Abstract

This dataset and its metadata statement were supplied to the Bioregional Assessment Programme by a third party and are presented here as originally supplied.

Important Note: 14/01/2015. Since we generated these spatial layer datasets, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment has published an interactive CSG Exclusion Zone map. Interested parties should go to http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/en-au/planningyourregion/strategicregionallanduse/coalseamgasexclusionzones.aspx where they can find out more about CSG exclusion zones. The information in the Bioregional Assessment products aligns with the CSG exclusion zones as published by NSW and the subsequent publication of those NSW maps does not alter the information in our assessments.

A polygon dataset that estimates the extent of Strategic Agricultural Land (SAL) within New South Wales.

Strategic agricultural land is highly productive land that has both unique natural resource characteristics (such as soil and water resources) as well as socio-economic value (such as high productivity, infrastructure availability and access to markets).

Biophysical strategic agricultural land is land with a rare combination of natural resources highly suitable for agriculture. These lands intrinsically have the best quality landforms, soil and water resources which are naturally capable of sustaining high levels of productivity and require minimal management practices to maintain this high quality

Purpose

To identify Strategic Agricultural Land (SAL) within the state

Dataset History

Important Note: 14/01/2015. Since we generated these spatial layer datasets, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment has published an interactive CSG Exclusion Zone map. Interested parties should go to http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/en-au/planningyourregion/strategicregionallanduse/coalseamgasexclusionzones.aspx where they can find out more about CSG exclusion zones. The information in the Bioregional Assessment products aligns with the CSG exclusion zones as published by NSW and the subsequent publication of those NSW maps does not alter the information in our assessments.

This dataset has been captured and mapped at a regional scale

Criteria for Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land

land that falls under soil fertility classes 'high' or 'moderately high' under the Draft Inherent General Fertility of NSW (OEH), and

· land capability classes I, II or III under the Land and Soil Capability Mapping of NSW (OEH), and

· reliable water of suitable quality, characterised by having rainfall of 350mm or more per annum (9 out of 10 years); or properties within 150m of a regulated river, or unregulated rivers where there are flows for at least 95% of the time (ie the 95th percentile flow of each month of the year is greater than zero) or 5th order and higher rivers; or groundwater aquifers (excluding miscellaneous alluvial aquifers, also known as small storage aquifers) which have a yield rate greater than 5L/s and total dissolved solids of less than 1,500mg/L.

OR

· land that falls under soil fertility classes 'moderate' under the Draft Inherent General Fertility of NSW (OEH), and

· land capability classes I or II under the Land and Soil Capability Mapping of NSW (OEH), and

· reliable water of suitable quality, characterised by having rainfall of 350mm or more per annum (9 out of 10 years); or properties within 150m of a regulated river, or unregulated rivers where there are flows for at least 95% of the time (ie the 95th percentile flow of each month of the year is greater than zero) or 5th order and higher rivers; or groundwater aquifers (excluding miscellaneous alluvial aquifers, also known as small storage aquifers) which have a yield rate greater than 5L/s and total dissolved solids of less than 1,500mg/L.

Dataset Citation

NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure (2013) Strategic Agricultural Lands (SAL) Biophysical. Bioregional Assessment Source Dataset. Viewed 14 June 2018, http://data.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/dataset/42e2a51d-3c11-431f-ac62-f8511c859516.

Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) is land with high quality soil and water resources capable of sustaining high levels of productivity. BSAL plays a critical role sustaining the State’s $12 billion agricultural industry.\r \r A polygon dataset that estimates the Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) within New South Wales. These lands intrinsically have the best quality landforms, soil and water resources which are naturally capable of sustaining high levels of productivity and require minimal management practices to maintain this high quality.

A polygon dataset that estimates the Strategic Agricultural Land (SAL) within New South Wales. Strategic agricultural land is highly productive land that has both unique natural resource characteristics (such as soil and water resources) as well as socio-economic value (such as high productivity, infrastructure availability and access to markets). Biophysical strategic agricultural land is land with a rare combination of natural resources highly suitable for agriculture. These lands intrinsically have the best quality landforms, soil and water resources which are naturally capable of sustaining high levels of productivity and require minimal management practices to maintain this high quality. Purpose is to identify Strategic Agricultural Land (SAL) within the state. This dataset has been capatured and mapped at a regional scale Criteria for Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land that falls under soil fertility classes 'high' or 'moderately high' under the Draft Inherent General Fertility of NSW (OEH), and land capability classes I, II or III under the Land and Soil Capability Mapping of NSW (OEH), and reliable water of suitable quality, characterised by having rainfall of 350mm or more per annum (9 out of 10 years); or properties within 150m of a regulated river, or unregulated rivers where there are flows for at least 95% of the time (ie the 95th percentile flow of each month of the year is greater than zero) or 5th order and higher rivers; or groundwater aquifers (excluding miscellaneous alluvial aquifers, also known as small storage aquifers) which have a yield rate greater than 5L/s and total dissolved solids of less than 1,500mg/L.

This map is a compilation of seven published Soil and Land Resource products which contain baseline natural resource information for the:

• Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment
• Liverpool Plains catchment
• Merriwa Plateau
• Moree Plains
• Murray catchment
• Australian Capital Territory
• Hunter Region

These products were undertaken to enhance knowledge of soils, landscapes and physical constraints to land use in the urban and rural environment. The information will assist in informed decision making, planning and environmental modelling throughout the catchments. The Soil and Land Resource mapping for the Merriwa Plateau and Moree Plains were funded to especially improve existing soil landscape information so more accurate Land and Soil Capability (LSC) and Soil Fertility information would be available to upgrade future Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) mapping under NSW Strategic Regional Land Use Policy (SRLUP).

One thousand, one hundred and seventeen map units have been described in this combined Soil and Land Resource product. Each soil landscape unit is an inventory of soil and landscape information with relatively uniform land management requirements, allowing major soil and landscape qualities and constraints to be identified. Soils are described using the Australian Soil Classification and the Great Soil Groups systems.

Online Maps: Part of this area is also covered by other soil mapping products, see the soil map index in eSPADE. eSPADE contains a suite of soil and landscape information including soil profile data. Many of these datasets have hot-linked soil reports. An alternative viewer is the SEED Map; an ideal way to see what other natural resources datasets (e.g. vegetation) are available for this map area.

Reference: Office of Environment and Heritage, 2018, Soil and Land Resources of Central and Eastern NSW, Version 3, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.

This digital soil landscape product contains natural resource mapping for the Moree Plains. The Moree Plains cover the alluvial plains and fans of the Namoi, Gwydir, Barwon and Macintyre Rivers in the north and Pilliga Outwash fans in the South. The project was funded by the the National Partnership Agreement to provide improved soil and landscape information for this highly productive agricultural area. It has enabled more accurate and better quality Land and Soil Capability and Soil Fertility information to be available for future updates of Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) mapping under the NSW Strategic Regional Land Use Policy (SRLUP). This resource information will also assist other decision making, planning and environmental modelling throughout the catchment.

Forty-four soil landscape map units have been described for the Moree Plains. Each unit is an inventory of soil and landscape information with relatively uniform land management requirements, allowing major soil and landscape qualities and constraints to be identified. Soils are described using the Australian Soil Classification and the Great Soil Groups systems.

Online Maps: This dataset can be viewed using eSPADE (NSW’s soil spatial viewer), which contains a suite of soil and landscape information including soil profile data. Many of these datasets have hot-linked soil reports. An alternative viewer is the SEED Map; an ideal way to see what other natural resources datasets (e.g. vegetation) are available for this map area.

Reference: Office of Environment and Heritage, 2015, Soil and Land Resources of the Moree Plains, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.

Statewide soil and land information can be discovered and viewed through eSPADE or SEED. Datasets include soil profiles, soil landscapes, soil and land resources, acid sulfate soil risk mapping, hydrogeological landscapes, land systems and land use. There are also various statewide coverages of specific soil and land characteristics, such as soil type, land and soil capability, soil fertility, soil regolith, soil hydrology and modelled soil properties.

Both eSPADE and SEED enable soil and land data to be viewed on a map. SEED focuses more on the holistic approach by enabling you to add other environmental layers such as mining boundaries, vegetation or water monitoring points. SEED also provides access to metadata and data quality statements for layers.

eSPADE provides greater functions and allows you to drill down into soil points or maps to access detailed information such as reports and images. You can navigate to a specific location, then search and select multiple objects and access detailed information about them. You can also export spatial information for use in other applications such as Google Earth™ and GIS software.

eSPADE is a free Internet information system and works on desktop computers, laptops and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets and uses a Google maps-based platform familiar to most users. It has over 42,000 soil profile descriptions and approximately 4,000 soil landscape descriptions. This includes the maps and descriptions from the Soil Landscape Mapping program. eSPADE also includes the base maps underpinning Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL).

For more information on eSPADE visit: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/land-and-soil/soil-data/espade

This digital soil landscape product contains natural resource mapping for the Merriwa. The Merriwa Plateau is located in the upper Hunter catchment including hills of the Southern Liverpool Ranges; grading to gently sloped plateau around Merriwa. The project was funded by the National Partnership Agreement to provide improved soil and landscape information for this highly productive agricultural area. It has enabled more accurate and better quality Land and Soil Capability and Soil Fertility information to be available for future updates of Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) mapping under the NSW Strategic Regional Land Use Policy (SRLUP). This resource information will also assist other decision making, planning and environmental modelling throughout the catchment.

Forty soil landscape map units have been described for the Merriwa Plateau. Each unit is an inventory of soil and landscape information with relatively uniform land management requirements, allowing major soil and landscape qualities and constraints to be identified. Soils are described using the Australian Soil Classification and the Great Soil Groups systems.

Related Datasets: The dataset area is also covered by the mapping of the Soil landscape 1:100 000 and 1:250 000 mapping series for the mapsheets of Dubbo, Singleton, Murrurundi and Blackville. Part of this area is also covered by the mapping of Hydrogeological landscapes of NSW.

Online Maps: This and related datasets can be viewed using eSPADE (NSW’s soil spatial viewer), which contains a suite of soil and landscape information including soil profile data. Many of these datasets have hot-linked soil reports. An alternative viewer is the SEED Map; an ideal way to see what other natural resources datasets (e.g. vegetation) are available for this map area.

Reference: Office of Environment and Heritage, 2014, Soil and Land Resources of the Merriwa Plateau, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Sydney.

This digital soil landscape product contains natural resource mapping for the Hunter and Central Rivers sub-catchments plus extends to also include the Hunter Local Land Services (LLS) government boundary.

The dataset upgrades 1:250,000 soil landscape mapping for the Singleton area providing a standardised and seamless land and soil information across the region at 1:100,000 scale. Mapping covers an area of 37,639 km2 from Yarrowitch and Murrurundi in the north to around Rylstone and Woy Woy in the south and extends west to just past Ulan.

The project was partially funded by the Hunter LLS and will assist decision making, planning and environmental modelling throughout the region. It also supports improved decision making and management of highly productive agricultural area (e.g. Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land) under the NSW Government's Strategic Regional Land Use Policy (SRLUP) and Mining Sepp.

Four hundred and sixty soil landscape map units have been described within the Hunter Region. Each unit is an inventory of soil and landscape information with relatively uniform land management requirements, allowing major soil and landscape qualities and constraints to be identified. Many representative type profiles are supported by laboratory analysis and soils are described using the Australian Soil Classification and the Great Soil Groups systems.

Related Datasets: The dataset area is also covered by the mapping of the Soil landscape 1:100 000 and 1:250 000 mapping series for the map sheets of Murrurundi, Blackville, Dungog, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Gosford/Lake Macquarie, Sydney, Wallerawang, St Albans, Dubbo and Singleton. Part of this area is also covered by the mapping of Hydrogeological landscapes of NSW and Acid Sulphate Soil Risk Mapping.

Online Maps: This and related datasets can be viewed using eSPADE (NSW’s soil spatial viewer), which contains a suite of soil and landscape information including soil profile data. Many of these datasets have hot-linked soil reports. An alternative viewer is the SEED Map; an ideal way to see what other natural resources datasets (e.g. vegetation) are available for this map area.

Reference: Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, 2020, Soil and Land Resources of the Hunter Region, version 1.5, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Parramatta.

This map was created by the Department of Primary Industries (Office of Water) in 2013 to identify areas in NSW with a reliable surface water supply. Land with reliable surface water was defined as areas:

• buffering all regulated rivers and creeks by 150 metres,
• buffering unregulated rivers and creeks with a 5th stream order or higher, by 150 metres,
• buffering 3rd and 4th stream order unregulated rivers and creeks, by 150 metres

Reliable surface water mapping along with two other datasets (rainfall of 350mm for more per annum - 9 out of 10 years and highly productive groundwater) are used to identify land with access to a reliable water supply, forming part of the regional and site level assessment classification of Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL).

Under the Mining SEPP, all State Significant Development applications require a Site Verification Certificate to determine if their site contains any BSAL and therefore requiring further assessment from the Mining and Petroleum Gateway Panel. This process is managed by Planning and Assessment, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and are custodian of the dataset.

A pdf map and GIS shapefile of this dataset is accessible from the resources section of the metadata.

This map was created by the Department of Primary Industries (Office of Water) in 2013 to identify areas in NSW with highly productive groundwater. Mapping identifies two classes of productivity, highly productive and less productive. Highly productive groundwater areas are characterised by bores having yield rates greater than 5 litre/second and total dissolved solids of less than 1,500 mg/litre. It also excludes miscellaneous alluvial aquifers called small storage aquifers.

This mapped areas of highly productive groundwater along with two other datasets (rainfall of 350mm for more per annum - 9 out of 10 years and reliable surface water) are used to identify land with access to a reliable water supply, forming part of the regional and site level assessment classification of Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL).

Under the Mining SEPP, all State Significant Development applications require a Site Verification Certificate to determine if their site contains any BSAL and therefore requiring further assessment from the Mining and Petroleum Gateway Panel. This process is managed by Planning and Assessment, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and are custodian of this dataset.

A pdf map and GIS shapefile of this dataset is accessible from the resources section of the metadata.

This is a repealed State Environmental Planning Policy and has been superseded by the State Environmental Planning Policy (Resources & Energy) 2021  as part of the Department's initiative to consolidate State Environmental Planning Policies to simplify and provide certainty to the planning system.

Click here to go to the State Environmental Planning Policy (Resources & Energy) 2021 Open Data page: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/opendata/dataset/state-environmental-planning-policy-resources-energy-2021

Go to the following link to find out more about the new consolidated SEPPs: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Policy-and-Legislation/State-Environmental-Planning-Policies/Consolidated-state-environmental-planning-policies

This historical record represents the EPI strategic agricultural land (Viticulture, Equine, Biophysical), the EPI Future Residential Growth Area, and the EPI Additional Rural Village Land for the State Environmental Planning Policy (Mining, Petroleum Production and Extractive Industries) 2007.

Livestock grazing can facilitate the maintenance of biodiversity in landscapes or cause landscape degradation and biodiversity loss. With a global population expected to surpass 9 billion people by 2050, there will be increasing pressure on the world's grazing lands to produce protein while minimising impacts on landscapes. This thesis explores the potential for grazing that incorporates extended and planned rest (Strategic-rest grazing, hereafter SRG) to enable continuing livestock production while also maintaining biodiversity and biophysical functions. In Chapter 2, I conducted a global meta-analysis comparing impacts of SRG to continuously grazed or ungrazed areas. I found that total groundcover and animal production per hectare were significantly greater with SRG compared to continuous grazing, while biomass, plant richness, plant diversity and animal weight gain did not differ between grazing treatments. Where the length of rest, relative to graze time increased with SRG, there were significant increases in biomass and further increases in groundcover and animal production per hectare in comparison to continuous grazing. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating the length of rest relative to graze duration into analyses comparing grazing systems. I found that the main focus of research around SRG differed between major geographic regions and climate zones. North American, Australian and New Zealand research mostly focused on short-term animal productivity, as did research in temperate areas. In contrast, research from Europe predominantly focused on biodiversity conservation. Research in more arid areas has focused largely on general sustainability for continuing animal production. Where richness and diversity of flora and fauna were compared between SRG and continuously grazed areas, responses were mostly favourable in SDG areas, or there was no difference. There were few examples of negative outcomes in SRG areas. Where richness and diversity in SRG areas were compared to ungrazed areas there was often no difference between SRG and ungrazed. Despite the often-favourable responses for production and ecological outcomes with SRG, a very small number of studies have considered the potential to achieve animal production and biodiversity conservation simultaneously with SRG approaches. This suggests we have limited understanding of trade-offs and synergies between these two goals. Ground-layer biodiversity and landscape function outcomes were assessed in naturalised pastures on six properties managed with short-duration grazing (hereafter SDG, a form of SRG) and compared with outcomes on properties managed in ways more typical of the region (largely continuous and with unplanned rest; hereafter RP). With SDG management there was approximately 19% greater perennial herbaceous cover and a corresponding 14% lower cover of undesirable introduced annual plants. Significant improvement in attributes relating to landscape functioning were also seen with SDG management, with environmental factors less important in influencing these attributes. Pasture composition also differed between management approaches with increased cover of favourable forage species and reduced cover of species that increase under heavy grazing pressure with SDG management. There was minimal difference in the richness and Shannon-Wiener diversity in the ground-layer of pastures managed in contrasting ways. Insects are an important component of overall landscape biodiversity and are sensitive to changes in land-use and agricultural intensification. Insect richness and abundance were assessed on RP and SDG properties and found to be significantly higher on SDG sites. These increases were likely largely due to the greater cover of tall perennial plants and litter cover and increased structural heterogeneity of the pasture sward with SDG management. These increases suggest there is potential for altered grazing practices to improve the capacity of grazed landscapes to provide ecosystem services from insects such as natural pest control and pollination, as well as provide food resources for wildlife. This thesis has highlighted the potential to balance animal production, biophysical and biodiversity outcomes with grazing incorporating extended rest and that research to-date has largely been on animal production outcomes rather than biodiversity responses. Importantly, it highlights that minimal research has considered trade-offs and synergies between animal production and biodiversity conservation outcomes, and the potential to achieve both simultaneously. If we are to meet the growing demand for protein from the world's grazing lands, while also preventing landscape degradation and sustaining biodiversity, it is essential to fill this knowledge gap.