New bridge across the Mitchell at Koolatah, Oct 2025
Welcome.
Overview
The Mitchell River Watershed Management Group was formed after a conference on watershed management hosted by the Kowanyama Aboriginal community in 1990. Since then it has grown into an independent, not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with local communities and stakeholders towards:
- a balanced approach to the use of the catchment resources; and
- sustainable and integrated management of the Mitchell River catchment area.
The catchment has an area of 72,000 square kilometres (larger than Tasmania) from above the Coral Sea to the Gulf of Carpentaria across four very diverse bioregions from the Wet Tropics to the Gulf Plains.
Our watershed is comprised of five main river catchments: the Lynd, the Walsh, the Mitchell, the Palmer, and the Alice.
Headlines
2025 Annual General Meeting and General Meeting
Our 35th AGM was held online on Saturday, 29 Nov at 10:00.
Chair's Report, Financials, and a statement from the Treasurer were presented and a Committee of Management was elected. All members of the 2025 Committee were returned and we welcomed an additional Director, Hugh Wallace. The full Committee for 2026 is:
Friends report documents 4 years of progress at Abattoir Swamp
A 4-year Progress Report had been prepared and was officially presented to Councillors Ross Cardillo and Amy Braes with Mitchell River Chair Fiona Barron congratulating the Friends on their staunch perseverance in the face of significant challenges.
Friends of Abattoir Swamp, or the “Swampies”, are the volunteer management committee looking after the much-loved environmental park called Abattoir Swamp.
2025 Mitchell River Forum
This year the Mitchell River Forum featured a line up of local leaders offering research reports, project updates, and briefings relevant to sustainable management in the catchment. Biosecurity was a central focus, particularly in light of the projected impacts of Bird Flu. Water was again a theme, with particular focus on the review of the Mitchell River Water Plan.
The meeting convened at 09.30 at the Geraghty Park Hall in Julatten, on Saturday 11 October. The speakers program concluded at 12.30 followed by a networking lunch.
Delicious Barramundi Gardens spring rolls were served along with a classic BBQ provided by the Julatten Mens Shed. Special thanks to Mareeba-Dumbulah Bendigo Community Bank for their generous support.
- Read more about 2025 Mitchell River Forum
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Special projects
