Creek is one of Central Queensland's last wild spaces. It needs your help. This isolated habitat is a safe haven and home to Irwin's Turtle (discovered by famed naturalist Steve Irwin), as well as many other threatened plants and animals. The proposed Urannah Dam threatens this ecosystem and others that rely on the waters that flow from it. Urannah dam will flood this valley and reduce the quantity and quality of water that flows into the Burdekin River. Reduced water quality threatens the health of the Great Barrier Reef.

Wildlife will suffer and so will downstream farmers. Flow reduction will dramatically reduce groundwater recharge. To survive, many farmers will be forced to buy high cost irrigation water.

Urannah Creek is part of the traditional homeland of the Birri & Wiri people. They oppose this dam.

The Urannah Dam was first proposed in the 1960s. Every plan since then has failed to meet economic and environmental feasibility tests. The current proposal by Bowen River Utilities is no different. An independent economic analysis found the plan will return on 26¢ for every dollar it costs. Taxpayers and farmers will suffer financially if the project proceeds.

Urannah Dam is just one of four dam proposals within the Burdekin Basin. They will have a disturbing cumulative impacts on Queensland's largest river system. In the face of climate change we must act to protect Urannah Creek to ensure its health and the health of our river systems for generations to come.

Click the buttons below to learn more about the many reasons you should join the call to save Urannah !

Why do scientist think the extinct Northern Gastric Brooding Frog may still be found in the warm waters of Urannah Creek, west of Mackay? If you missed our webinar on this unique creature to our region, the Northern Gastric Brooding Frog, click below.

Another reason we need to band together as a community to #SaveUrannah 

2 November 2020

The outcome of last weekend’s Queensland election shows that voters could not be swayed by the promise of the biggest dam building program in Australia’s history.

The LNP promised to build a major new dam on the Burdekin River to irrigate dry lands in the interior of Queensland. The scheme would have cost tens of billions of dollars and led to unsustainable reductions in freshwater flowing to coastal ecosystems, including estuaries that fisheries depend upon.

The policy was targeted at voters in key electorates in Townsville. In an announcement in August, LNP leader Deb Frecklington said “the biggest benefit will be felt in Townsville” and “[the] project that will secure Townsville’s economic future for generations to come”.

Voters returned ALP candidates in all three Townsville seats with swings of about three per cent.

Robert and Terri Irwin interviewed about the Irwin's Turtle and the dam that will destroy its habitat on MixFM

Sign our petition https://www.mackayconservationgroup.org.au/protect_urannah_creek

A turtle named after famed naturalist Steve Irwin that has the ability to breathe through its bum may be under threat from the proposed $4 billion Urannah Dam.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-01/urannah-dam-proposal-threat-to-bum-breathing-steve-irwin-turtle

Freshwater species elseya Irwini, or Irwin's turtle, was unknown to science until 1990 when 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin and his father Bob sent photos of a distinctive snapping turtle to the Queensland Museum.

The turtle's known habitat is limited to a 25-kilometre stretch of the Bowen River inland from Mackay.

James Cook University doctorate candidate Jason Schraffer said he was concerned about a significant risk to the isolated population of Irwin's turtles.

"The only known study population is smack bang on the site of the proposed dam," he said.

Sign our petition https://www.mackayconservationgroup.org.au/protect_urannah_creek

When the the Australian continent separated from Gondawana about 180 million years ago, our freshwater turtles began a long journey of evolution distinct from turtles in other parts of the world. A unique species, Irwin's Turtle, evolved in isolation: a pink-nosed turtle that is able to survive for extended periods submerged by extracting oxygen from the water. It lives in the beautiful, crystal-clear waters of Urannah Creek, west of Mackay. 

Sign our petition https://www.mackayconservationgroup.org.au/protect_urannah_creek

Mackay Conservation Group’s former coordinator, Ian Sutton, undertook a biological assessment of the Urannah Creek west of Mackay in 2004. He found a hidden valley in almost pristine condition. Ian described a valley without weeds that provided habitat in the form of Bluegum forest and endangered Black Ironbox, with stands on Ironbark on its slopes.

Urannah Creek is the most permanent river in the Burdekin system and supports healthy fish and turtle populations.

Although Urannah is close to several population centres, the topography and the lack of good road access makes it a very remote place. During the dry season four wheel drive vehicles are necessary to access the creek. In wet season the area virtually impassable. The valley is walled in by the ranges on all sides, except for a gap near Mt Cauley where the Broken River exits on its journey westward.

These physical barriers and the joint boundary with Eungella National Park to the south east, plus the lack of any past ‘pasture improvements’ render the area an isolated ‘island’ of virtually pristine natural heritage. Ian described the valley as a secure, almost unique example of pre-European landscape of the area. Those values haven’t changed since 2004. This unique and important area west of the Eungella rainforest is once again under threat, with plans of a massive dam, industrial scale irrigated agriculture and a questionable hydroelectric scheme.

Sign our petition https://www.mackayconservationgroup.org.au/protect_urannah_creek