Dee River (Queensland)

The Dee River is a river located in Central Queensland, Australia.

For other rivers with similar names, see River Dee (disambiguation).
Dee
Location of Dee River mouth in Queensland
Location
CountryAustralia
StateQueensland
RegionCentral Queensland
SettlementsMount Morgan, Dululu
Physical characteristics
SourceRazorback Range
 • locationsouth of Bouldercombe
 • coordinates23°36′50″S 150°29′38″E
 • elevation642 m (2,106 ft)
Mouthconfluence with the Don River
 • location
near Rannes
 • coordinates
24°05′28″S 150°07′43″E
 • elevation
55 m (180 ft)
Length97 km (60 mi)
Basin features
River systemFitzroy River
Tributaries 
 • leftLimestone Creek, Horse Creek, Hamilton Creek, Nine Mile Creek
 • rightBoulder Creek, Oaky Creek, Pruce Creek
Resources ReserveBouldercombe Gorge Resources Reserve
[1]

Course and features

Part of the Fitzroy River system, the Dee River rises in the Razorback Range south of Bouldercombe Gorge Resources Reserve near Mount Gavial, south of Bouldercombe. The river flows generally south by west through the mining settlement of Mount Morgan, Waluml and Dululu, where the river is crossed by the Burnett Highway. The river is joined by seven minor tributaries including Limestone Creek, Horse Creek, Hamilton Creek, Nine Mile Creek, Boulder Creek, Oaky Creek and Pruce Creek. The Dee River forms its confluence with the Don River near Rannes.

The largest dam on the river is Number 7 Dam, built for the Mount Morgan Mine, which has a history of acid mine discharge from gold and copper mining entering the Dee River.[2]

Mine pit

In January 2013, the mine pit overflowed.[3] Approximately 700 millimetres (28 in) of rain fell after ex-tropical Cyclone Oswald resulted in the 2013 Eastern Australia floods. Towards the end of February the dam was spilling acid and heavy metals into the river.[3] Concerns regarding the discolouration of the river's water and fears of contamination causing irreversible damage to the river were raised in mid-2011.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Map of Dee River, QLD". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  2. Duivenvoorden, L. J. (1995). "Biological assessment of the Dee River, Central Queensland" (Abstract, research report) |format= requires |url= (help). Rockhampton, Qld.: Central Queensland University. hdl:10018/953987. Missing or empty |url= (help)
  3. Townsend, Ian (14 February 2013). "Queensland's toxic Dee River reveals national mine waste problem". Radio National. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  4. "Contamination fears for Dee River". Australian Mining. 25 July 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
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