QUEENSLAND will protect 263,000sq km of western Queensland's legendary Georgina and Diamantina watercourses using landmark Wild Rivers legislation.
The rivers are the stuff of pioneer folklore, of major importance to Murri groups, graziers and miners, home to dozens of species of waterbirds - the site of a burgeoning tourism industry. Listing will make it virtually impossible for large-scale irrigation projects.
Environment Minister Vicky Darling said yesterday the move would preserve waterways that largely still had their natural values intact while protecting their agricultural role.
"A Wild River declaration will help to ensure that developments, such as surface mining, do not adversely impact on natural values," she said.
"We cannot afford to be complacent with this environmental treasure and that is why we are acting now."
The catchment's rivers, channels and flood plains fill Lake Eyre and provide a habitat for millions of waterbirds.
Rare creatures found there include the painted snipe and the endangered Elizabeth Springs goby, a species found only in the Diamantina Basin.
Wilderness Society spokesman Glenn Walker said listing was critical as the Lake Eyre Basin was a major, mining industry target, with 80 per cent already covered in mining tenements.
"This is why it is so critical that Premier (Anna) Bligh finally moves to deliver on her 2009 promise to protect the ... river systems," he said.
A Queensland Resources Council spokesman said he could not comment because his organisation was yet to see details.
Many far western graziers are in two minds over wild rivers. They philosophically oppose regulation of any type - particularly environment - but know that listing will help keep their hard-fought clean and green production image.
Grazier Angus Emmott of Noonbah Station in the adjacent Cooper Creek catchment said listing did not effect stocking rates or access to waterholes.
"It's brilliant protection for the beef industry," Mr Emmott said. "We hope it will slightly restrict CSG, mining and petroleum."
AgForce president Brent Finlay said his organisaton opposed wild rivers listings because it restricted long-term development and diversification.
A listing would limit construction of fences, dams and other infrastructure needed to alter land use.
Dave Arnold, general manager of the regional councils' Remote Area Planning and Development group, said the legislation was not needed.
"We've tried to get the best we can out of it," he said. "Between us and stakeholders like Agforce we've achieved a lot."
Mr Arnold said the Government had made concessions in areas such as recognising the far western rivers were not traditional waterways but rather Channel Coutnry and floodplains, had accepted vegetation control by blade ploughing, and resolved issues such as the extraction of sand and gravel by local road gangs.
"No one out here wants large scale irrigaiton so we are in agreement there," he said.
There are 10 declared wild river areas - four in Cape York, four in the Gulf of Carpentaria and two on islands.
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