3.5.4 Sociocultural assets


The water-dependent asset register for the Namoi subregion (O’Grady et al., 2015; Bioregional Assessment Programme, 2017; Bioregional Assessment Programme, Dataset 2) contains 31 sociocultural assets that are water dependent (Table 48). Of these, 14 assets intersect with the zone of potential hydrological change (Bioregional Assessment Programme, Dataset 1). Thus it is very unlikely that hydrological changes associated with coal resource development affect the remaining 17 sociocultural assets.

Table 48 Sociocultural assets in the Namoi assessment extent and zone of potential hydrological change


Asset class

Number of assets in the assessment extent

Number of assets intersecting with the zone of potential hydrological change

Heritage site

22

12

Indigenous site

9

2

Total

31

14

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1)

A sociocultural asset is defined as being water dependent if their location intersects the Namoi maximum flood extent or contains water-dependent features. This broad definition of water dependency makes it difficult to comment on the impact of any potential hydrological changes on these assets without having a quantitative understanding on the nature of their water dependency. This includes, for example, the Boggabri Lagoon and the Burburgate Carved Tree and, among others, built infrastructures such as the Wee Waa and Gunnedah courthouses, a Police residence heritage-listed building, cemeteries and graves – all located within the zone of potential hydrological change (Table 49). The Boggabri Lagoon and the Burburgate Carved Tree are both located close to the Namoi River within the human-modified landscape (Figure 50). The Bioregional Assessment Programme does not have the expertise to comment on potential impacts of changes in hydrological regimes on the value of Indigenous assets and built infrastructure.

Within the heritage sites, there is also the ‘Tambar Springs palaeontological site’ (approximately 290 ha). The Tambar Springs palaeontological site is situated in the agricultural area around Coxs Creek north of Tambah. It includes landscape classes associated with the Coxs Creek channel area, including ‘Floodplain riparian forests GDE’ and ‘Grassy Woodland GDE’.

Table 49 Sociocultural assets within the zone of potential hydrological change


Asset class

Asset name

Heritage site

Burburgate Graves

Collins Park Grandstand

Gunnedah Courthouse

Gunnedah General Cemetery

Gunnedah Railway Station

Narrabri Gaol (Former)

Narrabri Post Office And Former Telegraph Office

Narrabri Public School

Police Residence

Ruvigne Homestead Complex

Tambar Springs Palaeontological Site

Wee Waa Courthouse

Indigenous site

Burburgate Carved Tree

Boggabri Lagoon (A21) Indigenous asset

Figure 50

Figure 50 Sociocultural assets within the zone of potential hydrological change

Last updated:
6 December 2018
Thumbnail of the Namoi subregion

Product Finalisation date

2018
PRODUCT CONTENTS

ASSESSMENT