Cattle-Palm Creeks declared Fish Habitat Area

Location and plan number

  • Palm, Orient, Cattle and Eleanor creeks and tributaries, and adjoining foreshores, 25km south of Ingham
  • Plan number: FHA-074
  • Hinchinbrook Shire Council

Management area and size

  • 7,115 ha – Management B.

Declaration history

  • 19 November 1983: Original declaration.
  • 19 December 2003: Redeclaration:
    • redeclared to cadastral boundaries.
  • 11 November 2011: Redeclaration:
    • combine both Cattle Creek and Palm Creek Fish Habitat Areas.

Management features

  • Protection of important fish habitat.
  • Wetland buffer zone from rural development.
  • Protection of important fisheries habitat, including juvenile barramundi habitat.

Habitat values

  • Extensive stands of mangroves (Rhizophora, Avicennia, and Acanthus)
  • Saltmarshes associated with estuaries
  • Tidal channels and flats
  • Shallow watercourses
  • Seagrass beds at the mouth of Palm and Cassidy creeks.

Fisheries values

  • One of Queensland’s most productive barramundi breeding habitats.
  • Major spanish mackerel spawning area (offshore).
  • Recreational fishing.
  • Species:
    • Barramundi
    • Blue salmon
    • Bream
    • Estuary cod
    • Flathead
    • Grey mackerel
    • Grunter
    • Mangrove jack
    • Queenfish
    • School mackerel
    • Tiger prawns.

Unique features

  • Extensive freshwater wetlands upstream.
  • Adjacent to Melaleuca wetlands.
  • Adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.

Other values

  • None presently identified.