Mackenzie River Turtleways

The Mackenzie River Turtleway Project is a State Government funded initiative to undertake research into turtle transfer systems for watercourse barriers, such as barrages and weirs.

Overview

The Mackenzie River Turtleway project will monitor the migration and nesting behaviours of selected turtle species through a newly upgraded turtle passage located at the Tatrus Weir on the Mackenzie River over a two year period.

SunWater’s Tartrus Weir was selected as the preferred location for the turtleway prototype due to its containment of the white-throated snapping turtle (Elseya albagula) and the Fitzroy River turtle (Rheodytes leukops) and its remote isolated location.

The turtleway prototype aims to facilitate the transfer of the turtle species across the weir by reducing the likelihood of the weir wall become a barrier to turtle movement.

Once the prototype construction is complete, the project will commence two years of monitoring of the migration and nesting behaviours of the abovementioned turtle species in the surrounding area, including the usage of the turtleway structure at Tartrus Weir on the Mackenzie River.

The turtleway prototype will be researched, designed and constructed by SunWater with the assistance of the Aquatic Threatened Species and Threatened Processes Division of the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM).

The Turtleways Project is a result of SunWater’s commitment to the environment and sustainable practices within its operations.

Project background

In early 2010, it was identified that a lack of adequate information available on suitable transfer options for freshwater turtles located near or around watercourse barriers, such as weirs and barrages.

As part of SunWater’s commitment to the environment and sustainable work practices, a proposal for the research and development of turtle passages was developed.

This proposal, later signed and approved by the Shareholding Ministers as part of SunWater’s dividend reinvestment process, now forms the Mackenzie River Turtleways Project.

The $4 million project in its entirety will include:

• Research including a field survey to provide data on the turtle species that will aid in the design, operation and monitoring of the turtleway prototype.
• Design and installation of a turtle passage specifically designed to allow turtles to migrate past Tartrus Weir.
• Consultation with DERM to ensure successful installation parameters for a turtleway prototype.
• Development and implementation of a turtle monitoring program to be carried out over a two year period after construction.

Benefits

The results of the Mackenzie River Turtleway project will be beneficial to turtle migration research across many of Australia’s watercourses. The results will:

• Provide SunWater, state departments and environmental agencies with a better understanding of turtle transfer systems for watercourse barriers.
• Monitor a prototype designed specifically for the movement of turtle species, including the white-throated snapping turtle (Elseya albagula) and the Fitzroy River turtle (Rheodytes leukops), past barriers.
• Add significantly to currently limited survey data on the turtle species that are contained in the area, including the white-throated snapping turtle (Elseya albagula) and the Fitzroy River turtle (Rheodytes leukops),surrounding the Tartrus Weir.
• Assist in mitigating any potential or future impacts on the white-throated snapping turtle (Elseya albagula) and the Fitzroy River turtle (Rheodytes leukops) by watercourse barriers.

Environment

The project focuses on enhancing the migration of the Fitzroy River turtle (Rheodytes leukops) and the white-throated snapping turtle (Elseya albagula). Both species are identified as high priority for conservation under DERM's ‘Back on Track’ species prioritisation framework.

Research will form an important part of the project. A field survey and literature review will be undertaken during the initial phase of the project. A field survey, to be undertaken by DERM, will take place in late 2011 and encompass the Mackenzie River both upstream and downstream of Tartrus Weir.

Our role

SunWater will project manage all aspects of the turtleways project and will design, build and operate the turtle passage prototype at Tartrus Weir.

Enquiries

For further information regarding the Mackenzie River Turtleways Project, please contact:
Project Manager
Mackenzie River Turtleways project
Reply Paid 15536, City East QLD 4002
Phone +61 7 3120 0182