Long term ecological monitoring of the Townsville Field Training Area (TFTA): biological, water resource and hydrological surveys

Project manager: Damien Burrows

Project staff: Dominica Loong, Laurence Leissmann, Cameron Armstrong, Vern Veitch, John Dowe, John Faithful

Project collaborator: Department of Defence

The ACTFR was approached to provide biological (flora and fauna) and hydrological (aquatic biota and water quality) surveys of the proposed Department of Defence Townsville Field Training Area (TFTA). Located within the Shire of Dalrymple to the south-west of Townsville, the TFTA covers an area on some 2320 square km topography. This includes the escarpments and hills of Paluma and Hervey's ranges in the north and east; to a complex of dissected plateaux and tablelands with steep slopes to the south; through to areas of low relief in the south-west. The area includes a small portion of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area.