3.4.3.3 Potential ecosystem impacts

Floodplain or lowland landscapes in the zone of potential hydrological change in the vicinity of New Acland Coal Mine include fringing riverine vegetation communities that are likely to have some degree of groundwater dependence. However, most of the remnant vegetation in this area is classified as ‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’, which is not groundwater dependent and so is not likely to be affected by additional drawdown that is in addition to, and of a similar magnitude to, natural watertable fluctuation (<2 m) (Table 9).

The proposed footprint of the New Acland Stage 3 Coal Mine is located in the headwaters of Lagoon Creek and will reduce surface water flows in the associated streams. However, the mine footprint intersects with small, temporary, higher order streams, which means that it may only affect a relatively small volume of surface water flows (Figure 25). The watercourses flow to the north-west and join the Condamine River near Dalby. Most watercourses within and downstream of the New Acland Coal Mine are classified as temporary streams.

The zone of potential hydrological change near The Range coal mine contains a small area (0.2 km2, or less than 0.1% of the landscape group in the assessment extent) of fringing riverine and wetland vegetation communities (floodplain, non-GAB GDEs) that are likely to be dependent on groundwater. This community near the modelled open-cut mine pits is predicted to experience localised additional drawdown (>5 m) by the regional groundwater model. Local impact assessment and modelling is required to provide more detail to supplement results from the regional model.

Median additional drawdown near the edge of the zone of potential hydrological change in the vicinity of The Range coal mine is in addition to, and of a similar magnitude to, natural watertable fluctuation (<2 m) and is therefore unlikely to affect these fringing riverine and wetland vegetation communities. Vegetation classified as ‘Floodplain remnant vegetation’ is not likely to be groundwater dependent and is therefore unlikely to be directly affected by additional drawdown.

Drawdown due to additional coal resource development near The Range coal mine is located in the headwaters of Juandah and Dogwood creeks, which means that it may only affect a relatively small volume of surface water flows downstream (Figure 25). Juandah Creek flows north-west into the Dawson River upstream of Taroom, while Dogwood Creek flows south-west to its confluence with the Condamine and Balonne rivers between Surat and Chinchilla (Figure 9).

Last updated:
5 January 2018
Thumbnail of the Maranoa-Baloone-Condamine subregion

Product Finalisation date

2017
PRODUCT CONTENTS