Laura
- Ranger team
- Laura Rangers
- Host organisation
- South Cape York Catchments
The Laura rangers manage the Agarra Timara Aboriginal freehold land and care for surrounding country, including extensive galleries of rock art in the National Heritage listed Quinkan country. Laura rangers have a long-standing partnership with South Cape York Catchments and are actively engaged in sustainable natural resource management practices to enhance the rich cultural and environmental values of the region.
Laura rangers’ work includes:
- ongoing cultural site recording and management of the estimated 10,000 rock art sites in the Quinkan reserves
- protection of rock art images by clearing vegetation and annual cool burns to reduce fuel load and protect galleries from the flame and smoke of hot wildfire
- weed and feral animal management, including cattle and pigs that sometimes shelter around the rock art
- protection of rock art sites through the construction and maintenance of animal exclusion fencing
- biodiversity surveys, including for freshwater species such as sawfish
- engagement of young people in caring for country activities, through visits to the Laura State School, and on-country activities
- water quality monitoring in the Laura-Normanby catchment to track the long-term health of the river systems.