3.5.2.4 'Vegetation' subgroup

3.5.2.4.1 ‘Groundwater-dependent ecosystem’ class

Water-dependent assets classified as groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs) include areas identified from previous studies, or classified as having high or medium potential for groundwater interaction in the National atlas of groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDE atlas) (Bureau of Meteorology, 2012; Bioregional Assessment Programme, Dataset 4). The asset register also includes all of the GDE areas, lines and points identified in the Queensland Government GDE mapping (DSITIA, 2012). GDEs are classified as either subsurface GDEs (those that rely on the subsurface presence of groundwater) or surface GDEs (those that rely on the surface expression of groundwater). Subsurface and terrestrial GDEs include vegetation communities that interact with a groundwater system beneath the surface. Surface GDEs include vegetation communities that are associated with groundwater discharged to the surface as springs or baseflow such as vegetation in fringing waterways or wetlands. Watercourse GDEs are lines or stream segments identified as groundwater dependent in the Queensland Government GDE mapping (DSITIA, 2012).

The source aquifer for all water-dependent assets in the ‘Groundwater-dependent ecosystem’ class is assumed to be the regional watertable. The zone of potential hydrological change includes 33 water-dependent assets in the ‘Groundwater-dependent ecosystem’ class (Bioregional Assessment Programme, 2017). This includes:

17 GDE assets sourced from the GDE atlas, comprising
- 6 surface GDEs that cover 233 km²
- 11 subsurface GDEs that cover 362 km²
16 assets sourced from the Queensland Government GDE mapping, comprising
- 9 terrestrial GDEs that cover 88 km²
- 4 surface GDEs that cover 2 km²
- 3 watercourse GDEs that cover 399 km.

The extent of GDEs where the median (50th percentile) estimate of drawdown due to additional coal resource development exceeds 0.2 m in the regional watertable includes 196 km² of GDEs and 11 km of groundwater-dependent streams. Median drawdown for GDE areas is predominantly less than 5 m due to additional coal resource development, with the exception of 18 km² in the immediate vicinity of the operational areas, and less than 5 m under the baseline, with the exception of 4 km² to the south-west of The Range coal mine (Table 26 and Table 27).

Median drawdown for watercourse GDEs is predominantly less than 2 m, including 6 km of streams under the baseline, with 5 km of streams potentially affected by additional coal resource development in the zone of potential hydrological change (Table 26 and Table 27). Watercourse GDEs affected by additional drawdown are predicted to experience less than 1 m of drawdown in the regional watertable under the baseline (Figure 39).

Figure 38 Median baseline drawdown and additional drawdown for ecological assets in the 'Groundwater-dependent ecosystem' class in the zone of potential hydrological change in the vicinity of New Acland Coal Mine and The Range coal mine

Baseline drawdown is the maximum difference in drawdown (dmax) under the baseline relative to no coal resource development. Additional drawdown is the maximum difference in drawdown (dmax) between the coal resource development pathway (CRDP) and baseline, due to additional coal resource development. The mine pits in the CRDP are the sum of those in the baseline and the additional coal resource development. Areas within modelled open-cut mine pits (Table 4) are not included in this analysis.

ACRD = additional coal resource development, CSG = seam coal gas, GDE = groundwater-dependent ecosystem

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 2, Dataset 4, Dataset 5, Dataset 6, Dataset 7, Dataset 8)

Figure 39 For ecological assets in the 'Groundwater-dependent ecosystem' class in the zone of potential hydrological change: the top two plots show area (km2) and length (km) of assets that exceed the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of baseline drawdown and additional drawdown, and the bottom row shows baseline drawdown compared to additional drawdown for each assessment unit occupied by assets

Colours represent the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile. Baseline drawdown is the maximum difference in drawdown (dmax) under the baseline relative to no coal resource development. Additional drawdown is the maximum difference in drawdown (dmax) between the coal resource development pathway (CRDP) and baseline, due to additional coal resource development. Areas within modelled open-cut mine pits (Table 4) are not included in this analysis. GDE = groundwater-dependent ecosystem

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 3)

Table 26 Number and extent of ecological water-dependent assets in the ‘Vegetation’ subgroup that exceed the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of baseline drawdown (m) in the zone of potential hydrological change

Asset class	Length or area	Assets in assessment extent		Assets in zone of potential hydrological change		Extent^bc of assets with baseline drawdown ≥0.2 m			Extent^bc of assets with baseline drawdown ≥2 m			Extent^bc of assets with baseline drawdown ≥5 m
Asset class	Length or area	Number^a	Length or area	Number^a	Length or area^b	5th	50th	95th	5th	50th	95th	5th	50th	95th
Groundwater-dependent ecosystem	Area (km²)	290	33,051	30	613	275	597	597	13.5	37.5	74.4	0.9	4.0	6.7
Groundwater-dependent ecosystem	Length (km)	23	25,038	3	398	25.1	370	379	5.5	5.5	6.0	0	0	1.7
Habitat (potential species distribution)	Area (km²)	171	886,076	39	1545	869	1419	1442	236	373	476	9.0	42.7	106
Riparian vegetation	Area (km²)	20	7,651	2	17.2	14.8	17.2	17.2	3.5	6.2	7.9	0	0.2	1.1

^aNumbers in table are italicised, to distinguish from areas. Numbers within the whole zone are included in this analysis.

^bLengths or areas within modelled open-cut mine pits (Table 4) are not included in this analysis.

^cExtent could be length or area.

The extent potentially exposed to ≥0.2, ≥2 and ≥5 m baseline drawdown is shown for the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of the maximum difference in drawdown (dmax) under the baseline relative to no coal resource development. Areas and lengths within modelled open-cut mine pits are not included in this analysis. The zone of potential hydrological change is defined as the area with a greater than 5% chance of exceeding 0.2 m drawdown due to additional coal resource development.

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 3)

Table 27 Number and extent of ecological water-dependent assets in the ‘Vegetation’ subgroup that exceed the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of additional drawdown (m) in the zone of potential hydrological change

Asset class	Length or area	Assets in assessment extent		Assets in zone of potential hydrological change		Extent^bc of assets with additional drawdown ≥0.2 m			Extent^bc of assets with additional drawdown ≥2 m			Extent^bc of assets with additional drawdown ≥5 m
Asset class	Length or area	Number^a	Length or area	Number^a	Length or area^b	5th	50th	95th	5th	50th	95th	5th	50th	95th
Groundwater-dependent ecosystem	Area (km²)	290	33,051	30	613	116	196	613	5.7	48.2	86.6	0.1	17.7	34.5
Groundwater-dependent ecosystem	Length (km)	23	25,038	3	398	0	11.4	398	0	5.5	7.9	0	5.3	7.4
Habitat (potential species distribution)	Area (km²)	171	886,076	39	1545	384	618	1545	24.7	144	272	2.2	49.4	110
Riparian vegetation	Area (km²)	20	7,651	2	17.2	4.3	8.3	17.2	0.2	1.1	2.5	0	0.3	0.8

^aNumbers in table are italicised, to distinguish from areas. Numbers within the whole zone are included in this analysis.

^bLengths or areas within modelled open-cut mine pits (Table 4) are not included in this analysis.

^cExtent could be length or area.

The extent potentially exposed to ≥0.2, ≥2 and ≥5 m additional drawdown is shown for the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of the maximum difference in drawdown (dmax) between the coal resource development pathway (CRDP) and baseline, due to additional coal resource development. Areas and lengths within modelled open-cut mine pits (Table 4) are not included in this analysis. The zone of potential hydrological change is defined as the area with a greater than 5% chance of exceeding 0.2 m drawdown due to additional coal resource development.

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 3)

3.5.2.4.2 ‘Habitat (potential species distribution)’ and ‘Riparian vegetation’ classes

The water-dependent asset register for the Maranoa-Balonne-Condamine subregion includes 171 habitat (potential species distribution) assets and 20 riparian vegetation assets (Bioregional Assessment Programme, Dataset 2; Bioregional Assessment Programme, 2017), including:

118 threatened ecological communities, species or regional ecosystems, comprising
- 8 threatened ecological communities and 52 species listed under the EPBC Act
- 31 threatened species and 27 endangered regional ecosystems listed under the Nature Conservation Act
53 protected reserves, parks and bird habitats, comprising
- 40 reserves and parks listed in the Collaborative Australian Protected Area Database (CAPAD)
- 10 protected reserves, parks or habitats nominated by the community
- 3 bird habitats identified as Important Bird Areas (Birdlife Australia, 2014)
20 riparian vegetation assets, comprising
- 20 water-dependent assets identified by the community in the Water Assessment Information Tool database (WAIT) or listed in the Murray–Darling Basin Authority Key Environmental Asset (KEA) datasets.

The asset under consideration is the habitat of the species, community or ecosystem rather than the species, community or ecosystem per se, hence these assets are listed under the ‘Vegetation’ subgroup. Habitats were considered water dependent if there was evidence for a dependency or an association with alluvial and soakage areas, drainage lines, floodplain or riparian vegetation communities, wetlands and/or permanent open water or mound springs. The decision not to include species in the asset register was based on evidence from species profiles and other published material that show that these habitats are almost entirely restricted to grassland, woodland, dry scrub, open forest, heathlands or rainforest vegetation communities or rocky outcrops.

The zone of potential hydrological change includes 41 water-dependent assets in the ‘Habitat (potential species distribution)’ or ‘Riparian vegetation’ classes (Bioregional Assessment Programme, Dataset 3; Bioregional Assessment Programme, 2017). This includes:

39 threatened ecological communities, species or regional ecosystems, comprising
- 4 threatened ecological communities and 18 species listed under the EPBC Act
- 11 threatened species and 6 endangered regional ecosystems listed under the Nature Conservation Act
2 riparian vegetation assets identified by the community in WAIT that cover 17 km².

No protected reserves, parks, bird habitats or key environmental assets are in the zone of potential hydrological change.

The extent of habitat areas where the median (50th percentile) estimate of drawdown due to additional coal resource development exceeds 0.2 m in the regional watertable covers 618 km². Median drawdown for habitat areas is predominantly less than 5 m, with the exception of 49 km² potentially affected by additional coal resource development in the immediate vicinity of the operational areas, and 43 km² to the south-west of The Range coal mine potentially affected by baseline coal resource development (Figure 41).

Median drawdown for riparian vegetation is predominantly less than 2 m, including 6 km² under the baseline and 1 km² potentially affected by additional coal resource development in the zone of potential hydrological change (Table 26 and Table 27).

The nature of water dependency of the 39 threatened ecological communities, species or regional ecosystems in the zone of potential hydrological change is described in Table 28. The potential distribution of three threatened species – fork-tailed swift (Apus pacificus), great egret (Ardea alba) and red goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus) – covers the entire zone of potential hydrological change.

The potential distribution of a further six threatened species covers large parts of the zone of potential hydrological change, including the star finch (eastern) (Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda) (91%), painted honeyeater (Grantiella picta) (65%), brigalow scaly-foot (Paradelma orientalis) (48%), southern squatter pigeon (Geophaps scripta scripta) (42%), large-eared pied bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri) (35%) and satin flycatcher (Myiagara cyanoleuca) (17%). The potential distribution of the remaining habitat areas covers less than 10% of the zone of potential hydrological change (Table 29 and Table 30).

The potential distribution of the ‘Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland Threatened Ecological Community’ covers 9% of the zone of potential hydrological change in the vicinity of New Acland Coal Mine (Figure 40).

Several assessment units are predicted to experience drawdown in excess of 2 m under the baseline and due to additional coal resource development (Figure 41). These assessment units are located in the immediate vicinity of the operational areas and contain parts of these widely distributed habitat areas (Figure 40).

Figure 40 Median baseline drawdown and additional drawdown for threatened ecological communities listed under the Commonwealth's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 in the zone of potential hydrological change in the vicinity of New Acland Coal Mine and The Range coal mine

ACRD = additional coal resource development, CSG = coal seam gas

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 2, Dataset 4, Dataset 5, Dataset 6, Dataset 7, Dataset 8)

Figure 41 For ecological assets in the 'Habitat (potential species distribution)' and 'Riparian vegetation' classes in the zone of potential hydrological change: the top two rows show area (km2) of habitat and riparian assets that exceed the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of baseline drawdown and additional drawdown, and the bottom row shows baseline drawdown compared to additional drawdown for each assessment unit occupied by assets

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 3)

Table 28 ‘Habitat (potential species distribution)’ class: nature of water dependency in the class for those assets listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992 in the zone of potential hydrological change

Asset name^a	Legislation	Status	Nature of water dependency
Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant)	EPBC Act	Threatened ecological community	Brigalow demonstrates water dependency, associated with alluvial aquifers (river and creek flats) and sandstone outcrops. Changes in watertable depth and/or groundwater regime could reduce water availability in this community (intersecting with ‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ and ‘Non-floodplain, GAB GDE’ landscape classes) and diminish vegetation health.
Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains	EPBC Act	Critically endangered threatened ecological community	Potential habitat distribution of this community intersects with alluvium (river and creek flats). Changes in watertable depth and/or groundwater regime across this habitat is unlikely to have severe impacts on this community given the relatively shallow rooting depth and unlikely reliance on groundwater.
Semi-evergreen vine thickets	EPBC Act	Endangered threatened ecological community	This community is associated with permeable rock and basalt land forms and changes in watertable depth and/or groundwater regime in and around localised discharge sites (‘Non-floodplain, non-GAB GDE’ landscape class) could impact on vegetation health.
Weeping Myall Woodlands	EPBC Act	Endangered threatened ecological community	Community demonstrates water dependency, associated with alluvium (river and creek flats) and cracking clay soils. Changes in watertable depth and/or groundwater regime on floodplain aquifers (‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ landscape class) could affect vegetation health.
Belson's Panic (Homopholis belsonii)	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Belson’s Panic is known to occur on sites that receive irregular or intermittent flooding, as well as sites on more elevated and well-drained soils. Changes in associated community structure from drawdown might affect this habitat.
Black-faced Monarch (Monarcha melanopsis)	EPBC Act	Endangered Marine; Migratory threatened species	Black-faced Monarch occurs in rainforest ecosystems, including semi-deciduous vine-thickets and complex notophyll vine-forest that may be associated with landscape classes such as ‘Non-floodplain, non-GAB GDE’. Groundwater drawdown within these unique habitats could potentially impact this species.
Blotched Sarcochilus (Sarcochilus weinthalii)	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Blotched Sarcochilus is an orchid that grows on the upper branches of rainforest trees. It occurs in dry rainforest, inland from the coast and may be occur across remnant vegetation within the ‘Non-floodplain, non-GAB GDE’ landscape class. Changes to watertable depth may alter ecosystem health in these habitats.
Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)	EPBC Act	Marine; Migratory threatened species	Cattle Egret habitat includes wetlands such as off channel water bodies or ‘Floodplain, temporary wetland’ landscape class, for roosting, breeding and feeding. Hydrological changes to this species’ habitat could affect wetland water regime by flooding or groundwater connectivity.
Dunmall's Snake (Furina dunmalli)	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	The nature of the water dependency and ecological requirements of Dunmall’s Snake are poorly known. The species is associated with forests and woodlands on alluvial cracking clays throughout the Brigalow Belt. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Finger Panic Grass (Digitaria porrecta)	EPBC Act	Restricted threatened species	Finger Panic Grass sometimes occurs on alluvial flats supporting woodlands dominated by poplar box or forest red gum (e.g. ‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ landscape class). These alluvial flats receive intermittent and irregular flooding from adjacent riverine water bodies. Changes in associated community structure from drawdown might affect this habitat.
Five-clawed Worm-skink (Anomalopus mackayi)	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Five-clawed Worm-skink habitat is associated with floodplain landscapes including woodlands dominated by E.coolibah (coolabah) and E. largiflorens (blackbox) trees (intersecting the ‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ landscape class). Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated riparian groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus)	EPBC Act	Marine; Migratory threatened species	Fork-tailed Swift habitat can include alluvial river and creek flats as well as upland sites. Drawdown could affect habitat if the associated groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Great Egret (Ardea alba)	EPBC Act	Marine; Migratory threatened species	Great Egret habitat includes wetlands such as off channel water bodies or ‘Temporary, floodplain wetland’ landscape class, for roosting, breeding and feeding. Impacts on this habitat is likely to result if drawdown affects wetland water regime via flooding or groundwater connectivity.
Grey-headed Flying-fox (Numbereropus poliocephalus)	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Grey-headed Flying-fox use a broad range of vegetation types for roosting, including rainforests, open forests, closed and open woodlands, Melaleuca swamps and Banksia woodlands. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Queensland, NSW and the ACT))	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Koala occur in Eucalyptus dominated woodlands in riparian and non-riparian habitat. Species such as E. tereticornis are known to be preferred food trees for koala. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated riparian groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable or changes in flooding from adjacent riverine water body.
Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus)	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Red Goshawk prefers forests and woodlands with a mosaic of forest types and permanent water. Riparian woodlands are often utilised. Red Goshawk nest in tall trees within 1 km of permanent water bodies. Impacts on this habitat is likely to result if drawdown affects riverine water regime via changes to flooding or groundwater connectivity.
Satin Flycatcher (Myiagra cyanoleuca)	EPBC Act	Marine; Migratory threatened species	Satin Flycatchers inhabit riparian channels heavily vegetated by eucalypt-dominated forests and taller woodlands. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Squatter Pigeon (southern) (Geophaps scripta scripta)	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Squatter Pigeon (southern) occupy habitats in open-forests and woodlands dominated by remnant, regrowth or partly modified Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Acacia or Callitris vegetation communities. These habitats are generally within 3 km of water bodies. Drawdown affecting a range of surface water habitats could potentially restrict this species’ habitat availability.
Star Finch (eastern) (Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda)	EPBC Act	Endangered threatened species	Star Finch occurs mainly in grassy woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Melaleuca, often along watercourses, near permanent water or in areas that are frequently inundated. The species are often associated with E. coolabah, E. camaldulensis, E. brownii and E. tereticornis, all of which are extensively distributed in the floodplain landscape group.
Stream Clematis (Clematis fawcettii)	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Stream Clematis occurs most commonly in the canopy gaps of drier rainforests near streams. Changes in associated community structure from drawdown might affect this habitat.
White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)	EPBC Act	Marine; Migratory threatened species	White-bellied Sea-Eagle inhabits large areas of open water (larger rivers, swamps, lakes, the sea) including ‘Temporary lowland streams’ and ‘Floodplain temporary wetland’ landscape classes. Drawdown could affect wetland/riverine water regime via flooding or groundwater connectivity.
Yakka Skink (Egernia rugosa)	EPBC Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Yakka Skink occurs in rocky outcrops and sand plain areas with dense ground vegetation, and is often associated with partly buried rocks, logs tree stumps and animal burrows. Drawdown that affects canopy density of groundwater-dependent vegetation may affect this species’ habitat.
Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata open forest on fine-grained sedimentary rocks	Nature Conservation Act	Endangered regional ecosystem	Community demonstrates water dependency, associated with alluvial aquifers (river and creek flats) and sandstone outcrops. Changes in watertable depth and/or groundwater regime could reduce water availability in this community (intersecting with ‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ and ‘Non-floodplain GAB GDE’ landscape classes) and diminish vegetation health.
Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata shrubby open forest on Cainozoic clay plains	Nature Conservation Act	Endangered regional ecosystem	Community demonstrates water dependency, associated with alluvial aquifers (river and creek flats) and sandstone outcrops. Changes in watertable depth and/or groundwater regime could reduce water availability in this community (intersecting with ‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ and ‘Non-floodplain GAB GDE’ landscape classes) and diminish vegetation health.
Dichanthium sericeum and/or Astrebla spp. grassland on alluvial plains with cracking clay soils	Nature Conservation Act	Endangered regional ecosystem	Potential habitat distribution of this community intersects with alluvium (river and creek flats). Changes in watertable depth and/or groundwater regime across this habitat is unlikely to have severe impacts on this community given the relatively shallow rooting depth and unlikely reliance on groundwater.
Eucalyptus brownii or Eucalyptus populnea woodland on Cainozoic igneous rocks	Nature Conservation Act	Endangered regional ecosystem	Community is associated with permeable rock and basalt land forms. Changes to watertable depth and/or groundwater regime in and around localised groundwater discharge sites (‘Non-floodplain non-GAB GDE’ landscape class) could impact affect vegetation health.
Eucalyptus populnea woodland with Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata on alluvial plains	Nature Conservation Act	Endangered regional ecosystem	Community demonstrates water dependency, associated with alluvial aquifers (river and creek flats) and sandstone outcrops. Changes in watertable depth and/or groundwater regime could reduce water availability in this community (intersecting with ‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ and ‘Non-floodplain non-GAB GDE’ landscape classes) and diminish vegetation health.
Eucalyptus populnea, Acacia harpophylla open forest on fine-grained sedimentary rocks	Nature Conservation Act	Endangered regional ecosystem	Community demonstrates water dependency, associated with sandstone outcrops. Changes in watertable depth and/or groundwater regime could reduce water availability in this community (intersecting with ‘Non-floodplain GAB GDE’ landscape class) and diminish vegetation health.
Adelotus brevis	Nature Conservation Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Tusked Frog inhabits sites associated with riparian vegetation including rainforests, wet forests and flooded grassland and pasture. These habitats are usually found near creeks, ditches and ponds. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated riparian groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Chalinolobus dwyeri	Nature Conservation Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Large-eared Pied Bat roosts and forages in a variety of different habitats across the landscape including; box gum woodlands, river/rainforest corridors as well as sandstone cliffs and escarpments. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Dasyurus maculatus maculatus	Nature Conservation Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Spot-tailed Quoll has a preference for forest habitats at wetter sites including; riparian forests (including E. camaldulensis), lowland forests and eucalypt woodlands. These vegetation types typically intersect with ‘Floodplain non-GAB GDE’ and ‘Non-floodplain non-GAB GDE’ landscape classes. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated riparian groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Grantiella picta	Nature Conservation Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Painted Honeyeater is most commonly found in dry forests and woodlands, particularly those dominated by Acacia or eucalypt species. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Haloragis exalata subsp velutina	Nature Conservation Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Tall Velvet Sea-berry occupies a range of habitats spanning rainforests, sclerophyll forests and grasslands. Associated tree species include Eucalyptus tereticornis, Angophora subvelutina and Acacia irrorata that occur on basaltic soils. Drawdown in the 'Non-floodplain or upland riverine (including non-GAB GDEs)' landscape group could affect water availability of this species.
Hemiaspis damelii	Nature Conservation Act	Endangered threatened species	Grey Snake prefers woodlands on heavier, cracking clay soils, adjacent or near wetlands and stream channels and ditches. This habitat would include ‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ and ‘Floodplain GAB GDE’ landscape classes. It shelters under rocks, logs and other debris as well as in soil cracks. Drawdown could affect wetland/riverine water regime via flooding or groundwater connectivity.
Paradelma orientalis	Nature Conservation Act	Least concern threatened species	Brigalow Scaly-foot occurs in a wide variety of remnant and non-remnant open forest to woodland habitats, including the Brigalow (dominant and co-dominant) ecological community. It occurs in a range of land forms with variable surface or groundwater dependencies, including alluvial (‘Floodplain or lowland riverine’) and sandstone ranges (‘GAB GDEs’). Changes to watertable depth could reduce water availability in these habitats and diminish vegetation health.
Phascolarctos cinereus	Nature Conservation Act	Not listed threatened species	Koala habitat includes riverine riparian forests including ‘Floodplain non-GAB GDEs’ dominated by E. camaldulensis. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated riparian groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.
Picris barbarorum	Nature Conservation Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Small erect herb with little published information on preferred habitat. Most likely is associated with grassland like other members of this genus.
Samadera bidwillii	Nature Conservation Act	Vulnerable threatened species	Quassia is a small shrub that commonly occurs in lowland rainforest or on rainforest margins, but can also be found in other forest types, such as open forest and woodland. It is commonly found in areas adjacent to both temporary and permanent watercourses.
Tympanocrynumberis cf tetraporophora	Nature Conservation Act	Endangered threatened species	Condamine Earless Dragon is associated with natural grasslands and highly modified cropping environments in the Condamine River floodplain (‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ landscape class). It shelters in rocky outcrops and cracks in the clay rich soils in the alluvial zone. Drawdown could impact habitat if the associated groundwater-dependent vegetation loses contact with watertable.

^aPunctuation and typography appear as used in the asset database.

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 3)

Table 29 ‘Habitat (potential species distribution)’ class: area (km²) of assets listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992 that exceed the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of baseline drawdown in the zone of potential hydrological change

Asset name^a	Area in assessment extent	Area in zone of potential hydrological change (excluding modelled open-cut mine pits)	Area^b with baseline drawdown ≥0.2 m			Area^b with baseline drawdown ≥2 m			Area^b with baseline drawdown ≥5 m
Asset name^a	Area in assessment extent		5th	50th	95th	5th	50th	95th	5th	50th	95th
Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant)	1,972	16.2	11.9	15.5	15.9	5.6	7.5	8.8	0	0.8	1.6
Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains	16,147	134	2.2	9.0	31.4	0	2.2	9.0	0	0	2.2
Semi-evergreen vine thickets	534	2.3	0	1.7	1.7	0	0	0	0	0	0
Weeping Myall Woodlands	3,212	40.8	10.2	40.5	40.5	7.3	7.8	8.5	0.8	3.4	5.9
Belson's Panic (Homopholis belsonii)	192	44.8	0	2.2	20.2	0	0	2.2	0	0	0
Black-faced Monarch (Monarcha melanopsis)	11,173	133	2.2	9.0	31.4	0	2.2	9.0	0	0	2.2
Blotched Sarcochilus (Sarcochilus weinthalii)	1,457	21.0	0	0	1.1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)	63,183	134	2.2	9.0	31.4	0	2.2	9.0	0	0	2.2
Dunmall's Snake (Furina dunmalli)	3,395	104	28.1	103	103	0	0	0	0	0	0
Finger Panic Grass (Digitaria porrecta)	12,520	81.3	2.2	10.1	14.6	0	2.2	6.7	0	0	2.2
Five-clawed Worm-skink (Anomalopus mackayi)	7,221	90.1	2.2	6.7	12.5	0	2.2	6.7	0	0	2.2
Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus)	129,763	1,545	869	1419	1442	236	373	476	9.0	42.7	106
Great Egret (Ardea alba)	129,763	1,545	869	1419	1442	236	373	476	9.0	42.7	106
Grey-headed Flying-fox (Numbereropus poliocephalus)	8,999	134	2.2	9.0	31.4	0	2.2	9.0	0	0	2.2
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Queensland, NSW and the ACT))	33,233	145	2.2	19.4	41.8	0	2.2	9.0	0	0	2.2
Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus)	49,364	1,545	869	1419	1442	236	373	476	9.0	42.7	106
Satin Flycatcher (Myiagra cyanoleuca)	26,030	262	129	136	159	66.7	116	132	0	0	12.6
Squatter Pigeon (southern) (Geophaps scripta scripta)	42,989	653	268	612	624	123	162	184	9.0	39.5	74.9
Star Finch (eastern) (Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda)	93,710	1,411	867	1410	1410	236	371	467	9.0	42.7	103
Stream Clematis (Clematis fawcettii)	3,356	0.5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)	17,952	20.0	0	1.2	4.0	0	0	1.2	0	0	0
Yakka Skink (Egernia rugosa)	8,096	52.0	52.0	52.0	52.0	45.4	51.0	52.0	0	2.3	18.0
Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata open forest on fine‑grained sedimentary rocks	700	15.5	11.1	15.1	15.3	5.3	6.9	8.1	0	0.8	1.6
Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata shrubby open forest on Cainozoic clay plains	766	0.04	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dichanthium sericeum and/or Astrebla spp. grassland on alluvial plains. Cracking clay soils	54.0	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Eucalyptus brownii or Eucalyptus populnea woodland on Cainozoic igneous rocks	9.7	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Eucalyptus populnea woodland with Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata on alluvial plains	117	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Eucalyptus populnea, Acacia harpophylla open forest on fine‑grained sedimentary rocks	267	1.0	0.2	1.0	1.0	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.1	0.2	0.2
Adelotus brevis	270	0.2	0	0.2	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Chalinolobus dwyeri	10,108	543	278	530	532	42.3	83.8	111	0	1.7	11.5
Dasyurus maculatus maculatus	2,780	2.3	0	0.1	0.5	0	0	0.1	0	0	0
Grantiella picta	85,952	1003	596	890	913	180	268	337	9.0	37.0	84.6
Haloragis exalata subsp velutina	4,194	7.5	0	0.6	3.4	0	0	0.6	0	0	0
Hemiaspis damelii	23,187	25.3	0.6	3.8	6.3	0.3	0.6	1.3	0	0	0.4
Paradelma orientalis	47,079	738	359	701	712	43.6	94.3	160	0.2	3.2	17.1
Phascolarctos cinereus	2,643	17.0	3.4	8.0	9.7	0	0.3	3.8	0	0	0.3
Picris barbarorum	11,175	37.3	0.9	8.4	17.8	0.3	0.6	2.0	0	0	0.3
Samadera bidwillii	32.0	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Tympanocrynumberis cf tetraporophora	970	0.7	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

^aPunctuation and typography appear as used in the asset database.

^bAreas exclude the modelled open-cut mine pits.

The extent potentially exposed to ≥0.2, ≥2 and ≥5 m baseline drawdown is shown for the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of the maximum difference in drawdown (dmax) under the baseline relative to no coal resource development. Areas within modelled open-cut mine pits (Table 4) are not included in this analysis. The zone of potential hydrological change is defined as the area with a greater than 5% chance of exceeding 0.2 m drawdown due to additional coal resource development.

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 3)

Table 30 ‘Habitat (potential species distribution)’ class: area (km²) of assets listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992 that exceed the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of additional drawdown in the zone of potential hydrological change

Asset name^a	Area in assessment extent	Area in zone of potential hydrological change (excluding modelled open-cut mine pits)	Area^b with additional drawdown ≥0.2 m			Area^b with additional drawdown ≥2 m			Area^b with additional drawdown ≥5 m
Asset name^a	Area in assessment extent		5th	50th	95th	5th	50th	95th	5th	50th	95th
Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla dominant and co-dominant)	1,972	16.2	7.6	10.6	16.2	0.3	2.6	4.9	0	0.5	1.8
Natural grasslands on basalt and fine-textured alluvial plains	16,147	134	6.7	33.6	134	2.2	11.2	29.1	2.2	9.0	20.2
Semi-evergreen vine thickets	534	2.3	0	0	2.3	0	0	0	0	0	0
Weeping Myall Woodlands	3,212	40.8	1.0	2.6	40.8	0	0.2	0.5	0	0.2	0.2
Belson's Panic (Homopholis belsonii)	192	44.8	0	4.5	44.8	0	0	2.2	0	0	0
Black-faced Monarch (Monarcha melanopsis)	11,173	133	6.7	33.6	133	2.2	11.2	29.1	2.2	9.0	20.2
Blotched Sarcochilus (Sarcochilus weinthalii)	1,457	21.0	0	0.3	21.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)	63,183	134	6.7	33.6	134	2.2	11.2	29.1	2.2	9.0	20.2
Dunmall's Snake (Furina dunmalli)	3,395	104	3.7	18.8	104	0	0	0	0	0	0
Finger Panic Grass (Digitaria porrecta)	12,520	81.3	6.7	29.1	81.3	2.2	11.2	24.7	2.2	9.0	18.0
Five-clawed Worm-skink (Anomalopus mackayi)	7,221	90.1	6.7	30.4	90.1	2.2	11.2	26.9	2.2	9.0	20.2
Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus)	129,763	1545	384	618	1545	24.7	144	272	2.2	49.4	110
Great Egret (Ardea alba)	129,763	1545	384	618	1545	24.7	144	272	2.2	49.4	110
Grey-headed Flying-fox (Numbereropus poliocephalus)	8,999	134	6.7	33.6	134	2.2	11.2	29.1	2.2	9.0	20.2
Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus (combined populations of Queensland, NSW and the ACT))	33,233	145	6.7	33.6	145	2.2	11.2	29.1	2.2	9.0	20.2
Red Goshawk (Erythrotriorchis radiatus)	49,364	1545	384	618	1545	24.7	144	272	2.2	49.4	110
Satin Flycatcher (Myiagra cyanoleuca)	26,030	262	43.9	87.2	262	2.2	11.2	32.8	2.2	9.0	20.2
Squatter Pigeon (southern) (Geophaps scripta scripta)	42,989	653	68.1	168	653	0	3.0	28.1	0	0	0.9
Star Finch (eastern) (Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda)	93,710	1411	377	584	1411	22.5	133	243	0	40.4	89.8
Stream Clematis (Clematis fawcettii)	3,356	0.5	0	0	0.5	0	0	0	0	0	0
White-bellied Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)	17,952	20.0	0	1.5	20.0	0	0.2	4.0	0	0.2	3.6
Yakka Skink (Egernia rugosa)	8,096	52.0	0	0	52.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata open forest on fine‑grained sedimentary rocks	700	15.5	7.4	10.0	15.5	0.3	2.5	4.8	0	0.5	1.7
Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata shrubby open forest on Cainozoic clay plains	766	0.04	0	0	0.04	0	0	0	0	0	0
Dichanthium sericeum and/or Astrebla spp. grassland on alluvial plains. Cracking clay soils	54.0	0.1	0	0	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Eucalyptus brownii or Eucalyptus populnea woodland on Cainozoic igneous rocks	9.7	0.1	0	0	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Eucalyptus populnea woodland with Acacia harpophylla and/or Casuarina cristata on alluvial plains	117	0.1	0	0	0.1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Eucalyptus populnea, Acacia harpophylla open forest on fine‑grained sedimentary rocks	267	1.0	0	0	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Adelotus brevis	270	0.2	0	0	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0
Chalinolobus dwyeri	10,108	543	91.0	159	543	8.8	43.3	63.5	0	20.3	36.0
Dasyurus maculatus maculatus	2,780	2.3	0	0	2.3	0	0	0.3	0	0	0
Grantiella picta	85,952	1003	286	469	1003	16.3	99.4	206	2.2	29.5	75.2
Haloragis exalata subsp velutina	4,194	7.5	0	0.6	7.5	0	0	1.1	0	0	0
Hemiaspis damelii	23,187	25.3	0.6	5.1	25.3	0.3	1.1	4.3	0.3	1.0	3.7
Paradelma orientalis	47,079	738	262	738	9.6	75.4	129	0.3	24.2	57.4	262
Phascolarctos cinereus	2,643	17.0	8.2	17.0	0.3	5.1	11.2	0.3	2.9	7.5	8.2
Picris barbarorum	11,175	37.3	6.7	37.3	0.3	1.4	5.0	0.3	1.3	4.1	6.7
Samadera bidwillii	32.0	0.1	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Tympanocrynumberis cf tetraporophora	970	0.7	0.1	0.7	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1

^aPunctuation and typography appear as used in the asset database.

^bAreas exclude the modelled open-cut mine pits.

The extent potentially exposed to ≥0.2, ≥2 and ≥5 m additional drawdown is shown for the 5th, 50th and 95th percentile estimates of the maximum difference in drawdown (dmax) between the coal resource development pathway (CRDP) and baseline, due to additional coal resource development. The zone of potential hydrological change is defined as the area with a greater than 5% chance of exceeding 0.2 m drawdown due to additional coal resource development.

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 3)

Last updated:

4 January 2019

3.5.2.4.1 ‘Groundwater-dependent ecosystem’ class

3.5.2.4.2 ‘Habitat (potential species distribution)’ and ‘Riparian vegetation’ classes

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PRODUCT DATA