Grey nomads are being asked to photograph Queensland’s 10 Great Artesian Basin springs in order to help the Government gain a better understanding of the remote ecosystems.
The plan is for travellers to upload their pictures through an online portal to help create a time lapse photo library of springs in the basin. These photos will help the authorities better understand the changing conditions of springs and better assess the factors impacting on their health.
This will be an important supplement to the scientific monitoring data.
Queensland Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham told NewsRegional that the photos would allow the springs to be viewed over time – not just when rangers were nearby.
“Public photos will provide a time series illustrating the ways these springs behave over time, in response to changes in weather, water use, land use and other factors,” he said. “One of the locations for the pilot – Elizabeth Springs Conservation Park south-east of Boulia – was actually made a park because of its mound springs and their unique animals and plants. They have their own goby fish, found no-where else in the world.”
The springs are spread across Queensland with a number in the state’s south-west, central Queensland and Cape York.
At each spring, visitors will find a photo pole and information sign that includes instructions for taking and submitting photos. They are asked to take photos standing as close to the pole as possible to provide a common point of reference and at the highest possible resolution.
The plan is for the photos of the spring and surroundings to focus on:
• landscape – surrounding landscape and the natural spring itself
• vegetation – native vegetation, weeds, crops
• geology – stones, rocks, mounds, mineral markings on ground
• animals – native, wild, farm/stock, pests.
• any other feature of the spring at the time of visit.
Mr Miles said the ‘citizen science’ monitoring project was designed to raise awareness about the springs.
Grey nomads can go to www.qld.gov.au to find out where the springs are and how to take and submit the photographs.
Photo poles have been installed at Police Paddock, Town Common and Jantala sites, poles for the remaining eight sites will be installed by the end of September.
* Are you ready, willing able to help with the spring survey? Comment below.
