The Julia Creek Dunnart may be a tiny endangered animal but its survival has been a crucial symbol of the towm.
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And now Keep Queensland Beautiful (Tidy Towns) have recognised McKinlay Shire Council for their work in keeping the endangered marsupial from extinction.
Julia Creek took out Environmental Protection Award in the Keep Queensland Beautiful awards last week that also saw Cloncurry take out most friendliest town.
The award for McKinlay Shire honours work that has been going on ten years.
McKinlay Shire Council received federal Government funding to build a Dunnart refuge and predator fence which was erected near the airstrip in 2007, covering an area of 250 hectares and Council provided the repairs and maintenance of this fence is ensure the dunnart sanctuary is maintained.
A recovery team of members of the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Department of Natural Resources, La Trobe University, Queensland Wildlife Preservation Society and Agforce is working to protect the dunnart and its habitat.
Among other activities, the team has negotiated voluntary conservation agreements on private land and conducts surveys to identify critical Dunnart habitat and distribution.
Council works closely with the University of Queensland Gatton campus who provide the dunnarts which are on display in ‘Beneath the Creek’.
Unfortunately UQ no longer has a breeding program for Julia Creek Dunnarts and is required to undertake further in field studies in the hopes to re-establish a breeding program.
Council continues to support UQ in their undertaking small animal surveys in the district.
‘At the Creek’ is a multi-award winning visitor information centre and tourist attraction in Julia Creek.
Throughout the Centre there are several interactive audio and visual tools to help visitors experience what it is like to live, work and play in McKinlay Shire.
'Beneath the Creek' features the nocturnal viewing area of the endangered marsupial and it focus is on the Dunnart natural habitat that allows visitors to explores the underground features that have shaped the regions past through an interactive floor and touch screens.
The Julia Creek Dunnart (Sminthopsis Douglasi) is a small, endangered, nocturnal marsupial found only in the Mitchell grass plains of the Shire.
Sightings are rare, which is why the centre’s nocturnal viewing area is so special and allows Council to increase awareness and promote the Dunnart that was thought to be extinct.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
