Breadcrumb

2.1.6.3 Summary of baseline and coal resource development pathway model data for surface water and groundwater modelling


Table 22 summarises the areas of changed surface water hydrology for three key points in the footprint time series for each open-cut mine: end of 2012 prior to commencement of any additional coal resource development mines in the CRDP; the maximum disturbed area represented in the model; and the final disturbed area following full rehabilitation. Open-cut mines and site facilities (whether they be for open-cut or underground operations) are included in the areas given, as they have the same hydrological effect in the surface water model. The table also includes the maximum disturbed area at the surface for underground mines (final column). Maximum extent, maximum seam depth and maximum flow rate for each mine working represented in the Hunter subregion groundwater model are summarised in Table 23. The data in Table 22 and Table 23 were extracted from the various sources identified in Table 17 and Table 18.

Table 22 Key characteristics of data used to represent mine impacts in the surface water model for the Hunter subregion


Mine or mine complex

Open-cut or underground

In baseline?

In CRDP?

2012 area disturbed by open-cut pits, site facilities

(km2)

Maximum area disturbed by open-cut pits, site facilities

(km2)

Final area disturbed by open-cut pits, site facilities

(km2)

Maximum area disturbed above longwall panels

(km2)

Name of post-2012 mine expansion project

Ashton

OC

Y

Y

2.38

2.38

0.38

na

na

OC

N

Y

2.38

5.07

0.72

na

South East Open-Cut mine

UG

Y

Y

0

0

0

5..12

na

Austar

UG

Y

Y

1.25

1.25

0

1674

na

Bengalla

OC

Y

Y

4.66

4.24

0.68

na

na

OC

N

Y

4.66

15.86

1.83

na

Expansion

Bulga

OC

Y

Y

11.97

19.62

3.14

na

na

OC

N

Y

11.97

44.24

7.09

na

Bulga Coal Optimisation Project

UG

Y

Y

0

0

0

20.15

na

Bylong

OC

N

Y

0

8.49

1.37

na

Bylong Coal Project (new mine)

UG

N

Y

0

0

0

18.05

Bylong Coal Project (new mine)

Dartbrook

UG

Y

Y

0.74

0.74

0

5.07

na

Drayton

OC

Y

Y

7.69

6.55

2.42

na

na

Drayton South

OC

N

Y

0

17.01

2.62

na

Drayton South Coal Project

Glendell

OC

Y

Y

4.38

5.12

0.49

na

na

Hunter Valley Operations

OC

Y

Y

37.83

37.83

6.05

na

na

Integra

OC

Y

Y

20.6

21.8

3.49

na

na

UG

Y

Y

0.08

0.08

0

13.31

na

Liddell

OC

Y

Y

7.61

10.49

1.68

na

na

OC

N

Y

7.61

12.46

1.99

na

Expansion

Mangoola

OC

Y

Y

3.72

19.93

0.86

na

na

Moolarben

OC

Y

Y

5.17

15.88

2.54

na

na

OC

N

Y

5.17

23.75

4.58

na

Stage 1

UG

Y

Y

0

0

0

10.41

na

UG

N

Y

0

0

0

17.91

Stage 2

Mount Arthur

OC

Y

Y

39.67

59.27

9.48

na

na

OC

N

Y

39.67

60.72

9.71

na

Expansion of South Pit into Bayswater No.3 mining lease

UG

N

Y

0

0

0

19.09

na

Mount Owen

OC

Y

Y

5.74

17.38

2.78

na

na

OC

N

Y

5.74

23.05

3.69

na

Mount Owen Continued Operations Project

Mount Pleasant

OC

N

Y

0

32.58

4.15

na

na

Mount Thorley–Warkworth

OC

Y

Y

27.33

27.33

14.13

na

na

OC

N

Y

27.33

43.31

14.13

na

Expansion

Muswellbrook

OC

Y

Y

3.46

3.46

0.55

na

na

Ravensworth

OC

Y

Y

10.99

26.85

1.34

na

na

UG

Y

Y

0

0

0

14.62

na

Rix's Creek

OC

Y

Y

4.58

8.75

1.4

na

na

Ulan

OC

Y

Y

11.57

16.25

2.6

na

na

UG

Y

Y

0

0

0

33.74

na

UG

N

Y

0

0

0

45.61

Expansion

Wallarah 2

UG

N

Y

0

0.4

0

37.52

na

Wambo

OC

Y

Y

9.27

20.38

3.26

na

na

Wilpinjong

OC

Y

Y

8.38

12.76

3.63

na

na

baseline = baseline coal resource development, OC = open-cut, UG = underground, na = not applicable

Mines in the coal resource development pathway (CRDP) include mines in the baseline and additional coal resource developments. Data from various sources (see Table 18)

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1, Dataset 2, Dataset 3, Dataset 4, Dataset 21)

Table 23 Key characteristics of data used to represent mine impacts in the groundwater model for the Hunter subregion


Mine

Open-cut or underground

In baseline?

In CRDP?

Maximum footprint area

(km2)

Minimum seam depth (mAHD)

Maximum flow rate (ML/y)

Period of pumping

Name of post-2012 mine expansion project

Abel

UG

Y

Y

23.82

–220

2300

2009–2027

na

Ashton

OC

Y

Y

1.5

10

47

2004–2013

na

OC

N

Y

3.82

–50

51

2004–2013, 2017–2026

South East Open-Cut mine

UG

Y

Y

5.12

–265

584

2004–2026

na

Austar

UG

Y

Y

16.74

–390

505

2009–2014

na

UG

N

Y

16.74

–390

770

2009–2044

Modification to Stage 3 area

Bengalla

OC

Y

Y

7.17

0

475

1998–2023

na

OC

N

Y

11.99

0

475

1998–2035

Expansion

Bloomfield

OC

Y

Y

6.31

–55

750

2006–2018

na

Bulga

OC

Y

Y

5.96

–46

73

1990–2031

na

OC

N

Y

6.72

–237.6

73

1990–2031

Bulga Coal Optimisation Project

UG

Y

Y

27.17

–202

950

2008–2041

na

Bylong

OC

N

Y

4.08

270

548

2016–2024

Bylong Coal Project (new mine)

UG

N

Y

18.33

180

183

2023–2044

Bylong Coal Project (new mine)

Chain Valley

UG

Y

Y

8.55

–200

2800

2005–2015

na

UG

N

Y

8.55

–200

3900

2005–2028

Chain Valley Modification 1

UG

Y

Y

8.54

–60

400

1951–2011

na

Dartbrook

UG

Y

Y

5.07

–60

274

1997–2005

na

Donaldson

OC

Y

Y

2.45

–55

250

2001–2013

na

Drayton

OC

Y

Y

3.66

128

983

2010–2021

na

Drayton South

OC

N

Y

8.86

90

175

2015–2031

Drayton South Coal Project

Glendell

OC

Y

Y

2.01

–14

438

2007–2024

na

Howick West (part of Hunter Valley Operations)

OC

Y

Y

30.15

–25

225

1979–2027

na

Hunter Valley Operations

OC

Y

Y

29.31

–125

5831

2002–2035

na

Integra

OC

Y

Y

4.96

–125

117

1997–2019

na

UG

Y

Y

14.02

–400

478

1999–2041

na

Liddell

OC

Y

Y

2.71

–17.5

3468

2009–2023

na

OC

N

Y

3.37

–17.5

3468

2009–2023

Expansion

Mandalong

UG

Y

Y

15.06

–280

885

2004–2016

na

UG

N

Y

44.01

–280

2154

2004–2052

Mangoola

OC

Y

Y

8.94

124

660

2006–2029

na

Mannering

UG

Y

Y

16.35

–200

624

2001–2019

na

Moolarben

OC

Y

Y

10.63

380

160

2011–2016, 2030–2036

na

OC

N

Y

23.94

380

664

2011–2036

Stage 1

UG

Y

Y

17.19

260

1797

2011–2042

na

UG

N

Y

27.89

260

1797

2011–2042

Stage 2

Mount Arthur

OC

Y

Y

42.57

100

952

2008–2029

Expansion of South Pit into Bayswater No.3 mining lease

UG

N

Y

30.62

–60

2101

2007–2030

na

Mount Owen

OC

Y

Y

4.13

–70

915

2007–2022

na

OC

N

Y

5.92

–70

915

2007–2031

Mount Owen Continued Operations Project

Mount Pleasant

OC

N

Y

19.99

0

694

2016–2038

na

Mount Thorley–Warkworth

OC

Y

Y

15.58

–50

949

1980–2020

na

OC

N

Y

15.58

–50

949

1980–2036

Expansion

Muswellbrook

UG

Y

Y

2.58

–80

1372

2006–2015

na

OC

Y

Y

2.96

149

115

2009–2014

na

Myuna

UG

Y

Y

62.61

–140

10360

1980–2032

na

Newstan

UG

Y

Y

35.35

–65

2051

1999–2015

na

Ravensworth

OC

Y

Y

8.76

–124

546

2006–2041

na

UG

Y

Y

18.41

–180

497a

2005–2036

na

Rix's Creek

OC

Y

Y

5.12

–5

299

2013–2038

na

Tasman

UG

Y

Y

14.61

–50

70

2007–2014

na

Ulan

UG

Y

Y

47.3

287.6

5950

1985–2031

na

UG

N

Y

78.88

287.6

9335

1985–2031

Ulan West (expansion)

Wallarah 2

UG

N

Y

37.52

–412

876

2018–2058

na

Wambo

OC

Y

Y

21.01

–100

365

1968–2029

na

UG

Y

Y

10.49

–48

1350

2007–2019

na

West Wallsend

UG

Y

Y

26.22

–127.3

1213

2008–2028

na

Wilpinjong

OC

Y

Y

19.15

345

1950

2005–2026

na

areported maximum is 558 ML/y, but lower value was used in modelling due to mine being put in care and maintenance

baseline = baseline coal resource development, ACRD= additional coal resource development, OC = open-cut, UG = underground, na = not applicable

Mines in the coal resource development pathway (CRDP) include the mines in the baseline and additional coal resource developments. Data from various sources (see Table 17)

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 22, Dataset 23, Dataset 24, Dataset 25)

Figure 38 and Figure 39 illustrate spatial distribution of the maximum footprint areas under baseline (Figure 38) and additional coal resource development (Figure 39) for surface water and groundwater models in the Hunter subregion. As discussed in Section 2.3.4 of companion product 2.3 for the Hunter subregion (Dawes et al., 2018), not all mines are incorporated in both the surface water and groundwater models for both baseline and CRDP model runs. There were mines where flow rate data were not available and other mines where the surface water models were not able to represent the key processes influencing local hydrology (e.g. tidal dynamics and urban runoff), which precluded them from being modelled.

Figure 40 shows the footprint time series for baseline and CRDP for the period from 1983 to 2102. These time series were derived for each mine from available data (points) using the assumptions summarised in Table 20. The time series baseline and CRDP data are used in surface water modelling to estimate impacts of the additional coal resource development mines on hydrological response variables. The hydrological impacts are reported in companion product 2.6.1 for the Hunter subregion (Zhang et al., 2018).

Figure 41 shows the flow rate time series for baseline and CRDP mine areas for the period from 1968 to 2058. Deriving the time series from available data (points) for each mine is based on the assumptions described in companion product 2.6.2 for the Hunter subregion (Herron et al., 2018). Some plots present a flow rate time series for multiple mines (e.g. Bloomfield plot includes Donaldson; Newstan and Awaba) or by complex (e.g. Mt Owen Complex includes Glendell, Mount Owen and Ravensworth East open-cuts). When time series for individual workings are combined into a single time series, the maximum flow rate is not necessarily equal to the sum of the individual maxima (Table 23), which may occur in different years. The time series baseline and CRDP data are used in groundwater modelling to estimate the effects of the additional coal resource developments on hydrological response variables and are reported in Herron et al. (2018). There can be differences in the start and end dates used in the surface water and groundwater models, which reflect lack of certainty about when additional coal resource development mines will commence, assumptions about when groundwater pumping commenced and ceased and assumptions about how long impacts of mining are sustained after mining ceases (see Table 20).

Figure 38

Figure 38 Maximum footprint areas for baseline mines used in surface water and groundwater models

Baseline coal resource development (baseline) is defined as a future that includes all coal mines and coal seam gas (CSG) fields that are commercially producing as of December 2012. This figure is not representative of all mines in the baseline. Maximum footprint areas for mines in the baseline depict only those mines with sufficient data and information to be qualitatively assessed through surface water and groundwater modelling.

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 21, Dataset 22, Dataset 23, Dataset 24, Dataset 25)

Figure 39

Figure 39 Maximum mine footprint areas for the additional coal resource developments (ACRD) used in surface water and groundwater models

ACRD is defined as all coal mines and coal seam gas (CSG) fields, including expansions of baseline operations, that are expected to begin commercial production after December 2012. CRDP is defined as a future that includes all coal mines and coal seam gas (CSG) fields that are in the baseline as well as those that are expected to begin commercial production after December 2012.

This figure is not representative of all ACRD mines in the CRDP. Maximum footprint areas for ACRD depict only those ACRDs with sufficient data and information to be qualitatively assessed through surface water and groundwater modelling.

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 21, Dataset 22, Dataset 23, Dataset 24, Dataset 25)

Figure 40

Figure 40 Time series graphs of open-cut and underground mine footprint areas for surface water modelling

Green = baseline, blue = CRDP mines; lines are interpolations between data points, represented by open circles

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 1, Dataset 2, Dataset 3, Dataset 4, Dataset 21


Figure 41 Time series graphs of open-cut and underground mine flow rates used in groundwater modelling

Mount Arthur UG was approved in 2008 and expected to start in 2009, which would have made it a baseline development. As mining did not commence prior to December 2012, it was classified as an ACRD. However, it was incorrectly modelled as starting in 2008. Where time series is composite of a number of mine workings, the maximum flow rate on the graph is not necessarily equal to the sum of the maxima of the individual workings given in Table 23 due to the maxima occurring in different years.

Data: Bioregional Assessment Programme (Dataset 22; Dataset 23; Dataset 24; Dataset 25)

Last updated:
18 January 2019
Thumbnail of the Hunter subregion

Product Finalisation date

2018

ASSESSMENT