Nebine Mungallala Wallam Catchment

The Nebine catchment incorporates the catchments of Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creeks.  The catchment covers a total area of some 38 100 square kilometres of which only 1% lies in New South Wales. 

LOCATION

RIVER SYSTEM

Major Creeks: Nebine, Mungallala and Wallam Creeks
Tributaries: Paterson Creek (Nebine)

All of the streams in the Nebine catchment are ephemeral (DNR 2000)

SOCIAL FACTORS

Bollon and Mungallala are the two townships located in the Nebine catchment.  Mungallala is located on the banks of Mungallala Creek in the northern reaches of the catchment.  Bollon is situated on the banks of Wallam Creek approximately 100 kilometres west of St George.

VEGETATION

The Nebine catchment is dominated by Mulga (Acacia aneura) shrublands growing on the flat to undulating plains.  Areas of Bendee are also found in the catchment.  Brigalow and Mitchell Grass can also be found in the upper reaches of the catchment.  Extensive clearing has significantly reduced natural stands of Brigalow and some of the remaining stands are listed as endangered (DNR 2000).  Cypress pine woodland is supported in the sandhills of the major channels in the lower regions (Purdie & McDonald 1990 cited in DNR 2000).

In the southern and eastern sections of the catchment are a number of alluvial plains which, due to their regular flooding, support low open Gidgee forests (DNR 2000).

River red gum, coolibah and poplar box are the major species of trees found in the riparian communities along the channels.  Grazing pressure has affected some poplar box, black box and coolibah communities along with a salt bush and yarran community (DNR 2000).

CLIMATE

The Nebine catchment is in an area with extremely variable rainfall.  Annual average rainfall is in the range of 300 millimetres in the lower reaches to approximately 550 millimetres in the more elevated sections in the northern part of the catchment.  Over 67% of the area receives less than 450 millimetres per annum (DNR 2000).

INDUSTRIES

Grazing, both beef cattle and sheep for wool production, is the predominant industry in the catchment.  Irrigated crops are almost non-existent. 

WEED & PESTS

The following weeds and pests have been identified as current and potential problems in the Nebine catchment:

Weeds: Bathurst Burr, Harrisa Cactus, Mimosa Bush, Mother of Millions, Parkinsonia, Parthenium, Prickly Pear.

Animal Pests: Feral foxes, goats, pigs, wild dogs.

THREATENED SPECIES

An array of significant fauna and flora species have been listed for the Nebine catchment under either Commonwealth or State legislation.  Of particular interest in the Nebine  catchment are:  

Wallam Creek is the habitat of a large Koala population which thrives on the abundant river Red Gum in the area and over 110 species of birds have been recorded in the area, some of which are quite rare.

INTERESTING FACTS

National Parks

Thrushton National Park is located entirely within the Nebine catchment and contains a high diversity of vegetation types representative of the Mulga-lands bioregion.  This park is considered to have high scientific research value (DNR 2000).

The Culgoa Floodplain National Park is partially contained within the Nebine catchment. Tregole National Park and Chesterton Range National Park also have small portions contained within the catchment.