NATIONAL WILDERNESS RED INDEX

Published by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd. 30/09/94
Level 2, 332 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000.
Ph (02) 9261 2400; Fax (02) 9261 2144.

Name:

DULHUNTY RIVER

Nominated by:

Not recorded

Location:

Along the west coast of the north tip of Cape York.

Size
For size and tenure information contact the Colong Foundation.

DESCRIPTION

River floodplains and intermittent shallow swamps form the basis of this area.
Low ridges divide the catchments from on another. Tertiary sands cover most of
the area, underlain by Cretaceous and Jurassic sediments. [1]

Vegetation within the area consists of scrubs of melaleucas and screw pines on
flood plain areas with substantial areas of open heath on the low ridges,
grading to tall eucalypt forest on the deeper, better drained soils. [2]

Fauna is typical of the Cape York Peninsula but perhaps at lower levels due to
the relatively poorer nature of habitats. [3]

STATE FORESTS

ENDANGERED SPECIES

LAND USE HISTORY


Pastoral operations previously took place in the catchment of the Dulhunty River
but stock have been withdrawn apart from the few animals run by Aboriginals. [4]


Whilst most of the area is within Aboriginal Reserve, the only permanent
Aboriginal settlements are found to the south, and at Bamaga to the north-east
of the area. [5]

CONSERVATION HISTORY

THREATS

MINING
Major development associated with bauxite mining at Weipa is to the south of the
area. There is also a small area of mining development near Vrilya Point. Whilst
mining and prospecting leases cover much of the area it is not likely that
substantial mining development will take place. [6]

CONTACTS

No contacts are recorded from that area.
ENDNOTES
1
Prineas, 1986.

2
Prineas, 1986.

3
Prineas, 1986.

4
Prineas, 1986.

5
Prineas, 1986.

6
Prineas, 1986.

Return to Contents Page