The wild rivers policy has been subject to intense opposition from farm representatives and some Aboriginal leaders, who say the policy prevents sustainable economic development.

But Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says community consultation will take place before the potential declaration of the Lockhart, Stewart and Archer river basins as wild rivers.

Last year Queensland's first six wild rivers were declared: Settlement Creek, Morning Inlet, the Gregory River and Staaten River, in the Gulf, and Hinchinbrook and Fraser Islands.

"We are planning for Queensland's future by protecting our world-class natural environment," Ms Bligh said.

"No other Australian State or Territory has such comprehensive laws to preserve rivers that have most of their natural values intact."

Natural Resources Minister Craig Wallace said consultation has begun with landholders, interest groups and the indigenous communities across these new wild river basins.

"However, while we want to preserve our wild rivers we also want local communities to continue to prosper," Mr Wallace said.

Mr Wallace said declaring a river wild did not mean the end of economic or development activity in a river system.

"The first six wild river declarations have shown this is not the case. Pastoralists, eco tourist operators and commercial ventures can continue," Mr Wallace said.

"In particular the legitimate interest of traditional owners will be recognised and taken into account."

Under the Wild Rivers Act 2005, high impact developments - such as feedlots, mines, crop areas, dams and stream diversions - cannot occur in a buffer zone called the High Preservation Area bordering wild rivers.

However, they can occur outside the buffer zone if they meet wild river conditions.

The consultation will be co-managed by indigenous organisations and the Department of Natural Resources and Water.

Details of the three Cape river basins, which cover an area of nearly 19,500 square kilometres, are:

• The Stewart River Basin on Cape York’s east coast includes the catchments of Massy Creek, Breakfast Creek, the Stewart River, Balclutha Creek and Gorge Creek, which flow from the Great Dividing Range into the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef Lagoon. Densely forested mountain ranges and extensive floodplains. Diverse topography, climate and soil support significant vegetation communities, including large areas of rainforest in the McIlwraith Range. Land use is grazing and conservation management.

• Also on Cape York’s east coast, Lockhart River Basin includes catchments of the Claudie River, Lockhart River, Nesbit River and Chester River. Region has significant areas of rainforest, eucalypt and paperbark woodlands, and estuarine wetlands. Include the Iron Range National Park and Lloyd Bay Wetlands - extensive and diverse wetlands of national significance. Land use is conservation management, grazing and tourism.

• The Archer River Basin drains into the Gulf of Carpentaria on the west coast of Cape York. Includes catchments of the Archer, Kirke and Love Rivers. Basin estuaries are in a natural state and there are a number of significant wetlands, including the Archer River Aggregation. Also includes the Mungkan Kandju National Park.

Other river basins may also be considered for possible declaration as wild rivers later in 2008-09.