3.2 Methods

Summary

The impact and risk analysis (Component 3 and Component 4) follows the overarching methodology described in companion submethodology M10 (as listed in Table 1) for analysing impacts and risks (Henderson et al., 2018).

Results from the groundwater and surface water modelling, including estimates of the predictive uncertainty, define the zone of potential hydrological change due to additional coal resource development. These probabilistic estimates of hydrological change that arise from the additional coal resource development provide the basis for analysing the impacts and risks on water resources. The estimates also form the basis for analysing the risk to landscape classes and water-dependent assets.

The impact and risk analysis uses a spatial overlay of the zone of potential hydrological change to assess the potential impacts on and risks to landscape classes and water-dependent assets due to additional coal resource development. The potential for impacts on landscapes and water-dependent assets that do not intersect the zone of potential hydrological change is deemed very unlikely (less than 5% chance) and they are ruled out of further analysis. Within this zone, the potential impact of hydrological changes on landscape classes and assets is based on indicators of hydrological change (hydrological response variables) and ecosystem change (receptor impact variables).

This section also summarises the databases, tools and geoprocessing that support the impact and risk analysis.

Last updated:
6 December 2018
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Product Finalisation date

2018
PRODUCT CONTENTS

ASSESSMENT