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About the Condamine Catchment

Location – Headwaters of the Murray – Darling Basin

The Condamine catchment is located at the headwaters of the Murray–Darling Basin in Southern Queensland. Extending from Queen Mary Falls near Killarney in the Border Ranges through to Chinchilla on the north western edge of the Darling Downs, the Condamine River is approximately 500kms long and is a tributary of the Darling River – the longest river in Australia. The Great Dividing Range, rising to 1,400 metres in places, forms the eastern and northern boundaries of the region. The 2.75 million hectare Condamine catchment is home to approximately 171,500 people (2006 census) including 3600 farmers. This is expected to increase dramatically in the next 15 years as a result of urban development and the development of coal mining and coal-seam gas industries.

Industry in the Condamine Catchment

Industries in the Condamine catchment include manufacturing, livestock, intensive animal industries, cropping, horticulture, forestry, tourism, mining and other emerging industries. Because agriculture has historically been the key driver of the prosperous Condamine economy the focus on sustainable natural resource management has been critical. The Condamine catchment produces food for the nation and the export market; including:

• 25% of Queensland’s grain crops (half a million hectares)
• Approximately 39% of Queensland Cotton (90,000 hectares)
• 77% of Queensland egg production representing 44.5 million eggs
• Niche horticultural production critical to Queensland’s supply

Queensland represents 44.5% of Australia’s feedlot capacity of which approximately 70% is managed in the Condamine catchment (272,662 head on 124 feedlots)

The recent mining and resources boom coupled with urban expansion and population increases have compounded environmental pressures and the need for the effective management of natural resources in the region.

Condamine Wildlife

A wide range of birds, frogs, reptiles and mammals reside in the catchment. Rare Queensland species include six bird species, seven reptile species and one frog species. Some of the species found in the catchment include endangered and vulnerable butterflies. Sadly, four mammals and one bird species have been declared extinct.