Abstract
The dataset was derived by the Bioregional Assessment Programme. This dataset was derived from multiple datasets. You can find a link to the parent datasets in the Lineage Field in this metadata statement. The History Field in this metadata statement describes how this dataset was derived.
Approved boundaries of the bioregions and subregions (version 4) for defining the reporting regions for bioregional assessments of impacts of coal seam gas and coal mining development on water resources.
This release contains two spatial dataset vector layers:
ba_bioregion_alb_gda94_v04 is a topologically and geometrically correct spatial layer of the approved bioregions for the Bioregional Assessment Programme. This layers' extent outlines the bioregions for the Assessment teams only;
ba_bioregion_and_subregion_alb_gda94_v4 is a topologically and geometrically correct spatial layer of the approved bioregions and subregions for the Bioregional Assessment Programme. This layers' extent outlines the bioregions and subregions for the Assessment teams only.
The dataset was derived by the Bioregional Assessment Programme from the "Bioregional Assessment areas v03" (GUID = 96dbf469-5463-4f4d-8fad-4214c97e5aac) and "Gippsland Project Boundary" (GUID = 27413de5-d13a-4231-ac79-fc77f4cbb5f7) datasets provided by the Department of the Environment. The source dataset is identified in the Lineage field in this metadata statement. The processes undertaken to produce this derived dataset are described in the History field in this metadata statement.
Purpose
Provides authoritative boundaries for defining bioregions and subregions to be reported on for the Bioregional Assessments
Dataset History
This dataset contains two spatial shapefiles: "ba_bioregion_alb_gda94_v04.shp" and "ba_subregion_alb_gda94_v04.shp".
The bioregion shapefile is a copy of the previous version's (Bioregional Assessment Areas v03) bioregions, with the following changes.
The three subregions of the previous Southern Sydney bioregion (WOL, HAW & GEO) have been merged to form one bioregion which is now called the 'Sydney Basin bioregion' (SYD). The overall boundary of the bioregion has not changed from version 3. This change is result of programme board meeting decision on 8 October 2014.
The Gippsland Basin bioregion boundary changed per instructions from the Gippsland project leader to match the description below. This change was agreed upon in decision entry DEC114 at https://govdex.gov.au/confluence/pages/viewpage.action?title=Decision+Register&spaceKey=BRAT.
Northern boundary: The project's Victorian partners have identified in the hydrogeological system conceptualisation that the prevailing control on development impacts to water resources along the northern boundary is geohydrologically constrained, i.e. it is highly unlikely that significant impacts will propagate into the Palaeozoic bedrock that forms the basement to the Gippsland Basin. Surface geology is used to identify the northern bounds of the surficial aquifers of the Haunted Hills Gravel and the Sale Group which overlie and conceal the coal bearing formations of the Gippsland Basin (differentiation of Tertiary-Recent geology from older geology along the proposed redefined bioregion boundary). Topographic elevation along this northern boundary rapidly increases, with subsequent changes in hydraulic gradient and likely significant reductions in flow path lengths. The northern boundary delineates the transition from local scale groundwater flow systems (to the north of this boundary) and intermediate to regional scale flow systems (south of this boundary). This differs from the PAE which accounts for an additional 10 km buffer to the north.
Western boundary: is a surface water and groundwater flow divide. Surface water on the western side of this boundary drains towards Western Port, which appears to have little resource potential or exploration interest. Based on this scientific rationale and conceptualisation, the proposed redefined boundary adheres to the conceptual/numerical groundwater model boundaries.
Southern/coastal boundary: clips the southern boundary to the coastline as the BAs are investigating impacts from onshore impacts of Coal and CSG development. The WSS/BA model boundary extends offshore to account for petroleum industry abstractions offshore. It is important to note, the proposed redefined bioregion boundary explicitly includes the Gippsland Lakes and is clipped to the national 1.25M national topography coastline.
Eastern boundary: has a similar rationale as the northern boundary, prospectivity for Coal/CSG development geologically diminishes further east of the Gippsland lakes.
There has been no changes made to any of the other bioregion or subregion boundaries between version 3 and version 4.
Dataset Citation
Bioregional Assessment Programme (2014) Bioregional Assessment areas v04. Bioregional Assessment Derived Dataset. Viewed 13 March 2019, http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/dataset/e8a2d577-c5c5-4e2c-b0fa-53e4b2d4a034.
Dataset Ancestors
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ISO19115/ISO19139 XML