Environmental groups and farmers are demanding better protection from oil and gas development for the rivers and flood plains of the Lake Eyre basin.
The call follows a major study investigating the distribution of oil and gas across the flood plains that identified major environmental concerns.
"Even with my long history of involvement in protecting and researching the rivers of the Lake Eyre basin, I was astounded at the scale of the current development, let alone what is planned in our so-called 'gas-led energy phase' in South Australia and Queensland," lead author Richard Kingsford of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at UNSW Sydney said.
Fifth-generation Channel Country grazier Ken Griffiths said the region's reputation as a producer of some of the cleanest and greenest beef in the world relied on the water.
He said the study's results came as no surprise.
"This research really just confirms what people in the Channel Country have known for years," Mr Griffiths said.
"Allowing industrial developments like oil and gas mining on the flood plains is just madness."
Using publicly available data from South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, the study identified 831 existing oil and gas production and exploration wells.
More than 98 per cent are on the flood plains of Cooper Creek, including 296 wells in the Coongie Lakes Ramsar site, an area identified as significantly important for conservation in the northeast corner of South Australia
The 296 wells in the flood plain areas of the Coongie Lakes site included 281 well pads, 870km of roads and 440 storages or excavations that fill with water.
Researchers used satellite imagery to show roads were interrupting natural flooding regimes and raised concerns about water in storages potentially polluting natural flood waters.
Now is the time for the Queensland government to ban new oil and gas on the Channel Country rivers and flood plains, Lock the Gate Alliance Queensland's Ellie Smith said.
"If we are to draw a line in the sand anywhere, then there are few better places to start than the Lake Eyre basin, home to the last free-flowing desert rivers in the world."
Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the state government had established a stakeholder advisory group to help shape what protecting rivers and flood plains looks like.
"The advisory group has met on a number of occasions, and now the government is considering their responses as it prepares the consultation (Regulatory Impact Statement)," Ms Scanlon said in a statement.
"This is critical work that needs to be done and will inform options for the long term sustainable management of the Queensland Lake Eyre Basin."
Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and her South Australian counterpart have also been contacted for comment.
