Coongie Lakes Wetlands - Campaign Outline

• Background
• The Threat
• Campaign Position

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Background

The Coongie Lakes wetland system is the only major unpolluted, unregulated freshwater system in arid Australia. The wetlands change depending on the amount of rainwater flowing down the Cooper creek tributaries from southern Queensland. In extreme flood conditions this north-west corner of the state is transformed into a huge lake, unimaginable six months later at the height of summer.

The aquatic fauna are essentially pristine, and the wetlands habitats of the Lakes system have considerable biological conservation significance. At least 20,000 water fowl occupy the system virtually all year round. The occurrence of rare species such as the freckled duck in numbers of up to 1,000, demonstrate the uniqueness of the region. Other values worthy of preservation include the flora and fauna of the terrestrial surrounds, high wilderness quality, archaeological and heritage sites.

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The Threat

Despite this significance, the Coongie Lakes system remains under threat from the proliferation of oil and gas exploration/ production in the region, as well as pastoralism, and land development upriver in the Cooper Creek system.

The core of the Lakes system is the Coongie Lakes Control Zone (CLCZ), an area managed primarily for wildlife conservation within the multiple-use Innamincka Regional Reserve . However the Control Zone represents only 5% of the overall wetlands system, and has itself been subject to petroleum exploration in the past. It is currently one of the only areas of the Innamincka Regional Reserve which is not currently covered by petroleum tenements, but pastoral leases extend into the interior of the Zone. The former Liberal government was considering a range of future of petroleum and gas options for the Zone including allowing 'managed' exploration and production throughout the area.

The new Environment Minister, John Hill, has said he hopes to announce greater protection for Coongie Lakes in the next few months. The new government's commitment is a very welcome development and we hope it is the beginning of a process of providing full protection for these internationally important wetlands.

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The Campaign Position

The Wilderness Society has been pressing for an expanded Coongie Lakes Control Zone which excludes petroleum, gas and pastoralist activities. Expanding the Control Zone approximating the 1 in 10 year flood limit would significantly enhance conservation of the area.

Beyond the immediate need to protect the core values of the Control Zone, Coongie Lakes is a good example of why South Australia needs to review its parks and reserve structure. TWS's campaign approach has highlighted the importance of securing a minimum (15%) of strictly protected areas in each bioregion of the state. Coongie Lakes lies in the Channel Country bioregion which has almost no strictly protected areas. However, despite this, and the immediate threat posed by inappropriate mining and grazing, the Channel Country region is not high on the government's priority list for obtaining new nature reserves. This mis-prioritisation and the threat to the core wetlands are both the result of a (previous) government policy which did not distinguish between strictly protected conservation areas and the multiple use reserves which allow industrial exploitation.

The new Labor government has promised a review of the nature reserve system and we hope it can address this underlying problem so that areas like Coongie Lakes get the protection they need.