Topography and Climate
The Gulf region covers 186,000 sq km, comprising the vast flat plains around the southern Gulf of Carpentaria stretching to the south, with rising uplands in the east and southwest. The southwest of the region is heavily mineralised, a part of the northwest mineral province. It is an area 80% the size of Victoria with an annual runoff almost 30% of the national total and larger than the Murray Darling basin.
The Gulf Savannah region has a tropical climate with wet summers and dry winters. The temperatures range from a daily mean maximum of 33°c to a daily mean minimum of 20°c, with an approximate rainfall of 900 mm per annum.
There are two bioregions in the Gulf:
- The Northern Gulf - Resource Management Group - NRM and
- The Southern Gulf - Catchments - NRM
The role of these groups is to produce strategies for the management and
protection of the bioregions. Supporting this process at the catchment
level, are catchment co-ordinating and Landcare groups.
Vegetation and wetlands perform critical functions for protection of the landscape and the ecological integrity of both the land and marine ecosystems. There are 20 wetlands in the Gulf region and the National Oceans Office study for the Gulf of Carpentaria waters is identifying issues relating to management of the wetlands.
The Gulf is drained by 28 drainage basins, with the majority of streams flowing north and northwest into the Gulf of Carpentaria. While these catchment vary in size the mean annual discharge of the streams entering the Gulf account for about 20% of Australia’s annual surface run off. These river basins include the Mitchell, Flinders, Gilbert, Leichhardt, Nicholson, Norman and Staaten.
The Gulf region is particularly reliant on the maintenance of its catchment systems and watercourses. The regions water courses provide a range of natural and economic functions, including habitat and nursery grounds for aquatic organisms, particularly those which support the extensive Gulf fishery and aquatic organisms, water supply for domestic, natural and agricultural purposes, sport, tourism and recreation as well as ecological links and corridors.
Population
The population of the region is sparse in comparison to the eastern parts of Queensland. While the population is small, approximately 9,000 residents, the total gross value of production of the region is vast, with in excess of $390 million being generated for the State of Queensland and the nation.
Service Industries
In all shires there are a number of cafes, small supermarkets, bakeries, butchers, service stations and mechanics, and RACQ services. A number of licensed restaurants operate throughout the region, catering to a variety of tastes. Seafood is a particular specialty in the Gulf Savannah, provided from catches made daily in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
