September–October 2014 85The plan seeks to balance environmental protection
with sustainable economic development on the
peninsula, and the new designation effectively ends
a pre-existing bauxite mining option spreading over
approximately 15 per cent of the reserve, including
the plateau.
Not a great deal is known about the hydrology
of the vast bauxite deposits that typify much of
this remote area of Cape York. However, initial
observations of the lush oases sustained by those
perennial springs indicated that they might be a
previously undocumented ecosystem type, found
possibly nowhere else.
These cool, verdant havens among an otherwise
dry eucalypt woodland landscape were the bitter
battleground on which Australia Zoo fought for six
years to halt a major project that would have seen a
strip mine established across the plateau.
The eight springs, known locally as the Coolibah
Springs complex, are inextricably linked to the
geology of the plateau. It’s here that the porous
bauxite acts like a giant sponge, filtering rainwater
down to a deep sandy aquifer during the wet season
and transmitting it progressively throughout the dry
season to the springheads, where it eventually f lows
down to the Wenlock R iver.
According to Dr Marc Leblanc, a French–
Australian hydrologist who specialises in semi-arid
regions: “It’s pretty rare to find a large, permanent
spring system in this climate, and very rare to have
a spring that sustains such incredible ecosystems...
all of them a little bit different, which makes it a
very significant place in terms of what we call its
eco-hydrology.” The plant communities associated
with each of the springs vary, but each hosts rare or
threatened species.
David Fell, a visiting botanist who undertook
f loristic assessments here, described an entirely new
rainforest type at one spring, which is dominated by
the striking and rare tiger stripe tree. Crucially, the
oases provide habitat, refuges and corridors for a wide
range of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish
and invertebrates and are culturally significant to
the Teppathiggi and Attambaya people of the lowerWenlock basin. Certain springs served as women’s
birth places, and many plants here were important
for food and medicine.T
HE ONGOING PROCESS of discovering and
recording the area’s special natural values
brings a range of scientists from many dis-
ciplines here each year. During my visit, alongside
hydrologist Marc, there’s also a biologist studying
a resident population of Australia’s largest crested
parrot, the beautiful palm cockatoo.
But at this time of year, it’s typically croc research-
ers who are most conspicuous around Coolibah
Camp. The airy tin shed serves as general HQ,
makeshift lab, fi lm-editing suite, amenities block
and mess hall for a lively gaggle of scientists, rangers,
volunteers, journalists, photographers and cooks.
Joining Craig Franklin in the field each year
are brothers Dr Ross Dwyer – a colleague from
the University of Queensland – and Dr Hamish
Campbell from the University of New England. I
sit with them around the refectory table the night
before I’m scheduled to head out along the Wenlock
to check crocodile traps with the rangers.
I’m excited by the prospect, but keen toCoolibah colleagues. Cape York ranger Barry Lyon
(above) worked alongside Steve Irwin on croc research
for a number of years before coming on board to help
manage the SIWR. Researchers (below, from left) Hamish
Campbell, Craig Franklin and Ross Dwyer.ag0914_cape_york_crocsP85 - 80 2014-08-08T16:11:14+10:00