Skip links and keyboard navigation

Queensland Government
WetlandInfo   —   Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

HIDE THIS SECTION
IBRA subregions

Townsville Plains IBRA subregion

Access wetland mapping in PDF and KML format by selecting the desired 100K map tile below or download the data via the Queensland Government Information Service.

The below map is for visual representation purposes only. For more detailed mapping, please download the boundary KML.

Drag this bar to relocate the map on your screen

Open WetlandMaps interactive map server

Download boundary KML (KMZ, 0.1 MB) metadata

How to use KMLs?

Name: Townsville Plains
Area type: IBRA subregion
Total area: 763,495 ha
% total Qld: 0.4%
Towns: Alva, Ayr, Barratta, Brandon, Cardington, Clare, Cromarty, Cungulla, Dalbeg, Deeragun, Giru, Home Hill, Inkerman, Jalloonda, Lochinvar, Manton, Millaroo, Mountain View, Nome, Pallarenda, Pioneer, Reid River, Toonpan, Townsville, Woldston, Woodstock, Yabulu
Page table of contents
Catchment stories
Wetland observations
Wetland extents
Wetland extent changes
Australian Land Use and Management Classification (ALUMC)
Drainage divisions
Drainage basins
Drainage sub-basins
Regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies
Local government areas
100K map tiles
Climate zones
Bioregions
Biogeographic subregions
IBRA bioregions
Bioregional assessment areas
Marine meso-scale bioregions
Marine provincial bioregions
Regional plans
World Heritage areas
Ramsar internationally important wetlands
DIWA nationally important wetlands
National parks
Marine parks (Queensland)
Study areas
Report cards
Conservation parks
State forests
Forest reserves
Resources reserves
Timber reserves
Fish habitat areas
Coastal management district
Nature refuges
Freshwater biogeographic provinces
Aquatic Conservation Assessments (AquaBAMM) and others
Wetland (aquatic ecosystem) type—conceptual models
Wetland (aquatic ecosystem) type—management profiles
Groundwater dependent ecosystem type—conceptual models
Healthy Land and Water conceptual models
Water resource planning areas
Aquatic ecosystem monitoring programs
Point source monitoring
Wetland soil indicator case studies
Wetland management case studies
Wetland projects
Area specific conceptual model case studies
Paddock to Reef (P2R) report cards
Water Quality Improvement Plan catchments
EPP (Water) scheduled environmental values and water quality objectives
Shorebird zones
Biopassage structures
Related legislation/policies
Wildlife

HIDE THIS SECTION
Catchment stories info

HIDE THIS SECTION
Wetland observations

HIDE THIS SECTION
Wetland extents info metadata

Based on wetland mapping version 6.0

Display areas in

Townsville Plains IBRA subregion wetland area by system 2019
System Area (ha) % wetlands area % total area
Total 130,255 100.0% 17.1%
Total excluding riverine and artificial/highly modified riverine 94,866 72.8% 12.4%
Artificial and highly modified 9,045 6.9% 1.2%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 61,801 47.4% 8.1%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 2,317 1.8% 0.3%
Lacustrine (natural) 124 0.1% 0.0%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 1,930 1.5% 0.3%
Palustrine (natural) 6,224 4.8% 0.8%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 13,433 10.3% 1.8%
Riverine 35,382 27.2% 4.6%

View wetland system extents for all IBRA subregions

Townsville Plains IBRA subregion wetland area by habitat 2019
Habitat Area (ha) % wetlands area % total area
Total 56,466 100.0% 7.4%
Mangroves - Casuarina 0 0.0% 0.0%
Mangroves - other 27,026 47.9% 3.5%
Salt marsh and salt flats 9,240 16.4% 1.2%
Arid and semi-arid saline lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain clay plan lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake 641 1.1% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake 109 0.2% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 72 0.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 759 1.3% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp 134 0.2% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 541 1.0% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 17,132 30.3% 2.2%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp 0 0.0% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid 0 0.0% 0.0%
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal 812 1.4% 0.1%

View wetland habitat area for all IBRA subregions

Disclaimer

Areas do not include marine or estuarine waters but do include estuarine wetland vegetation
(e.g. mangroves and tidal flats).

All statistics are approximate and generated based on data transformed to a customised Albers equal-area projection, thus allowing wetland extent change for different regions of Queensland to be comparable.

Areas may change over time as mapping approaches improve.

Totals may not match the sum of individually displayed figures due to the rounding of displayed figures.

HIDE THIS SECTION
Wetland extent changes

Townsville Plains IBRA subregion wetland extent change by system
System 2019 area
(ha)		 2017 area
(ha)		 2013 area
(ha)		 2009 area
(ha)		 2005 area
(ha)		 2001 area
(ha)		 pre-clear area
(ha)		 2019/pre-clear
percentage
Total 130,255 130,289 130,063 129,947 129,816 129,811 127,768 * 94.9%
Artificial and highly modified 9,045 9,039 8,957 8,867 8,611 8,513 0 n/a
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 61,801 61,801 62,058 62,061 62,074 62,086 71,808 86.1%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 2,317 2,317 2,325 2,324 2,324 2,324 0 n/a
Lacustrine (natural) 124 124 124 124 124 124 217 57.5%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 1,930 1,930 1,891 1,896 1,904 1,839 0 n/a
Palustrine (natural) 6,224 6,236 6,219 6,283 6,297 6,344 12,811 48.6%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 13,433 13,433 13,195 13,072 13,078 13,065 0 n/a
Riverine 35,382 35,410 35,292 35,319 35,404 35,517 42,933 82.4%

* Total 2019/pre-clear percentage excludes artificial and highly modified

metadata View 2019 wetland system extents for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2017 wetland system extents for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2013 wetland system extents for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2009 wetland system extents for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2005 wetland system extents for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2001 wetland system extents for all IBRA subregions

metadata View pre-clear wetland system extents for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2019/pre-clear wetland system extent percentages for all IBRA subregions

Townsville Plains IBRA subregion wetland extent change by habitat
Habitat 2019 area
(ha)		 2017 area
(ha)		 2013 area
(ha)		 2009 area
(ha)		 2005 area
(ha)		 2001 area
(ha)
Total 56,466 56,478 56,256 56,198 56,226 56,306
Mangroves - Casuarina 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mangroves - other 27,026 27,026 27,038 27,039 27,039 27,040
Salt marsh and salt flats 9,240 9,240 9,262 9,262 9,269 9,281
Arid and semi-arid saline lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain clay plan lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid permanently inundated lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain lake 641 641 641 641 641 641
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain rock lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (window) lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain sand (perched) lake 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain soil lake 109 109 109 109 109 109
Arid and semi-arid saline swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain tree swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain shrub swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain tree swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain shrub swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid non-floodplain grass, sedge and herb swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid other non-floodplain swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Arid and semi-arid Great Artesian Basin fed spring swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 72 72 71 71 71 71
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain wet heath swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal non-floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 759 759 536 536 536 536
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp 134 134 134 134 134 138
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 541 541 514 514 514 514
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 17,132 17,144 17,139 17,134 17,154 17,218
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain wet heath swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal other floodplain swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal tree (palm) swamp 0 0 0 0 0 0
Unknown - Swamp - Arid and semi-arid 0 0 0 0 0 0
Unknown - Swamp - Coastal and sub-coastal 812 812 812 758 758 758

metadata View 2019 wetland habitat area for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2017 wetland habitat area for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2013 wetland habitat area for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2009 wetland habitat area for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2005 wetland habitat area for all IBRA subregions

metadata View 2001 wetland habitat area for all IBRA subregions

Disclaimer

Areas do not include marine or estuarine waters but do include estuarine wetland vegetation
(e.g. mangroves and tidal flats).

All statistics are approximate and generated based on data transformed to a customised Albers equal-area projection, thus allowing wetland extent change for different regions of Queensland to be comparable.

Areas may change over time as mapping approaches improve.

Totals may not match the sum of individually displayed figures due to the rounding of displayed figures.

HIDE THIS SECTION
Australian Land Use and Management Classification (ALUMC) metadata

Townsville Plains IBRA subregion land use
ALUMC code and description
Area (ha)
% total area
Total 761,989 99.8%
2.1 Grazing native vegetation 418,121 54.8%
4.3 Irrigated cropping 101,150 13.2%
1.1 Nature conservation 79,135 10.4%
6.5 Marsh/wetland 54,146 7.1%
1.3 Other minimal use 36,939 4.8%
5.4 Residential and farm infrastructure 20,133 2.6%
6.3 River 14,135 1.9%
6.2 Reservoir/dam 9,636 1.3%
5.5 Services 5,857 0.8%
5.7 Transport and communication 3,986 0.5%
4.4 Irrigated perennial horticulture 3,033 0.4%
4.5 Irrigated seasonal horticulture 2,212 0.3%
1.2 Managed resource protection 1,966 0.3%
5.3 Manufacturing and industrial 1,744 0.2%
5.8 Mining 1,480 0.2%
6.4 Channel/aqueduct 1,417 0.2%
2.2 Production native forests 1,374 0.2%
4.2 Grazing irrigated modified pastures 1,206 0.2%
6.1 Lake 1,202 0.2%
4.1 Irrigated plantation forests 928 0.1%
3.3 Cropping 753 0.1%
5.2 Intensive animal production 644 0.1%
5.9 Waste treatment and disposal 350 0.0%
5.6 Utilities 179 0.0%
4.6 Irrigated land in transition 110 0.0%
3.2 Grazing modified pastures 82 0.0%
3.4 Perennial horticulture 24 0.0%
3.1 Plantation forests 20 0.0%
5.1 Intensive horticulture 19 0.0%
6.6 Estuary/coastal waters 8 0.0%
3.6 Land in transition 3 0.0%

HIDE THIS SECTION
Drainage divisions info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Drainage basins info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Drainage sub-basins info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Local government areas info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
100K map tiles info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Climate zones info metadata

  • map Grassland
  • map Subtropical
  • map Tropical

HIDE THIS SECTION
Bioregions info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Biogeographic subregions info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
IBRA bioregions info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Bioregional assessment areas info metadata

none

HIDE THIS SECTION
Marine meso-scale bioregions metadata

  • map Lucinda-Mackay Coast (LMC)

HIDE THIS SECTION
Marine provincial bioregions metadata

  • map Northeast Shelf Province

HIDE THIS SECTION
Regional plans info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
World Heritage areas info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Ramsar internationally important wetlands info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
DIWA nationally important wetlands info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
National parks info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Marine parks (Queensland) info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Study areas metadata

none

HIDE THIS SECTION
Report cards metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Conservation parks info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
State forests info metadata

  • map Clemant State Forest
  • map Mingela State Forest

HIDE THIS SECTION
Forest reserves info metadata

none

HIDE THIS SECTION
Resources reserves info metadata

none

HIDE THIS SECTION
Timber reserves info metadata

none

HIDE THIS SECTION
Fish habitat areas info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Coastal management district info metadata

  • map Available (all have been combined since February 2012)

HIDE THIS SECTION
Nature refuges info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Freshwater biogeographic provinces info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Aquatic Conservation Assessments (AquaBAMM) and others info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Wetland (aquatic ecosystem) type—conceptual models info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Wetland (aquatic ecosystem) type—management profiles info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Groundwater dependent ecosystem type—conceptual models info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Healthy Land and Water conceptual models info metadata

none

HIDE THIS SECTION
Water resource planning areas info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Aquatic ecosystem monitoring programs info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Point source monitoring info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Wetland soil indicator case studies info metadata

none

HIDE THIS SECTION
Wetland management case studies info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Wetland projects info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Area specific conceptual model case studies info metadata

none

HIDE THIS SECTION
Paddock to Reef (P2R) report cards info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Water Quality Improvement Plan catchments info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
EPP (Water) scheduled environmental values and water quality objectives info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Shorebird zones info metadata

HIDE THIS SECTION
Biopassage structures info metadata

Name Construction year Structure types Stream name
map Aims Road 1 2010 Culvert Unnamed Creek
map Aims Road 2 2010 Culvert Unnamed Creek
map Alligator Creek Weir 2011 Rock Ramp Alligator Creek
map Beach Road Vertical slot Kalamia Creek
map Castenlanelli's Rock Ramp Rock Ramp
map Cislowski Road Vertical slot Plantation Creek
map Clare Weir 2009 Mechanical Burdekin River
map Dick's Bank 2009 Vertical slot Sheepstation Creek
map Farm crossing rock ramp Rock Ramp Saltwater Creek
map Five Ways 2011 Rock Ramp Sheepstation Creek
map Horseshoe Lagoon 2009 Rock Ramp Horsehoe Creek
map Inkerman Road Rock Ramp Saltwater Creek
map Jacks Road 2011 Rock Ramp Sheepstation Creek
map Lilliesmere Bund Rock Ramp Alva Creek
map Lilliesmere Road Vertical slot Kalamia Creek
map McAllisters Road Rock Ramp Plantation Creek
map Pyott's Lagoon Vertical slot Kalamia Creek
map Rita Island 2009 Rock Ramp Burdekin Ananbranch
map Rocky New Road Vertical slot Saltwater Creek
map Toll Road 2011 Vertical slot Sheepstation Creek
map Town Common 2011 Rock Ramp Unnamed Creek
map Town Common Ds 2011 Culvert Unnamed Creek
map University Creek 2010 Rock Ramp, Culvert University Creek
map Wills Crossing 2011 Culvert Sheepstation Creek

HIDE THIS SECTION
Wildlife

Kingdom
Class
 Native Introduced Wetland
indicator
species		 Rare or
threatened
species		 All
TOTAL 2,602 379 410 73 2,981
Animals 827 34 213 57 861
Mammals 88 14 6 10 102
Birds 431 9 95 32 440
Reptiles 155 2 23 9 157
Amphibians 31 1 13 2 32
Ray-finned fishes 56 7 62 1 63
Cartilaginous fishes 6 0 6 2 6
Insects 57 1 8 0 58
Malacostracans 3 0 0 1 3
Bacteria 2 0 0 0 2
Chromists 16 0 0 0 16
Fungi 15 0 0 0 15
Plants 1,742 345 197 16 2,087

Note: Wildlife statistics are based on information that has been submitted to the DETSI WildNet database and converted to a 10km² grid. The grid information has been intersected with the mapping polygons to determine the species lists. Click here to view the species grid metadata.

Information from WildNet can also be accessed via Wildlife Online and WetlandMaps.

Rare or threatened includes species listed as extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or conservation dependent under either the Nature Conservation Act or Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

Disclaimer: While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this product, the Queensland Government and Australian Government make no representations or warranties about its accuracy, reliability, completeness or suitability for any particular purpose and disclaim all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages (including indirect or consequential damage) and costs which might be incurred as a consequence of reliance on the product, or as a result of the product being inaccurate or incomplete in any way and for any reason.

AreaType-ibra-subregion

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2013) Townsville Plains IBRA subregion — facts and maps, WetlandInfo website, accessed 17 April 2025. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/ibra-subregion-townsville-plains/

BESbswy