LO CAL CHAMPIONS
by Ja n i n e H i l l
“Mary River Baby Turtle” by Jillian Turner – Rural category winner – “Spring in the Mary” photo comp 2017.
CELEBRATING, APPRECIATING AND EDUCATING
Crossing dam proposal on the Mary River in the mid-2000s, Glenda has another cause for concern: the proposed pumped lenda Pickersgill pictured on the cover, has spent much of her hydro power facility at Borumba Dam on Yabba Creek, a tributary life living in the Mary Valley and it is the Mary River turtle of the Mary River. The feasibility studies are expected to take up (Elusor macrurus) at the moment, which has her fascinated. to 24 months, with a submission from Powerlink to government This January 2022 front cover features a very healthy turtle couple expected by mid-to-end 2023. However with the new expiry date – showing the distinct male vs female body sizes and underbody of the Mary Basin Water Plan 2006 being postponed differences. Photo kindly supplied by Marilyn Connell. to 28 May 2024, she is worried that a $22 million For the past 16 years, Glenda has been involved with The Mary River feasibility study of a pumped hydro power facility has Tiaro Landcare studying and protecting turtle nests been justified based on a “strategic reserve” of 150,000 turtle is one of in the Traveston Crossing reach of the Mary River GL/year of unallocated water in the outdated 2006 near her farm at Kandanga. Australia's most plan. With the revision process of the Mary Basin The turtle was only formally identified in 1994, Water Plan only being started in 2021, there will be ancient turtles – although eggs were harvested for the pet industry in a number of improvements to protect the river from the 1960s and ‘70s but where they were being sourced it is listed 30th at risk over-allocation. from was unknown. There has been a reduction in reptile in the world. These include better modelling to take into account the population of breeding females of around 95% climate impacts on water security and updated They can live to between 1970 and 2000. Hundreds of females nested information on the water needs of threatened species. near Tiaro in the 1960's and 1970's. By the 2000’s the The protection of the fresh water flows to the Estuary be over 100 years number of nesting females had plummeted. The Mary and Ramsar listed wetlands, the Great Sandy Strait are but few hatchlings River turtle is one of six turtle species that occur in also important but were neglected in the 2006 plan. the Mary River. It is very distinctive with its long tail survive to grow into Any “strategic reserve” for the purpose of supplying (usually about 20cm long for a male) bum-breathing, water to SEQ in future will be far less than 150,000GL mature adults. an unusual method of breathing through gill-like /year than was written into the 2006 plan. structures in their cloaca (a single opening under the Mary River is a “There are alternative options to get drinking water for tail used for passing of waste and reproducing). coastal cities and other ways which are rapidly advancing 291 km liquid “The Mary River turtle is one of Australia’s most ancient to store electricity than hydro projects. journey into turtle species and it is exclusive to the Mary River. In the face of recent declining stream flows, predictions It is listed 30th at risk reptile in the world – according evolution... of future increasing variability of droughts and floods, to the Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered higher temperatures increasing evaporation, ice cores programme of the Royal Zoological Society of London. that show longer droughts than we have experienced, wouldn't it The EDGE of Existence programme is the only global conservation improve water security to be moving more to climate independent initiative to focus specifically on threatened species that represent a water supplies and power storage?” significant amount of unique evolutionary history. Many places around the world are relying on water sensitive urban Internationally and within Australia it is considered to be endangered. design, rainwater and stormwater harvesting, recycling water, desalination and demand management to provide water security. These turtles can live to be over 100 years old and we still have much to learn about them, especially why so few hatchlings are surviving With Australians moving to batteries as their feed-in tariffs fall, to grow into mature adults,” she said. and the rapid development of new battery technology, it is likely in the next few years that the uptake of electrochemical storage The Mary River supports a number of other aquatic creatures who batteries will increase dramatically. face an uncertain future. The Mary River turtle along with the Mary River Cod (Maccullochella peelii mariensis), are listed as – “The cheapest solutions are not always the best ones long term. endangered, and only occur in the Mary River. Taking more surface water from a river system and particularly one so special as the Mary River with its iconic threatened species, increases Combined with the living fossil that is the Australian lungfish the risk of degrading the river further. (Neoceratodus forsteri), which is listed as – vulnerable and the The river has already shown that during the dry times of the year and White-throated Snapping Turtle (Elseya albagula), which drought years, it can not provide environmental flow objectives at was recently listed as – critically endangered; the Mary River is critical points in the river system and is over-allocated already. With therefore – a 291km liquid journey into evolution! threatened species at risk and a lot still not known about them, we Glenda wants to raise awareness of the Mary River turtle and its endanger them further by changing flows or taking more water.” iconic mates, the Mary River Cod and the Australian lungfish so Glenda said the Mary Valley, as with other parts of Queensland, that people understand why the Mary River needs to be treated was seeing its share of new residents and the annual Mary River with care. Because she adds, “Recovery of these special threatened Festival was a way to get to know the river and be involved with species to thriving is very much dependent on how we limit our water community. The festival committee begins plans early in the year take from the river and improve their habitat.” for the event on Saturday 16 July 2022, following 2021's success in Projects like the 1 Million Turtles citizen science and community the cooler mid-year. New volunteers are invited to join in the fun. conservation programme that was launched last November 2021 can help support their conservation efforts. “It’s about celebrating, appreciating and educating people about so many special creatures that call the Mary River home,” she said. One of the many voices against the controversial Traveston
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The Mary Valley Voice
12 JANUARY 2022 |
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