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:

PRINCE REGENT RIVER

Nominated by:

Not recorded

Location:

Not recorded

Size
For size and tenure information contact the Colong Foundation.

DESCRIPTION

The Prince Regent River area contains some of Australia's most spectacular
coastal scenery, with sandstone clifflines falling directly to the sea. The
Prince Regent River, whose catchment is wholly within the area, rises 50 km from
the coast at an elevation of about 800 metres and drops through a rugged gorge.
At the head of the River lies a broad plateau averaging over 700 metres above
sea level. The coastline is deeply indented by a number of drowned river
valleys. Tidal flats occur in many of the inlets. Numerous islands lie out to
sea.

Associated with the extensive Prince Regent area is the smaller Charnley area,
largely separated by the Gibb River - Pantijan Road. [1]

Vegetation is diverse, although tropical open woodland covers extensive tracts.
Vine thickets, fern gullies and mangroves occur in the area. [2]

Fauna is typical of wetter parts of northern Australia. The rare Scaly-tailed
Possum (Wyulda squamicaudata) occurs in the area. Waterbirds such as Jabiru and
Magpie Geese may be found on the tidal flats. [3]

STATE FORESTS

ENDANGERED SPECIES

PRINCE REGENT RIVER contains the following endangered animals:
SCALY-TAILED POSSUM (WYULDA SQUAMICAUDATA)

LAND USE HISTORY


This area has had a long long history of low intensity Aboriginal use, and cave
paintings may be found. A number of islands, as well as significant parcels of
land south-west of the Prince Regent River, are Aboriginal Reserves. [4]


The rugged nature of the landscape and its remoteness has limited settlement and
development by Europeans. [5]

CONSERVATION HISTORY

THREATS

DAMS
A proposal exists for the construction of a tidal power station at Walcott
Inlet. [6]

MINING
Substantial reserves of low grade bauxite occur in the Mitchell Range area, and
this has been excluded from the defined wilderness due to the presence of a
mining exploration camp and road. Much of this wilderness area is subject to
mineral exploration. [7]

CONTACTS

No contacts are recorded from that area.
ENDNOTES
1
Prineas, P., Lembit, R., Fisher, N., 1986, "Australia's Wilderness An
Inventory".

2
Prineas, 1986.

3
Prineas, 1986.

4
Prineas, 1986.

5
Prineas, 1986.

6
Prineas, 1986.

7
Prineas, 1986.

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