| Queanbeyan River | |
|---|---|
Bridge over the Queanbeyan River |
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| Origin | Gourock Range, New South Wales |
| Mouth | Oaks Estate, Australian Capital Territory |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Length | 70 kilometres (43 mi) |
| Source elevation | 1,300 metres (4,265 ft) |
| Basin area | 96,000 ha (960 km2) |
The Queanbeyan River is a tributary of the Molonglo River and part of Murray-Darling Basin. The river is 70 kilometres in length and the river catchment is 96,000 hectares in size. The Queanbeyan River is one of two rivers—the Cotter River is the other—that meet the water supply needs of the Canberra and Queanbeyan region and whose water quality is specifically protected under Federal legislation.
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The headwaters of the Queanbeyan River rise 70 kilometres east-southeast of Queanbeyan and about 40 kilometres northeast of the township of Bredbo, near the village of Jerangle. Several creeks upstream of the Googong Dam contribute to the river flow including the Burra, Urialla, Tinderry, Ballinafad, Groggy, Woolpack, Sherlock, Lyons, Towneys and Mile Creeks. The major river crossings above Googong Dam are the Boolboolma causeway on the Tinderry Road and a road bridge on the Captain's Flat-Jerangle Road.
Once inside the town precinct of Queanbeyan, the river is crossed by several bridges, including the Canberra-Goulburn railway, Morisset street bridge, the Queens Bridge on Monaro Street (which becomes Bungendore Road or Kings Highway), and by a pedestrian footbridge near Isabella Street in East Queanbeyan. Queens Bridge, which as a plaque on the bridge states, was opened by Wal Fife, MLA, Minister for transport and highways on the 21 July 1975. The Queanbeyan River meets the Molonglo River at a confluence located in Oaks Estate, within the boundary of the Australian Capital Territory.
The Queanbeyan region is the traditional home of the Ngunnawal People. The first Europeans visitors to the area were led by Charles Throsby. While searching for the Murrumbidgee River in 1820, his party followed the course of the Queanbeyan River into a valley at the eastern end of the Limestone Plains near presentday Canberra.[1]
The Queanbeyan River was the main water supply for the towns of Queanbeyan and during its early history its was an integral element to its economy. Wool scouring (cleaning) was carried out in the river near presentday Oaks Estate, formerly a part of Queanbeyan.
With a river catchment area of 920 square kilometres, the Queanbeyan River's is more than double that of the Cotter River. Prior to the construction to the Googong Dam, the river was floodprone leading to significant loss of life. During the 1976 flood the half completed Googong Dam was at risk of collapse under the weight of water behind it. In this eventuality low lying parts of Queanbeyan and Canberra would have been inundated. The Queanbeyan Cemetery was flooded, with scores of bodies washed downstream into Lake Burley Griffin.[2]
The Queanbeyan Weir was constructed originally in 1901-2 which provided a pool in the Queanbeyan River near the centre of the town for the town's water supply. It is now a place for town beautification with several parks located along the river, such as Blundell Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, and Ray Morton Park. The weir also provides for minor irrigation requirements. A buttressed concrete gravity wall which was 58 metres long, raised an extra one metre to the height of 4 metres in 1951-1952. The weir has had serious impacts on native fish migration in the Queanbeyan river.
The Googong Dam is located five kilometres upstream of the town of Queanbeyan. The dam was completed in 1979 and has a maximum carrying capacity of 124,500 million litres.[3]. The Commonwealth Government owns the dam which is operated by ACTEWAGL, the ACT's electricity, water and gas utility provider. The ACT Government manages the dam foreshores. Lower flows in the river downstream of the dam since its construction, together with below average rainfall for the past decade, have modified the river channel and led to an increase in colonisation by willows and river plants which enjoy low flows. Management of the river includes eradication of these weeds.
The Queanbeyan River was renowned as a beautiful river abounding in native Murray Cod, which once extended to the vicinity of Googong Dam, and native Macquarie perch, which extended to at least the headwaters of Googong Dam. Due to this abundance of native fish, the Queanbeyan River, along with the Molonglo River, was often known as the "Fish River" in the early days of settlement. Sometimes the Queanbeyan was further distinguished by being called the "South Fish River". On more than one occasion in the late 19th and early 20th centuries floods deposited live Murray Cod in the main streets of Queanbeyan. Sadly, this abundance of native fish did not last. A variety of ills including introduction of exotic fish such as trout, overfishing, willow encroachment, siltation, and weirs blocking migration saw native fish populations in the Queanbeyan River close to extinction by the time Googong Dam was built.
Under the Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909 New South Wales guaranteed the Australian Capital Territory access to resources including water by protecting and not polluting the waters of the Queanbeyan River.[4]
The condition of the river as a native habitat below Googong Dam has been seen as unhealthy in recent years by the council, with the river being over-run with carp and reeds. The council has put in place a resource development scheme to clean out the river, including a 'catch a carp' competition where the winners won $500 or fishing gear.
European carp have not penetrated the river above Googong Dam, providing an excellent trout and native fish catchery in both the dam and the river upstream. Koi carp are present the entire length of the river, but in small quantities. Since construction of Googong Dam in 1979, the endangered two-spined blackfish and Macquarie perch have been very occasionally reported in the river, and rarely beyond the first waterfall upstream of Googong Dam, despite the introduction of 57 Macquarie perch in the 1980s.
On the ninth of December 2010 the Queanbeyan River broke its banks, flooding the Queanbeyan Riverside Plaza carpark. All schools in the area were closed and some local schools were used as shelter for evacuated residents of around 100 houses and businesses.
The Queanbeyan River has a range of native wildlife ranging from wombats and kangaroos which are often found grazing on the banks to the not commonly seen platypus. The area surrounding the Queanbeyan River supports a large population of Eastern grey Kangaroos. Platypus can be found during the evenings under the swing bridge.
Lintermans, M. (2000) The Status of Fish in the Australian Capital Territory : A Review of Current Knowledge and Management Requirements. Technical Report No. 15. Environment ACT, Canberra.