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Demonstrating applications of the tool

Catchment land condition assessment (3 indicators)

5 km x 5 km grid cell scale

At the 5 x 5 km grid cell resolution, the land index of relative biophysical condition within the assessment area indicates similar areas of poorer condition (Figure 17) to the 14 indicator representation, with areas of poorer condition more concentrated. Far less of the South Australian Gulf Drainage Division has the poorer condition categories, and larger parts of northern South Australia and the Darling River system in New South Wales indicate relatively better land condition.

Poorer condition areas are distributed between tropical and temperate Australia and highlight areas of higher land use intensity. These include:

• the sheep-wheat belt of south-west Western Australia;
• eastern South Australia;
• western and central Victoria;
• the Riverina;
• mid to upper areas of eastern basins within the Murray-Darling Basin;
• the Hunter River basin in central coastal New South Wales; and
• grazing and cropping basins with coastal floodplains in tropical Queensland.

500 km² subcatchment scale

The general pattern of land condition is amplified at the 500 km² catchment level (Figure 18). Large parts of western New South Wales and northern South Australia are shown with relatively better land condition.

River basin scale

At the basin level of aggregation, the land condition index shows most of Western Australia, south-east Murray-Darling Drainage Division and western Victorian river basins with the relatively poorer condition class (Figure 19). Outside these clusters the Castlereagh River in the eastern Murray-Darling Drainage Division and tropical Queensland coastal river basins (Calliope and Haughton) are also rated in the poorer condition class by the land index.

River basins with better land condition include those with significant areas used for nature conservation or forestry:

• south-west Tasmania;
• north-eastern Victoria;
• coastal New South Wales; and
• areas with relatively limited development such as the Northern Territory.

Catchment water condition assessment (5 indicators)

5 km x 5 km grid cell scale

At the 5 x 5 km grid cell resolution, the water index of relative biophysical condition shows a similar distribution to the 14-indicator representation (Figure 20), except that the most extensive areas of poorer condition are only mid range in the relative condition scale. This indicates that small numbers of extreme outlier grid cells containing poorer condition have skewed the equal interval classification. Cells containing the poorest water condition are almost indiscernible and are located within river basins in areas with intensive land use patterns (irrigated agriculture, built environment) and high population density, demonstrating the relevance of the indicators used to the condition pressures associated with these areas. Areas with the poorest values include:

• south-east Queensland;
• northern and central New South Wales coast;
• mid-Lachlan and Macquarie River basins;
• central southern Victoria, Torrens and Onkaparinga River basins in South Australia; and
• Swan Coast basin in Western Australia.

500 km² subcatchment scale

Aggregation to the 500 km² subcatchments expands and highlights (Figure 21) the areas with relatively poorer water condition identified at the finer resolution. The major concentration of poorer water condition coincides with catchments containing built environments, intensive and often high pesticide-using land uses and impounded rivers. Areas identified include:

• western basins in southern Western Australia;
• Fleurieu Peninsula to Gawler River basin in South Australia;
• central southern Victorian river basins;
• north-west Tasmania;
• most of the eastern half of the Murray-Darling Basin in New South Wales
• central New South Wales coast;
• northern New South Wales to south-east Queensland; and
• coastal tropical Queensland basins.

In contrast, the western half of the Murray-Darling Basin, and the less intensively used Northern Territory and rangeland areas, display relatively good condition.

River basin scale

At the river basin scale, the water index reveals that the poorest water condition (Figure 22) in basins occurs in:

• south-east Queensland;
• far northern New South Wales, central New South Wales coast;
• eastern Murray-Darling;
• Victorian river basins draining to Port Phillip Bay;
• basins of the Adelaide hinterland; and
• basins within Tasmania's north west and midlands.

Catchment biota condition assessment (6 indicators)

5 km x 5 km grid cell scale

Of the three indices the biota index displays the broadest and most diffuse pattern of relative condition, especially with respect to areas with moderate to poorer condition (Figure 23). Areas with relatively good condition are confined to:

• a narrow strip of the eastern ranges;
• south-west Tasmania; and
• the less intensively used Northern Territory, Cape York and inland areas.

500 km² subcatchment scale

The pattern of relative condition remains similar (Figure 24) to that of the 5 x 5 km grid cell, suggesting that the more diffuse spread in the range of condition persists with aggregation to larger areas.

River basin scale

At the coarse resolution of the basin (Figure 25) the spread and disaggregation of condition assignment is removed showing the relatively poorer biotic condition through most of the Murray-Darling Basin, the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia, and central southern to western Victoria.

Catchments in south-west Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Cape York have relatively good biotic condition.

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