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2.7.2 Prioritising landscape classes for receptor impact modelling

Summary

The purpose of this section is to provide the rationale for the choice of landscape groups that have been selected for the impact and risk analysis, and to describe the modelling undertaken for each of these groups. The landscape classification for the assessment extent of the Namoi subregion identified 29 landscape classes that were aggregated into 6 broad landscape groups.

The zone of potential hydrological change developed for the Namoi subregion was used to: (i) identify ecological landscape classes that intersect it and are potentially impacted by the modelled hydrological changes due to additional coal resource development, and (ii) rule out landscape classes that do not intersect the zone and are therefore considered very unlikely (less than 5% chance) to be impacted by changes in hydrology. Qualitative and/or receptor impact models are only needed for those ecological landscape classes that are potentially impacted.

A total of 21 landscape classes, comprising 4 landscape groups that intersect the 7014 km2 zone of potential hydrological change, are considered dependent on groundwater or surface water regimes. These landscape groups, therefore, are potentially impacted due to additional coal resource development and are considered further in this product and through the remainder of the impact and risk analysis of the bioregional assessment (BA) for the Namoi subregion. The landscape groups are ‘Floodplain or lowland riverine’, ‘Non-floodplain or upland riverine’, ‘Springs’ and ‘Rainforest’.

The Pilliga and Pilliga Outwash Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) subregions, or simply termed the ‘Pilliga region’ here, represent a unique set of landscapes within the Namoi subregion. Based on agreement with experts in this region, separate modelling was undertaken for the Pilliga that included riverine landscape classes (upland and lowland) and the ‘Grassy woodland groundwater-dependent ecosystem (GDE)’ landscape class that is mostly contained within this region.

The next four sections in this product (Section 2.7.3 to Section 2.7.6, inclusive) focus on the four landscape groups that are considered during subsequent stages of the BA for the Namoi subregion. The purpose of the current section is to provide the rationale for the choice of landscape groups that have been selected for the impact and risk analysis, and to describe the modelling undertaken for each of these groups.

Last updated:
6 December 2018
Thumbnail of the Namoi subregion

Product Finalisation date

2018
PRODUCT CONTENTS

ASSESSMENT