After an extensive campaign stretching back years, and involving a huge wave of support from TWS members, Traditional Owners, activists, supporters, and the general public, to see the Wenlock River on Cape York protected, we have finally seen those efforts through to conclusion.

The Wenlock River has just been declared a 'Wild River' by the Queensland Government under its Wild Rivers Act, which means it is now protected from future destructive development such as in-stream mining, damming, intensive irrigation and over-extraction of water.

Aerial of Wenlock River, Cape York. Photo by Kerry Trapnell.

The Wenlock is one of our healthiest and most spectacular free flowing river systems. It runs through the homelands of a number of Traditional Owners, and its protection will help support Indigenous conservation initiatives on the Cape. It is home to more fish species than any other Australian river, and includes lush rainforests, unique freshwater springs and some of the best crocodile breeding habitats.

The Wild Rivers declaration will help keep strip-mining well away from rivers and sensitive springs and wetlands, by creating a half-kilometre protective buffer zone around the special Coolibah Springs on the Steve Irwin Wildlife Reserve. With these important buffers in place, viability of the proposed Cape Alumina bauxite project is in serious jeopardy, as almost 30% of the total bauxite within their lease application is now excluded.

Palm cockatoo
Palm cockatoo - Cape York Peninsula. Photo by Glenn Walker.

This is a fantastic win for the environment and future sustainability on Cape York! The Wenlock is an ecological jewel, and to its Indigenous Traditional Owners, the Wenlock is a priceless cultural, spiritual and practical resource which can continue to be used sustainably. While preventing destructive development, the Wild Rivers declaration supports sustainable and smaller scale economic activities, eco-tourism, cultural uses and traditional practices in and around the river. A program of Indigenous Wild River rangers has been set up by the Queensland Government to support management of protected rivers.

This huge outcome has also been achieved through collaborative work by the Wilderness Society's Queensland, Northern Australia and National Indigenous Conservation teams along with Traditional Owners, graziers and Australia Zoo. Whether you are a member or supporter of The Wilderness Society, have signed a petition on the street or a postcard at Woodford or other festivals, have completed a cyberaction on line, or put in a call to the Queensland Premier, it is you that has made the difference and helped make this wonderful outcome possible. So THANK YOU!