Mackay Seaport & the Environment

Kommo Toera Trail - the wetlands

The Kommo Toera Trail is a "Water Walk Trail" that meanders through the wetlands of the Port Conservation Area.

Read on to discover the fantastic selection of flora and fauna that inhabits this lovely sanctuary that exists only minutes away from the City Heart.

Alternatively you can download the Kommo Toera Trail Information Flyer in PDF 1MB

About the Koera Trail

The first section of the trail is a combined boardwalk and pathway system extending for 700 meters and will take up to 1 hour if you stop and enjoy the many points of interest along the way

The trail will be be progressively extended as a circuit of 1,500 meters long, traversing virtually every habitat found in this coastal environment. The wetlands are a dramatic and dynamic place to visit whatever the season.

Seasonal Wetlands

These wetlands support a wide range of plants and animals and the natural cycles of inundation and drying play a vital role in their bio diversity.

Some plants and animals only appear during the 'wet', some appear as the surface water recedes, while others are adapted to survive the ever-changing cycles of wet and dry seasons.

Paperbarks (Melaleuca spp.) are the dominant trees along the trail Weeping Paperbark (Melaleuca Leucadendra) is the most common but two other species are found in the area. Blue-leaved Paperbark (M. dealbata), and a broad-leaved species (M sp aff viridiflora). The characteristic white to pale brown papery bark, often blackened by fire, indicate the latin derivation of its name Meal - black, Leuca- white. The paperbark is one of the few trees that survives being 'knee-deep' in water. If it's dry you'll be able to see the tangles hummock of roots, and the tannin stained 'sock' at the base of the trunk that indicates the depth of water in previous wet seasons.

The Story of the Wetlands

An evolving landscape In geological terms, the Slade Point lowlands area where you are now walking is a very young landscape. Over the past tens of thousands of years, sea level oscillations, in response to natural cycles of climate change, have governed the evolution of the area. Around 50 thousand years ago the Slade Point swampland lay beneath the Coral Sea, and Mt Basset and Slade Point were islands surrounded by shallow sea water. At this time the main estuarine channel, now known as the Pioneer River, flowed into the sea in the Slade Point area well north of its present outlet. Longshore drift of beach sands over millennia resulted in the build up of the coastal dune system that we observe today.

The climate and its impact - The Mackay region has a tropical climate with hot wet summers subject to cyclonic events, and warm dry winters. More than three quarters of the annual rainfall occurs in summer while June to October are dry months. Above average rainfalls and floods are often associated with cyclones. More than the average annual rainfall (about 1,700mm) fell in January 1918 from a very destructive cyclone that also brought a 3.65m storm surge to Mackay. One of the wettest years on record is 1958 with more than double the yearly average. There have been many very 'wet' years but so too have there been periods of 'dry' - sometimes extending over several years - when rainfall has been well below average.

Aboriginal Hunters and Gatherers - In aboriginal society, there are strict laws and observances to determine what may be killed and eaten by the particular groups. While there are no references to show precisely what the local groups used, many of the plants and animals that occur here were seasonal food sources for Aboriginal people in general - fish, waterbirds, eggs, scrub fowl, long-necked turtles, goannas, other reptiles, tubers, palm hearts, various fruits and seeds.

The Kommo Toera Trail

• site one | site two

1: Site One

The Keeleys Road carpark and the entrance shelter are located on a remnant sand ridge. The better drained conditions allow the development of a more diverse woodland community dominated by Moreton Bay Ash ( Corymbia tessellaris). This community has been colonised by rainforest species that now form a tall understorey. Some of the more distinctive species are:

• Red Kamala (Mallotus philippensis) - the powdery covering on the clusters of fruits has been used for dye.
• Orange Bark (Maytenus disperma) - bunches of small yellow fruits can be seen over a long period in summer
• Northern Native Olive (Chionanthus ramiflora) - shiny leaves and olive-like purple fruits
• Cocky Apple (Planchonia careya) - in late spring white and pink brush flowers that open at night carpet the ground.

1: Site Two

The shade provided by the high canopy of the Weeping Paperbark (Melaleuca leucadendra) forest, together with the high water table and the accumulated leaf mulch, has created ideal conditions for the development of this extensive colony of Swamp Water Fern (Blechnum indicum), which is locally rare. this fern reacts dramatically to seasonal conditions, growing in almost impenetrable head high thickets of fronds in wet season, then dying back to a mass of wiry sticks in the dry. In some areas, the thick underground stems of Swamp Water Fern were roasted by the Aboriginal people for food.

These trees are some of the larger Weeping Paperbarks in the area. During the dry their tangled roots provide ideal habitat for wildlife.

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3: Site Three

In January 1991 a tornado like storm cell funneled in from the sea, travelled behind Slade Point Road, then tore through the adjacent urban area leaving a path of damage before continuing toward Mount Bassett. The metal roof sheeting, wrapped high in the Paperbark branches above is a legacy of this event and serves as a reminder of the ferocity of nature.

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4: Site Four

This section of the Port Conservation Zone is crossed by several waterways that channel stormwater and flood flows toward the south and southwest. Some sections are deeper than other and therefore contain water for longer periods but none are permanent. The level of the boardwalk has been designed so that it is possible to access the wetlands in al but the most sever flood conditions. The peak of the wet season is perhaps the best time to see the wealth and diversity of plant and animal life throughout the wetlands. Lots of things happen in the 'wet' - seeds and bulbs of waterplants spring to life, fish and waterbirds return to the area, frogs call for mates - the wetland becomes a vibrant, dynamic even noisy place to be.

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5: Site Five

Here you can see how the vegetation is changing. this sand ridge is marginally higher than the adjacent waterways or swales, consequently different species grow on the better drained soils that overlay the high water table beneath. Which plant types where, is closely related to soil type and depth, drainage and available moisture. You will note the progression of species from the edge of the swale, where conditions are usually wet, to the higher areas, where the root zone has better drainage.

You can identify many distinctive bark textures in this area.

• Monkey Rope (Parsonsia latifolia) - a liane that uses adventitious toots as anchors to climb the trunk of its support tree
• Pink Euodia (Melicope elleryana) - a tree with pale corky textured bark and open canopy
• Native Cherry (Exocarpus latifolius) - the dark green leaves on this large shrub/small tree have distinctive longitudinal veins. Large specimens have a very dark rough bark.

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6: Site Six

Pink Euodia, also know as Corkwood, is well known in horticulture. In summer clusters of pink/mauve flowers are borne along the branches. Sometimes, in a feeding frenzy to source the nectar, honeyeaters bite the lowe4s from the stem and literally cover the ground in a carpet of pink. Pink Euodia is a food plant for for the larvae of the brilliant electric blue Ulysses butterfly (Papilio Ulysses). Butterflies are very choosy where they deposit their eggs and in this area there are good plants for many different species. The Blue Triangle butterfly is sometimes seen by the million, fluttering over the ground and resting in the paperbark trees.

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7: Site Seven

On each side of the path are large Rusty Figs (Ficus rubiginosa). These strangler figs have virtually destroyed their host Weeping Paperbark tree.

Look at the diverse mix of seedling and juvenile trees under the canopy of the larger fig tree on the north side of the track. Birds play an important in seed dispersal by spreading seeds from elsewhere. Here they have been attracted to the succulent fruits of the figs. As they roost on the shaded branches the seeds are 'planted' and fertilized in the soil below through their droppings.

When you visit the Trail at this point you will see the smaller fig which illustrates the strangling process. It is probable that a bird has deposited a fig seed, which has germinated in the soft moist papery bark. The roots of the developing seedling fig have followed down the trunk, searching for the soil beneath. On contact they have rapidly gained vigour and have then progressively encircled the trunk and branches to ultimately create a strong support for the growing fig tree. The host tree is slowly killed by strangulation. Observe the interesting structure and pattern of roots that result from this process.

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8: Site Eight

This section of boardwalk is an ideal place to observe the successional development of a Weeping Paperbark forest.

In this moist peaty swale the seed has germinated readily in ideal conditions to create a very dense 'matchstick' forest of sapling trees. The juvenile trees are far too close to allow every plant ot survive to maturity so nature manages the forest by a policy of 'survival of the fittest'.

Many of the saplings have already died as a result of competition and drop to the ground to add nutirients to the soil. A small percentage iwll ultimately survive to become mature specimens such as the huge parent trees that are found randomly throughout the wetlands.

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9: Site Nine

Here is another grove of Moreton Bay Ash trees. They are sometimes referred to as 'half-barks'. The 'stocking of dark grey checkered bark on the lower half of the trunk is persisten but the smooth sivery grey-green 'gum' bark above is shed every year.

Moreton Bay Ash trees are a distinctive feature of the sandy ridge community. During the flowering season, massed clusters of white flowers, attract nectar feeding virds, fruit bats, and possums. At times you might see thousands of soft papery gum nuts beneath these trees. This striking tree is widespread and is found in many habitats along the Queensland coast and far into the inland.

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10: Stage Ten

This semi-protected lagoon usually contains water for extended periods. The lagoon spreadso ut to a more open waterway to the south. Cluster of Swamp Lillies (Crinum penunculatum and angustifolium) distinguished by their strap leaves and white spide-like flowers have established in this location. Stop, look and listen and you might seee a range of bus birds flitting about the trees or water birds foraging for food in the wetlands.

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11: Stage Eleven

Here is another excellent example of a large stranger fig that has virtually destroyed its host tree. Examine closely how the roots have strangled the trunk. Notice the curtain of roots dropping down from the branches to penetrate into the soil below.

Several juvenile Weeping Cabbage Palms (Livistona decipiens) and a Screw Palm (Pandanus sp.) add textual variety to this community through their foliage. Mature specimens of these species can be seen elsewhere in the forest.

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12: Stage Twelve

This hide overlooks a sunny seasonal lagoon where grasses, sedges and aquatic plants flourish in the 'wet' and provide resources for some species of water birds.

As the lagoon dries up, the cracking clay and mud provides food and habitat for a different range of specials.

Sit quietly and look carefully. Some birds are easy to identify - the big black and white Magpie Geese with a knob on their heads, or Sacred and Straw-necked Ibises with down-curved beaks.

In the nearby trees look for shiny black Spangled Drongo with its 'fishtail', the tiny Red-backed Fairy Wren and other bush birds.

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13: Stage Thirteen

Along the trail you have seen numerous Weeping Paperbarks but here is a colony of a different species. Can you spot the differences between the two? Compare the size, form and bark and note the broader, stiffer leaves. This broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca sp. aff. viridiflora) has creamy white bottlebrush flowers that are larger than those of the Weeping Paperbark. Flowering times are different too. You can closely observe one of these trees from the ramp to the bird-hide. Botanists are still to determine the true identity of this species which is very similar to the Broad-leaved Paperbark which usually has green flowers.

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14: Stage Fourteen

This higher level hide overlooking the lagoon, grassland and clay pans beyond, provides an excellent vantage point to observe the wildlife. The species you have already seen at site 12 are likely to be here too.

You might also see various species of ducks and tall graceful Egrets with their snow-white plumage and long this bills. Big grey Brolgas frequent the open areas. Don't forget to look up - you might see a March Harrier as it cruises over the area looking for prey.

If the wetland sedges have been disturbed it is probable that Magpie Geese have been busy digging tubers of the Water Chestnut or Spikerush (Eleocharis dulcis)