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

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Local government areas

Western Downs local government area

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Name: Western Downs
Area type: Local government area
Total area: 3,794,332 ha
% total Qld: 2.2%

Area homepage: www.wdrc.qld.gov.au

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
100K map tiles
Climate zones
Bioregions
Biogeographic subregions
IBRA bioregions
IBRA subregions
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
External links/description
Wildlife

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Catchment stories info

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Wetland observations

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Wetland extents info metadata

Based on wetland mapping version 6.0

Display areas in

Western Downs local government area wetland area by system 2019
System Area (ha) % wetlands area % total area
Total 30,343 100.0% 0.8%
Total excluding riverine and artificial/highly modified riverine 16,772 55.3% 0.4%
Artificial and highly modified 10,858 35.8% 0.3%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 0 0.0% 0.0%
Lacustrine (natural) 286 0.9% 0.0%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 1,225 4.0% 0.0%
Palustrine (natural) 3,499 11.5% 0.1%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 907 3.0% 0.0%
Riverine 13,568 44.7% 0.4%

View wetland system extents for all local government areas

Western Downs local government area wetland area by habitat 2019
Habitat Area (ha) % wetlands area % total area
Total 4,672 100.0% 0.1%
Mangroves - Casuarina 0 0.0% 0.0%
Mangroves - other 0 0.0% 0.0%
Salt marsh and salt flats 0 0.0% 0.0%
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 338 7.2% 0.0%
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 0 0.0% 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 880 18.8% 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 0 0.0% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp 1,916 41.0% 0.1%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 1,311 28.1% 0.0%
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 197 4.2% 0.0%
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 30 0.6% 0.0%

View wetland habitat area for all local government areas

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.

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Wetland extent changes

Western Downs local government area 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 30,343 30,286 29,724 29,249 28,568 27,769 * n/a * n/a
Artificial and highly modified 10,858 10,793 10,214 9,727 9,021 8,171 0 n/a
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (natural) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a
Intertidal (saltmarsh, saltflats, mangroves) (slightly modified) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a
Lacustrine (natural) 286 286 286 286 286 286 286 100.0%
Lacustrine (slightly modified) 1,225 1,224 1,223 1,223 1,223 1,202 0 n/a
Palustrine (natural) 3,499 3,499 3,502 3,502 3,555 3,555 4,546 77.0%
Palustrine (slightly modified) 907 907 899 899 861 861 0 n/a
Riverine 13,568 13,577 13,600 13,612 13,622 13,694 * n/a n/a

* Pre-clear riverine wetland statistics are not available in this area. A comprehensive evaluation is currently underway of the effect of identified limitations on the statistical analysis process used to monitor wetland extent change. During this time, selected riverine wetland statistics will be temporarily unavailable as they may be disproportionately impacted. It is expected that this evaluation will be completed in late 2024.

metadata View 2019 wetland system extents for all local government areas

metadata View 2017 wetland system extents for all local government areas

metadata View 2013 wetland system extents for all local government areas

metadata View 2009 wetland system extents for all local government areas

metadata View 2005 wetland system extents for all local government areas

metadata View 2001 wetland system extents for all local government areas

metadata View pre-clear wetland system extents for all local government areas

metadata View 2019/pre-clear wetland system extent percentages for all local government areas

Western Downs local government area 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 4,672 4,672 4,667 4,667 4,682 4,682
Mangroves - Casuarina 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mangroves - other 0 0 0 0 0 0
Salt marsh and salt flats 0 0 0 0 0 0
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 338 338 338 338 338 338
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 0 0 0 0 0 0
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 880 880 880 880 880 880
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 0 0 0 0 0 0
Coastal and sub-coastal other non-floodplain swamp 1,916 1,915 1,911 1,911 1,926 1,926
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain tree (Melaleuca and Eucalypt) swamp 1,311 1,311 1,311 1,311 1,311 1,311
Coastal and sub-coastal floodplain grass, sedge, and herb swamp 197 197 197 197 197 197
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 30 30 30 30 30 30

metadata View 2019 wetland habitat area for all local government areas

metadata View 2017 wetland habitat area for all local government areas

metadata View 2013 wetland habitat area for all local government areas

metadata View 2009 wetland habitat area for all local government areas

metadata View 2005 wetland habitat area for all local government areas

metadata View 2001 wetland habitat area for all local government areas

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.

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Australian Land Use and Management Classification (ALUMC) metadata

Western Downs local government area land use
ALUMC code and description
Area (ha)
% total area
Total 3,794,331 100.0%
2.1 Grazing native vegetation 2,351,886 62.0%
3.3 Cropping 722,510 19.0%
2.2 Production native forests 542,571 14.3%
4.3 Irrigated cropping 54,185 1.4%
1.3 Other minimal use 34,105 0.9%
1.1 Nature conservation 25,634 0.7%
5.4 Residential and farm infrastructure 21,125 0.6%
3.2 Grazing modified pastures 11,370 0.3%
6.2 Reservoir/dam 10,674 0.3%
5.8 Mining 3,382 0.1%
5.5 Services 3,222 0.1%
3.1 Plantation forests 2,443 0.1%
5.6 Utilities 2,209 0.1%
1.2 Managed resource protection 2,046 0.1%
5.7 Transport and communication 1,438 0.0%
5.2 Intensive animal production 1,391 0.0%
6.5 Marsh/wetland 871 0.0%
5.3 Manufacturing and industrial 804 0.0%
3.6 Land in transition 674 0.0%
6.1 Lake 554 0.0%
6.3 River 438 0.0%
5.9 Waste treatment and disposal 242 0.0%
4.4 Irrigated perennial horticulture 238 0.0%
3.4 Perennial horticulture 171 0.0%
4.5 Irrigated seasonal horticulture 89 0.0%
3.5 Seasonal horticulture 50 0.0%
6.4 Channel/aqueduct 10 0.0%

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Drainage divisions info metadata

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Drainage basins info metadata

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Drainage sub-basins info metadata

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Regional natural resource management (NRM) bodies info metadata

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100K map tiles info metadata

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Climate zones info metadata

  • map Subtropical
  • map Temperate

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Bioregions info metadata

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Biogeographic subregions info metadata

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IBRA bioregions info metadata

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IBRA subregions info metadata

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Bioregional assessment areas info metadata

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Marine meso-scale bioregions metadata

none

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Marine provincial bioregions metadata

none

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Regional plans info metadata

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World Heritage areas info metadata

none

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Ramsar internationally important wetlands info metadata

none

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DIWA nationally important wetlands info metadata

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National parks info metadata

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Marine parks (Queensland) info metadata

none

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Study areas metadata

none

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Report cards metadata

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Conservation parks info metadata

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State forests info metadata

  • map Allies Creek State Forest
  • map Ballymore State Forest
  • map Barakula State Forest
  • map Binkey State Forest 1
  • map Binkey State Forest 2
  • map Boondandilla State Forest
  • map Booroondoo State Forest
  • map Braemar State Forest
  • map Burncluith State Forest
  • map Cherwondah State Forest
  • map Combabula State Forest
  • map Condamine State Forest
  • map Cooaga State Forest
  • map Currajong State Forest
  • map Daandine State Forest
  • map Dalby State Forest
  • map Diamondy State Forest
  • map Dinoun State Forest
  • map Emu State Forest
  • map Gurulmundi State Forest
  • map Hinchley State Forest
  • map Jandowae State Forest
  • map Jarrah State Forest
  • map Juandah State Forest
  • map Kinkora State Forest
  • map Koko State Forest
  • map Kumbarilla State Forest
  • map Mahen State Forest
  • map Mount Auburn State Forest
  • map Mount Organ State Forest
  • map Mundell State Forest
  • map Nudley State Forest
  • map Quandong State Forest
  • map Rosehall State Forest
  • map Sujeewong State Forest
  • map Ula Ula State Forest
  • map Vickery State Forest
  • map Waar Waar State Forest
  • map Warranna State Forest
  • map Weranga State Forest
  • map Western Creek State Forest
  • map Woodduck State Forest
  • map Yuleba State Forest

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Forest reserves info metadata

none

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Resources reserves info metadata

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Timber reserves info metadata

none

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Fish habitat areas info metadata

none

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Coastal management district info metadata

none

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Nature refuges info metadata

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Freshwater biogeographic provinces info metadata

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Aquatic Conservation Assessments (AquaBAMM) and others info metadata

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Wetland (aquatic ecosystem) type—conceptual models info metadata

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Wetland (aquatic ecosystem) type—management profiles info metadata

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Groundwater dependent ecosystem type—conceptual models info metadata

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Healthy Land and Water conceptual models info metadata

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Water resource planning areas info metadata

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Aquatic ecosystem monitoring programs info metadata

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Point source monitoring info metadata

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Wetland soil indicator case studies info metadata

none

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Wetland management case studies info metadata

none

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Wetland projects info metadata

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Area specific conceptual model case studies info metadata

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Paddock to Reef (P2R) report cards info metadata

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Water Quality Improvement Plan catchments info metadata

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

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Shorebird zones info metadata

none

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Biopassage structures info metadata

Name Construction year Structure types Stream name
map Condamine Town Weir 2015 Rock Ramp Condamine River
map Loudoun Weir 2010 Vertical slot Condamine River
map Reilly's Weir 2010 Cone Condamine River

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Wildlife

Kingdom
Class
 Native Introduced Wetland
indicator
species		 Rare or
threatened
species		 All
TOTAL 3,554 355 320 116 3,909
Animals 813 30 156 54 843
Mammals 94 14 3 8 108
Birds 369 9 68 29 378
Reptiles 148 1 9 10 149
Amphibians 43 1 22 1 44
Ray-finned fishes 21 3 24 2 24
Insects 128 2 30 1 130
Malacostracans 2 0 0 0 2
Branchiopods 1 0 0 0 1
Arachnids 1 0 0 0 1
Snails 6 0 0 3 6
Bacteria 20 0 0 0 20
Chromists 72 0 0 0 72
Fungi 456 1 0 0 457
Plants 2,191 324 164 62 2,515
Protozoans 2 0 0 0 2

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-lga

This page should be cited as:

Department of Environment, Science and Innovation, Queensland (2013) Western Downs local government area — facts and maps, WetlandInfo website, accessed 17 April 2025. Available at: https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/lga-western-downs/

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