Method for mapping
Matters of State environmental significance for use in
land use planning and development assessment
Version 4.1
Prepared by: Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
© State of Queensland, 2014.
The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this
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terms.
You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland as the source of the publication.
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Disclaimer
This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of
publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by
other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is
from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy.
If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS
National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5470.
This publication can be made available in an alternative format (e.g. large print or audiotape) on request for people with vision
impairment; phone +61 7 3170 5470 or email <[email protected]>.
Updates
Version 4.1 methodology for the mapping of matters of state environmental significance reflects the following
change to the previous version of the mapping:
Transition of Wild Rivers (high preservation areas) to Strategic Environmental Areas (designated precincts):
The Wild Rivers Act 2005 was repealed on 1 October 2014 under the State Development, Infrastructure and
Planning (Red Tape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2014 (RTRA).
Part 8A of the RTRA stipulates the transition of the terminology from the Wild Rivers Act 2005, to the new
provisions under the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 (RPIA).
A ‘wild river high preservation area’, is therefore taken to be reference to ‘designated precinct in a strategic
environmental area as defined in the Regional Planning Interests Regulation 2014’.
The transitional provisions remove the need to undertake an immediate amendment to the SPP to reflect the new
terminology.
As a result of the above, a new mapping layer entitled ‘MSES – Strategic environmental area (designated precinct)’
has been introduced. The resultant mapping layer is almost identical to the content captured in relation to the high
preservation area as part of the MSES mapping.
iii
Contents
Updates ........................................................................................................................................................................ iii
Purpose and methods ................................................................................................................................................... 1
Purpose of the mapping ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Matters of state environmental significance definition .............................................................................................. 1
Transition of Wild Rivers (high preservation areas) to Strategic Environmental Areas (designated precincts) .......2
MSES in relation to existing laws and policies .......................................................................................................... 2
General mapping rules .............................................................................................................................................. 2
Limitations of MSES mapping ................................................................................................................................... 2
How to access the mapping ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Update and amendment policy ................................................................................................................................. 3
MSES mapping methodology tables ............................................................................................................................ 4
MSES mapping themes ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Table 1: Matters of State environmental significance (MSES) ................................................................................. 5
Table 2: General mapping rules ..............................................................................................................................12
Appendix A – Guidelines and principles for mapping wildlife habitat .........................................................................15
Wildlife habitat principles .........................................................................................................................................15
For species point records: .......................................................................................................................................15
For species habitat mapping: ..................................................................................................................................15
EHP requirements when using other methods .......................................................................................................15
Appendix B – Highly mobility fauna ............................................................................................................................16
Table 1 – MSES high mobility fauna .......................................................................................................................16
Appendix C – Data Naming Conventions and Queries ..............................................................................................18
Table 1 – Field name descriptions ..........................................................................................................................18
Table 2 – GIS queries for separating MSES layers ................................................................................................22
iv
Purpose and methods
Purpose of the mapping
The State Planning Policy 2014 (SPP) sets out the state’s interest for biodiversity as:
‘Matters of environmental significance are valued and protected, and the health and resilience of biodiversity is
maintained or enhanced to support ecological integrity.’
To assist in the implementation of this State interest, this document has been prepared to describe the
methodology used to spatially represent matters of state environmental significance (MSES).
The published MSES mapping product developed from the methodology provides a decision support tool for use in
land use planning and development assessment.
Matters of state environmental significance definition
The SPP 2014 defines matters of state environmental significance as:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
protected areas (including all classes of protected area except coordinated conservation areas) under the
Nature Conservation Act 1992
marine parks and land within a ‘marine national park’, ‘conservation park’, ‘scientific research’, ‘preservation’ or
‘buffer’ zone under the Marine Parks Act 2004
areas within declared fish habitat areas that are management A areas or management B areas under the
Fisheries Regulation 2008
threatened wildlife under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and special least concern animal under the Nature
Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006
regulated vegetation under the Vegetation Management Act 1999 that is:
o Category B areas on the regulated vegetation management map, that are ‘endangered’ or ‘of concern’
regional ecosystems
o Category C areas on the regulated vegetation management map that are ‘endangered’ or ‘of concern’
regional ecosystems
o Category R areas on the regulated vegetation management map
o areas of essential habitat on the essential habitat map for wildlife prescribed as ‘endangered wildlife’ or
‘vulnerable wildlife’ under the Nature Conservation Act 1992
o regional ecosystems that intersect with watercourses identified on the vegetation management
watercourse map
o regional ecosystems that intersect with wetlands identified on the vegetation management wetlands
map
high preservation areas of wild river areas under the Wild Rivers Act 2005 (See below about transition to
strategic environmental areas designated precincts)
wetlands in a wetland protection area or wetlands of high ecological significance shown on the Map of
Referable Wetlands under the Environmental Protection Regulation 2008
wetlands and watercourses in high ecological value waters as defined in the Environmental Protection (Water)
Policy 2009, schedule 2
legally secured offset areas.
1
Transition of Wild Rivers (high preservation areas) to Strategic
Environmental Areas (designated precincts)
The Wild Rivers Act 2005 was repealed on 1 October 2014 under the State Development, Infrastructure and
Planning (Red Tape Reduction) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2014 (RTRA).
Part 8A of the RTRA stipulates the transition of the terminology from the Wild Rivers Act 2005, to the new
provisions under the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014 (RPIA).
A ‘wild river high preservation area’, is therefore taken to be reference to ‘designated precinct in a strategic
environmental area as defined in the Regional Planning Interests Regulation 2014’.
The transitional provisions remove the need to undertake an immediate amendment to the SPP to reflect the new
terminology.
MSES in relation to existing laws and policies
The MSES mapping product is a guide to assist planning and development assessment decision-making. Its
primary purpose is to support implementation of the SPP biodiversity policy. While it supports the SPP, the
mapping does not replace the regulatory mapping or environmental values specifically called up under other laws
or regulations. Similarly, the SPP biodiversity policy does not override or replace specific requirement of other Acts
or regulations.
General mapping rules
The compiled data is subject to a range of standard mapping rules, including:
•
old or unreliable species sightings records are removed (pre 1950 for flora; pre 1975 for fauna)—only sightings
data logged by reputable and verifiable sources are used
•
highly mobile species sightings are removed (Appendix B lists these species) except for known breeding and
roosting sites. These species are not linked to any one habitat however the known breeding and roosting sites
are maintained to preserve the critical life stages of the species
•
areas shown as category X in a Prescribed Map of Assessable Vegetation (PMAV) under the Vegetation
Management Act 1999 (VMA) is removed. These areas have been assessed as non-remnant and are able to
be cleared.
•
data in built up areas (BUA) removed—defined by lot size (<2000m ) in urban areas and clusters of >10 lots of
2
<2000m outside urban areas. Removing BUA provides more clarity as to where areas of biodiversity value
exist in the context of planning scheme preparation.
2
Limitations of MSES mapping
This is a biophysical mapping product. The data used to create it is scale dependent and care needs to be
exercised in using the mapping at very large scales and it should not be used as a ‘point of truth’. It provides an
indication of where the biodiversity values are expected to exist in the landscape. Site surveys will generally be
required to determine if the depicted values are present. If site surveys show that MSES values are not present, the
SPP biodiversity policy does not apply. Please see the SPP (biodiversity) guideline for more information regarding
site surveys mapping amendments
How to access the mapping
MSES mapping is published online by the Department of State Development and Infrastructure Planning (DSDIP)
and can be obtained as a static map image to an allotment scale from the SPP Interactive Mapping System,
available at www.dsdip.qld.gov.au. The mapping data can be obtained for use in a geographic information system
(GIS) from the Queensland Spatial Catalogue (QSpatial) at http://qspatial.information.qld.gov.au.
For further information regarding the MSES mapping, refer to the SPP and associated guideline for biodiversity or
email [email protected].
2
Update and amendment policy
MSES mapping is not based on new or unique data. The primary mapping product draws data from a number of
environment databases and geo-referenced information sources. The base data includes, but is not limited to:
•
•
•
•
•
•
regional ecosystems data (vegetation management classification)
threatened species sightings (WildNet and other databases)
protected area tenure mapping
marine park zoning information
Queensland wetland mapping
other features are modified frequently—data/information includes:
o Digitial Cadastral Database (DCDB) boundaries
o VMA category ‘X’ areas (used to exclude areas for VMA purposes).
To update MSES mapping, it is important to notify the custodians of the base data so that it is updated instead.
These updates should appear in the next version of MSES mapping.
3
MSES mapping methodology tables
The method for mapping MSES areas is provided in the following tables:
• Table 1—MSES
• Table 2—General mapping rules
MSES mapping themes
For mapping purposes, the definition of MSES has been categorised into 5 themes which broadly combines similar
biodiversity interests. Categories include:
1.State conservation areas
Terrestrial and marine conservation areas including Protected Areas, Marine Park zoning and Fish Habitat Areas
2. Wetlands
Wetlands and waterways with statutory protection
3.Species
Threatened wildlife and special least concern animals under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 of
the Nature Conservation Act 1992
4 Regulated vegetation
Regulated vegetation under the Vegetation Management Act 1999
5 Secured offsets
Legally secured offsets through various mechanisms.
4
Table 1: Matters of State environmental significance (MSES)
Feature name
Description
Mapping notes/rules
Data custodian
Dataset name and
location
Include following categories only:
National Parks
Recreation Sport
and Racing
(NPRSR)
Protected Areas
and other Estate
Lands—Location:
QSpatial
Environment and
Heritage Protection
(EHP)
Nature Refuges
and Coordinated
Conservation
Areas—Location:
QSpatial
National Parks
Recreation Sport
and Racing
(NPRSR)
State Marine
Parks—Location:
QSpatial
1. State conservation areas
1.1
Protected Areas
Nature Conservation
Act 1992 (NCA)
Protected areas under the
Nature Conservation Act
1992, except coordinated
conservation areas
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
National Park
National Park (Aboriginal land)
National Park (Torres Strait Islander land)
National Park (Cape York Peninsula
Aboriginal land)
Regional Park
Forest Reserve
Nature Refuge Areas^
Areas of critical habitat*
Notes:
^Nature Refuge Area extents are not defined by cadastral property
boundaries. Ensure that the data only contains the refuge area portion of
a property and not include the whole cadastral boundary, unless
specified.
*currently, there are no areas of this class of protected area declared
under the NCA.
State Forests are not included as MSES.
1.2
Marine Parks
Marine Parks Act 2004
(MPA)
The following State marine
parks zones under the
Marine Parks Act 2004:
• Marine National Park
zone
• Marine Conservation
Park zone
• Scientific Research
zone
• Preservation zone
Include the following MP zones only:
•
•
•
•
•
Marine National Park zone
Marine Conservation Park zone
Scientific Research zone
Preservation zone
Buffer zone
5
Map
symbology
Feature name
Description
Mapping notes/rules
Data custodian
Dataset name and
location
Include:
Agriculture
Fisheries and
Forestry (DAFF)
Fish Habitat
Areas—Location:
QSpatial
Environment and
Heritage Protection
(EHP)
Wetland Protection
Area HES-Wetland
• Buffer zone
1.3
Fish Habitat Areas
Fisheries Act 1994
(FA)
The following areas under
the Fisheries Act 1994
including:
• Fish Habitat Areas A and B
• All fish habitat areas
2. Wetlands and waterways
2.1
Include:
Include:
1
'High Ecological
Significance' wetlands
on the Map of
Referable Wetlands
All natural wetlands that
are 'High Ecological
Significance' (HES) on the
Map of Referable Wetlands
Environmental
Protection Act 1994
• Areas in the "wetland protection area-HES
wetland" layer
• Areas categorised as 'HES' in the "wetland
management area-wetland" layer, using the
“DATASET” field
Exclude:
Exclude:
any amendments to the
Map of Referable wetlands
• In “wetland protection Area-wetland” layer,
any WPA wetland map amendments
• In “wetland management area-wetland”
layer, all ‘GES’ wetlands in the “DATASET”
field and ‘State Marine Parks’ in the
“DATASOURCE” field
( EP Act)
Wetland
Management AreaWetland
—Location:
QSpatial
WPA wetland
amendments—
Location: EHP
website
*NOTE: The data used on the Map of Referable Wetlands is based on
Queensland Wetlands Mapping Version 2 (2009). To ensure currency,
the latest version of the mapping can be used to validate wetlands on
the Map of Referable Wetlands.
2.2
High Ecological Value
(HEV) wetlands &
1
2
1
Natural wetlands and
2
waterways that occur in
HEV (maintain) freshwater
For MSES layer include:
• Natural wetlands on the Queensland
wetlands mapping that are within (clipped
1
See Rule 3 in General Mapping Rules (Table 2) for details about mapping natural wetlands
See Rule 4 in General Mapping Rules (Table 2) for details about creating a separate MSES Drainage layer
6
Environment and
Heritage
Protection—(EHP)
EPP Water Policy
Intention—
Location: QSpatial
Map
symbology
Feature name
Description
waterways
and estuarine areas under
the Environmental
Protection (Water) Policy
Environmental
Protection Act 1994
Mapping notes/rules
Data custodian
Dataset name and
location
State Development,
Infrastructure and
Planning—(DSDIP)
Strategic
Environmental
Areas. Location:
QSpatial
Natural Resources
and Mines (DNRM)
Vegetation
management essential habitat
map – current
version Location:
QSpatial
to) HEV (maintain) areas
For MSES Drainage layer, include:
• River/drainage lines that are within (clipped
to) HEV (maintain) areas
2
(EP Act)
For waterways, include
within MSES Drainage
layer (see Table 2, rule 4)
Exclude:
• All wetlands/waterways in HEV (achieve)
areas
• Do not include whole HEV area, only the
relevant wetland/waterway
Note:
Waterway segments (rivers/creeks) within the MSES mapping are to be
included within a separate MSES drainage layer including:
•
HEV waterways (2.2)
•
VM Watercourses (4.3)
Information regarding each component and any related policy will be
stored within the attributes of the layer. See Table 2, Rule 4
2.3
Designated precincts of
strategic environmental
areas under the Regional
Planning Interests Act
2014
Include:
3.1
Habitat for:
INCLUDE:
Threatened species
and Iconic species
• Threatened wildlife
under Nature
Conservation Act 1992
including:
o ‘Endangered’
For all species habitat (in order of preference):
Strategic
Environmental Areas –
designated precincts
• Designated Precincts
Regional Planning
Interests Act (RPI Act)
3. SPECIES
Nature Conservation
Act 1992 (NCA)
• VMA Essential habitat (if applicable); or
• Modelled habitat (peer reviewed and
accepted); or
• Mapped area based on known habitat
7
Map
symbology
Feature name
Description
Mapping notes/rules
o ‘Vulnerable’
• Special least concern
animals under the
Nature Conservation
Act 1992 including:
o koala (outside South
East Queensland
(SEQ) bioregion)
o kchidna
o platypus
o migratory birds
(JAMBA,CAMBA,
Bonn)
• SEQ koala bushland
habitat
factors (climate, elevation, bioregion,
regional ecosystems); or
• point records buffered to 1000m that are
within remnant or regrowth REs (see Notes)
Data custodian
Dataset name and
location
Science Information
Technology
Innovation and the
Arts (DSITIA)
Wildnet database
species records
Environment and
Heritage
Protection—(EHP)
habitat suitability
models (various)Location: QSpatial
Species specific layers:
1. Dugongs: dugong protection areas
2. SEQ koalas: SEQ koala habitat value
3. Migratory birds: SEQ wader survey collation
data and Ramsar sites
Koala planning
areas version 1-2 South East
Queensland - data
package- Location:
QSpatial
For specific layers above include:
1. Include:
a. dugong protection zones A and B
2. Include:
a. ‘High Value’, ‘Medium Value’ and ‘Low
Value’ koala ‘bushland’ mapping in
eastern SEQ (see notes).
b. keep all non-remnant vegetation. DO
NOT remove Built up areas or VMA ‘X’
areas
3. Include:
a. 'critical' migratory bird habitat using
"KEY" field
b. all Ramsar sites
Wader Site Data
Collation and
Survey Project for
South East
Queensland-see
EHP
Ramsar sitesLocation: QSpatial
Exclude
For all species habitat:
• Inaccurate precision point records. (i.e.
>500m accuracy)
• Point records that pre-date 1975 for fauna
and 1950 for flora.
• Highly mobile fauna species point records,
except where the record is a known
breeding or roosting site. Highly mobile
species are identified in Appendix B
• Duplicates and doubtful records (invalidated
records )
8
Agriculture
Fisheries and
Forestry (DAFF)
Dugong Protection
Areas - Location:
QSpatial
Map
symbology
Feature name
Description
Mapping notes/rules
Data custodian
Specific layers:
• For dugong protection areas (1), exclude
areas landward of the coastline or above
the low water mark^
• For koala bushland habitat (2), all other
values in koala SPP - habitat values
• For migratory birds (3), all other values in
"KEY" field
Notes:
Species information (status, common and scientific name and regional
ecosystem (RE) (if applicable)) should be included in MSES mapping to
support MSES reporting
For koala mapping in eastern SEQ, use Koala Bushland habitat defined
as HV, MV and LV Bushland. DO NOT remove Built up areas or VMA ‘X’
areas
For cassowary mapping use “Primary”, “Secondary”, “Rehabilitation” and
“Non-Remnant Corridor” areas (WET bioregion)
For mahogany glider mapping use “Habitat”, “Rehabilitation” and “NonRemnant Corridor” areas (WET bioregion)
Additional habitat data must be collected in accordance with guidelines
in Appendix A
Point records which satisfy the above rules are buffered with a radius of
1000m (which is 2 times the maximum precision).
Only remnant and regrowth vegetation captured within the buffer to be
mapped.
Include habitat identified for an ‘E’ or ‘V’ species in an approved
conservation plan/recovery plan, provided Appendix A guidelines are
used to identify habitat
Include essential habitat layers to ensure all VMA essential habitat is
captured.
^for dugong protection areas, use an appropriate coastline dataset to
9
Dataset name and
location
Map
symbology
Feature name
Description
Mapping notes/rules
Data custodian
Dataset name and
location
Natural Resources
and Mines (DNRM)
Vegetation
Management
Regional
Ecosystem and
Remnant Map Location: QSpatial
remove terrestrial areas
4. Regulated vegetation
4.1
Vegetation
Management Regional
Ecosystem and
Remnant Map
(VMA)
Include VMA ‘Endangered’
and ‘Of Concern’ remnant
(Category B) and high
value regrowth (Category
C) and Great Barrier Reef
(GBR) regrowth (Category
R) REs.
Include:
• VMA classes ‘E’ and ‘OC’ dominant and
subdominant remnant vegetation under
Category B; and
• ‘E’ and ‘OC’ dominant and subdominant
high value regrowth under Category C
• all Category R areas on the Regulated
Vegetation Management Map.
Regulated
Vegetation
Management
Map—QSpatial
Note:
This mapping layer has excluded remnant and high value regrowth
vegetation from existing non-assessable category X areas on the
Regulated Vegetation Management Map. See Rule 2 of the General
Mapping Rules (Table 2)
4.2
Vegetation
Management Wetland
Map
Wetlands that are lakes
and swamps shown on the
Vegetation Management
Wetlands Map
Include:
Watercourses shown on
the Vegetation
Management Watercourse
Map; and
Include:
All areas contained in the dataset.
Natural Resources
and Mines (DNRM)
Vegetation
Management
Wetlands Map—
QSpatial
Natural Resources
and Mines (DNRM)
Vegetation
Management
Watercourse
Map—QSpatial
(VMA)
4.3
Vegetation
Management
Watercourse Map
(VMA)
Category R (GBR regrowth
watercourse) areas from
the Regulated Vegetation
Management Map.
2
Natural watercourses contained in the
Vegetation Management Watercourse Maps :
SEQ 25K Vegetation Management
Watercourse Map (1:25,000):
• exclude values in FTYPE field that are most
likely artificial, including:
o ‘flow_direction_symbol’
o ‘tank_other_than_water’
Vegetation Management Watercourse Map
10
Regulated
Vegetation
Management
Map—QSpatial
Map
symbology
Feature name
Description
Mapping notes/rules
Data custodian
Dataset name and
location
Environment and
Heritage
Protection—(EHP)
VMA Property
Maps of
Assessable
Vegetation—
Location: QSpatial
(1:100,000 and 1:250,000):
• All features
Waterway segments (rivers/creeks) within the MSES mapping are to be
included within a separate MSES drainage layer including:
•
HEV waterways (2.2)
•
VM Watercourses (4.3)
Information regarding each component and any related policy will be
stored within the attributes of the layer. See Table 2, Rule 4.
5. OFFSET AREAS
5.1
Legally secured offset
areas
Environmental Offsets
Act 2014 (EO)
Offset areas legally
secured under a covenant,
conservation agreement or
development approval
condition.
Include as a whole boundary
Includes, but not limited to:
•
‘Current’ PMAV status that is type:
‘20B(1)(b)’ in VMA PMAV dataset
11
Natural Resources
and Mines (DNRM)
Map
symbology
Table 2: General mapping rules
Feature Name
Description
Mapping Notes/Rules
Data Custodian
Dataset Name and
Location
1.
Remnant and high value
regrowth regional
ecosystems regulated
under the VMA.
Include:
Natural Resources
and Mines (DNRM)
Vegetation
Management
Regional
Ecosystem and
Remnant Map—
Location: QSpatial
The following values have
been removed where they
contain Category’ X’ areas
for VMA purposes
including:
Exclude:
Natural Resources
and Mines (DNRM)
Regulated
Vegetation
Management
Map—Location:
QSpatial
Regional Ecosystems
(RE)
2.
Regulated Vegetation
Management Map
Category ‘X’
3.
Mapping Natural
Wetlands
• current RE mapping with VMA classes from
the regulated map
• Areas containing category ‘X’ from the
Regulated Vegetation Management Map
Note:
• Remnant REs
• High value regrowth
REs
• VM wetland REs
• VMA essential habitat
• Category R (GBR
regrowth watercourse)
areas
• MSES species (except
koala bushland habitat)
This mapping layer has been processed to exclude the values in the
Only include natural, low
modified, wetlands in
MSES using the
Queensland Wetlands
Mapping (applicable
version)
•
“Description” column from existing non-assessable category X areas on
the Regulated Vegetation Management Map.
•
Polygons where wetland type REs
constitute between 51%–100% of RE
types
Include only natural or minimal
modification wetlands classed in the nonriverine ACA as; H1(unmodified); H2M2;
H2M3*; H2M4; and H2M8.
Note:
*Do not include H2M3p hydrological modifier which includes ponded
pastures (freshwater to estuarine)
12
Queensland
Wetland Mapping
(Current version 3)
– Location:
Enterprise GIS
Map
Symbology
Feature Name
Description
Mapping Notes/Rules
Data Custodian
Dataset Name and
Location
4.
Riverine and creek
drainage lines or waterway
segments considered
MSES to be combined
within a separate MSES
Drainage layer.
Waterway segments (rivers/creeks) within the
MSES mapping are to be included within a
separate MSES drainage layer including:
Environment and
Heritage Protection
(EHP)
VMA Watercourses
(various
datasets)—
Location: QSpatial
MSES Drainage lines
• HEV waterways (2.2)
• VM Watercourses (4.3)
EPP Water Policy
Intention—
Location: QSpatial
Information regarding each component and
any related policy will be stored within the
attributes of the layer.
5.
Built up areas
Built up areas (BUA) to be
removed from final MSES
mapping
Exclude:
• Built up areas for all mapping, except koala
bushland habitat
Process for establishing BUA layer:
1. Extract parcels with an area of less than
2
2000m and within the area of interest (e.g.
regional plan area) from the DCDB (parcel
type = lot and cover type = base) whilst
excluding lots which are protected areas,
(national park, regional park, state forest,
forest reserve) etc.
2. Dissolve the parcels
3. Buffer by a selected width which is
approximately a little more than half the
width of a major road (approx.. 25m)
4. Re-buffer using (a flat buffer) the same
negative distance (ie. -25m)
5. This layer is then used to clip any roads
with which it intersects
6. Union this dataset with the original
dissolved parcels in step 2
7. Dissolve the dataset in step 6
8. For a cleaner layer, reverse the selection in
step 1 from the DCDB and use this as an
erase feature on the dataset created in step
7
13
Environment and
Heritage Protection
(EHP)
Digital Cadastral
Database (DCDB)
Map
Symbology
Feature Name
Description
Mapping Notes/Rules
Data Custodian
9. Multi-part split
14
Dataset Name and
Location
Map
Symbology
Appendix A – Guidelines and principles for mapping wildlife
habitat
The purpose of this guideline is to provide the approach used in the mapping of MSES wildlife habitat and to give
principles and guidance to users who would prefer to use another method other than the approach in this
methodology.
Wildlife habitat principles
The MSES methodology uses the following principles when mapping wildlife habitat:
•
•
•
the most recent and up-to-date information is used
the best methods for mapping habitat are prioritised
draws information from a centralised database for consistency.
For species point records:
The rules in section 3 in Table 1 must be satisfied before species point records are accepted.
It is recommended that species point data records be submitted to Wildnet. As much detail as possible on the
record should be provided, including any information on breeding, important roost sites or camps (especially for
mobile taxa such as raptors, owls and flying-foxes).
MSES wildlife habitat mapping from species records uses recent and accurate flora and fauna sightings from
Wildnet using the following criteria:
•
•
•
•
recent sightings greater than 1975 for fauna
recent sightings greater than 1950 for flora
precision (accuracy) of sighting to within 500m
highly mobile species (Appendix B) are excluded.
If local records (outside of Wildnet) are used in mapping, the above criteria must be applied.
For species habitat mapping:
Wildlife habitat is mapped in MSES using the most appropriate data listed in order of preference:
1.
2.
3.
4.
VMA Essential habitat (if applicable); or
modelled habitat (peer reviewed and accepted); or
mapped area based on known habitat factors (climate, elevation, bioregion, regional ecosystems); or
point records buffered to 1000m that are within with remnant or regrowth Res.
The methodology follows the same approach used in the mapping of essential habitat under the Vegetation
Management Act 1999 and habitat mapping for the Biodiversity Assessment Mapping Methodology (BAMM). For
more information on determining habitat, see the BAMM Criteria A,H and Appendix 2.
EHP requirements when using other methods
If another method for mapping MSES wildlife habitat mapping for planning purposes, the following is required:
•
EHP must receive a copy of the methodology highlighting the different approach used and any references
to similar methods supplied
•
all species that are listed as MSES must be incorporated into the mapping
•
if species records are used, they must be sourced from Wildnet in preference to local data and using the
above criteria for species records
•
VMA essential habitat areas cannot be amended and must remain within the mapping.
15
Appendix B – Highly mobility fauna
The table below contains high mobility fauna that are listed for protection in the Nature Conservation Act 1992 as
‘endangered’ and ‘vulnerable’. High mobility fauna have been determined by expert panels and contain species
that have large home ranges (greater than 100ha per reproductive unit). Where no home range information exists,
the allocation is based on life history characters or taxa of similar size and biology.
Expert panels may recommend the inclusion of additional species or exclusion of species on the list where more
accurate information on species mobility becomes available. Sightings records of high mobility fauna that are not
known to be breeding or important roost sites are excluded from essential habitat and MSES mapping as of the
rules in section 3, Table 1.
Table 1 – MSES high mobility fauna
Scientific name
Common name
Class
NCA
Status
Anthochaera phrygia
Regent Honeyeater
Aves
E
Arctocephalus tropicalis
Subantarctic Fur Seal
Mammalia
V
Calyptorhynchus lathami
Glossy Black-Cockatoo
Aves
V
Carcharias taurus
Greynurse Shark
Pisces
E
Caretta caretta
Loggerhead Turtle
Reptilia
E
Chelonia mydas
Green Turtle
Reptilia
V
Crocodylus porosus
Estuarine Crocodile
Reptilia
V
Cyclopsitta diophthalma coxeni
Coxen's Fig-Parrot
Aves
E
Cyclopsitta diophthalma macleayana
Macleay's Fig-Parrot
Aves
V
Dermochelys coriacea
Leatherback Turtle
Reptilia
E
Diomedea antipodensis
Antipodean Albatross
Aves
V
Diomedea exulans
Wandering Albatross
Aves
V
Diomedea gibsoni
Gibson's Albatross
Aves
V
Dugong dugon
Dugong
Mammalia
V
Eclectus roratus macgillivrayi
Eclectus Parrot
Aves
V
Eretmochelys imbricata
Hawksbill Turtle
Reptilia
V
Erythrotriorchis radiatus
Red Goshawk
Aves
E
Esacus magnirostris
Beach Stone-curlew
Aves
V
Grantiella picta
Painted Honeyeater
Aves
V
Lathamus discolor
Swift Parrot
Aves
E
Lepidochelys olivacea
Olive Ridley Turtle
Reptilia
E
Lophochroa leadbeateri
Major Mitchell's Cockatoo
Aves
V
16
Scientific name
Common name
Class
NCA
Status
Macroderma gigas
Ghost Bat
Mammalia
V
Macronectes giganteus
Southern Giant-Petrel
Aves
E
Macronectes halli
Northern Giant-Petrel
Aves
V
Megaptera novaeangliae
Humpback Whale
Mammalia
V
Natator depressus
Flatback Turtle
Reptilia
V
Ninox rufa queenslandica
Rufous Owl (southern subsp.)
Aves
V
Ninox strenua
Powerful Owl
Aves
V
Pezoporus occidentalis
Night Parrot
Aves
E
Phaethon rubricauda
Red-tailed Tropicbird
Aves
V
Phoebetria fusca
Sooty Albatross
Aves
V
Psephotus chrysopterygius
Golden-shouldered Parrot
Aves
E
Pterodroma heraldica
Herald Petrel
Aves
E
Rostratula australis
Australian Painted Snipe
Aves
V
Sternula albifrons
Little Tern
Aves
E
Thalassarche bulleri
Buller's Albatross
Aves
V
Thalassarche carteri
Yellow-nosed Albatross
Aves
V
Thalassarche cauta
Shy Albatross
Aves
V
Thalassarche chrysostoma
Grey-headed Albatross
Aves
V
Thalassarche steadi
White-capped Albatross
Aves
V
Tyto novaehollandiae kimberli
Masked Owl (northern subsp.)
Aves
V
17
Appendix C – Data Naming Conventions and Queries
Table 1 – Field name descriptions
This table lists the fields in MSES and gives a short description of each field and data structure information. Whilst
this information is useful for GIS staff, it is also valuable to general users who want to know the meaning of each
field in the layer.
Field Name
Field Alias
Description
Field Type
Field
Length
M_Table1_1
CONSERVATION
Areas under the ‘conservation’ theme
including protected areas, marine parks,
fish habitat
String
(Text)
25
M_Table1_2
WETLANDS
Areas under the ‘wetlands’ theme that are
MSES wetlands
String
(Text)
25
M_Table1_3
SPECIES
Areas under the ‘species’ theme that is
habitat for threatened wildlife and special
least concern animals under the Nature
Conservation Act 1992 or koala bushland
habitat
String
(Text)
10
M_Table1_4
VEGETATION
Areas under the ‘vegetation’ theme that
are regulated vegetation under the
Vegetation Management Act 1999
String
(Text)
25
M_Table1_5
SECURED
OFFSETS
Areas under the ‘secured offsets’ theme
that is protected by a registered covenant
or similar statutory mechanism
String
(Text)
15
M1_1
Protected Area
The area contains Protected Areas under
the Nature Conservation Act 1992
String
(Text)
20
M1_1_Act
Act
The Act protected areas are defined
String
(Text)
3
M1_1_Type
Type
Protected area type. For example:
National Park (NP), Regional Park (RP),
Nature Refuge (NR)
String
(Text)
3
M1_1_Name
Name
Protected area name
String
(Text)
90
M1_2
Marine Parks
The area contains Marine Parks under the
Marine Parks 2004 that are MSES
String
(Text)
15
M1_2_Act
Act
The Act marine parks are defined
String
(Text)
3
M1_2_Zone
Zone
Marine park zoning
String
(Text)
30
M1_2_Park
Park
Marine park name
String
(Text)
40
M1_3
Fish Habitat Areas
The area contains Fish Habitat Areas
under the Fisheries Act 1994
String
(Text)
20
18
Field Name
Field Alias
Description
Field Type
Field
Length
M1_3_Act
Act
The Act fish habitat areas are defined
String
(Text)
3
M1_3_Type
Type
Fish habitat type (A or B)
String
(Text)
1
M1_3_Name
Name
Fish habitat name or location
String
(Text)
60
M2_1
HES wetlands
The area contains wetland that are High
Ecological Significance (HES) wetlands
on the Map of Referable Wetland under
the Environmental Protection Regulation
2008 and considered MSES
String
(Text)
50
M2_1_Act
Act
The Act that contains HES wetlands
String
(Text)
3
M2_1_Des
Description
This field describes if it is a ‘WPA wetland’
or an ‘other HES wetland’
String
(Text)
30
M2_1_Dat
Data
Wetland data source
String
(Text)
50
M2_2
EPP wetlands and
waterways
The area contains areas under the
wetlands or waterways in High Ecological
Value (HEV) ‘achieve’ waters under the
Environmental Protection (Water) Policy
2009 considered MSES
String
(Text)
30
M2_2_Act
Act
The Act that contains HEV waters under
EPP(water)
String
(Text)
3
M2_2_Dat
Data
The data source for the HEV wetlands or
waterways
String
(Text)
50
M2_3
Strategic
Environmental Area
The areas that are strategic
environmental areas (SEA) under the
Regional Planning Interests Act 2014
considered MSES
String
(Text)
15
M2_3_Act
RPI
The Act containing strategic
environmental areas, being the Regional
Planning Interests Act 2014
String
(Text)
3
M2_3_Data
Strategic
Environmental Area
- Designated
Precinct
strategic environmental areas data source
String
(Text)
50
M2_3_Pres
Designated
Precinct
designated precincts are the subset of
SEAs that are MSES
String
(Text)
25
M3_1
Wildlife Habitat
The area contains habitat for ‘threatened
wildlife’ and ‘special least concern
animals’ under the Nature Conservation
Act 1992
String
(Text)
40
19
Field Name
Field Alias
Description
Field Type
Field
Length
M3_1_Act
Act
The Acts that apply to wildlife and habitat
String
(Text)
10
M3_1_Icon
Iconic Species
name of iconic species
String
(Text)
30
M3_1_SpecA
Species
Scientific name of species list (List 1)
String
(Text)
250
M3_1_SpecB
Species
Scientific name of species list (List 2)
String
(Text)
250
M3_1_SpecC
Species
Scientific name of species list (List 3)
String
(Text)
20
M3_1_Koala
Koala Bushland
Habitat
Identification of SEQ koala bushland
habitat
String
(Text)
20
M3_1_Dugng
Dugong Protection
Area
Identification of dugong protection areas
under the Nature Conservation (Wildlife
Management) Regulation 2006
String
(Text)
10
M3_1_EssHb
VMA Essential
Habitat
Identification of essential habitat under the
Vegetation Management Act 1999
String
(Text)
250
M4_RE
RE
The list of Regional Ecosystems (REs)
within the selected area
String
(Text)
50
M4_VM_POLY
Vegetation
Management
Status
The Vegetation Management Act 1999
conservation status of the remnant
regional ecosystem within the selected
area being either:
String
(Text)
8
‘Endangered’
‘Of Concern’
‘Least Concern’
M4_1
Threatened
remnant and
regrowth regional
ecosystems
The area contains remnant and regrowth
regional ecosystems (Category B & C)
under the Vegetation Management Act
1999 listed as either ‘endangered’ or ‘of
concern’ and Category R areas
String
(Text)
40
M4_1_Act
Act
The Act that applies to regulated
vegetation
String
(Text)
3
M4_2
Vegetation
management
wetlands
The area contains wetland regional
ecosystems under the Vegetation
Management Act 1999
String
(Text)
40
M4_2_Act
Act
The Act that applies to regulated wetland
regional ecosystems
String
(Text)
3
M4_2_Level
Level
The significance of the regulated VM
wetland
String
(Text)
20
M4_2_Data
Data
The data source of the wetland mapping
String
50
20
Field Name
Field Alias
Description
Field Type
Field
Length
(Text)
M5_1
Legally secured
offset areas
The area contains an offset area that has
been legally acquired under a covenant,
conservation agreement or development
approval condition.
String
(Text)
30
M5_1_Type
Type
The origin of the offset area
String
(Text)
15
21
Table 2 – GIS queries for separating MSES layers
These GIS queries are applied to the whole MSES data set to extract each MSES layer used in the SPP online interactive mapping system. The queries to extract
the layers use Structured Query Language (SQL). If your mapping product allows, the table also provides a list of ‘visible fields’ which are applicable to each layer
and, if possible, an ‘Alias’ field name to use instead which makes the product more readable to the general user. While these queries have been tested for ArcGIS
products, they should be able to be modified to suit other mapping software which uses SQL. For information on individual field names, see Table 1 of Appendix C.
SPP Layer name
MSES definition
GIS Query
Visible Fields & (“Alias”)
MSES – Protected area
protected areas (including all classes
of protected area except coordinated
conservation areas) under the
Nature Conservation Act 1992
"M1_1" = 'Protected Areas'
M1_1 (“Protected Areas”)
M1_1_Act (‘Act”)
M1_1_Type (“Type”)
M1_1_Name (“Name”)
MSES – Marine park
MSES – Declared fish habitat
area
marine parks and land within a
‘marine national park’, ‘conservation
park’, ‘scientific research’,
‘preservation’ or ‘buffer’ zone under
the Marine Parks Act 2004
"M1_2" = 'Marine Parks'
areas within declared fish habitat
areas that are management A areas
or management B areas under the
Fisheries Regulation 2008
"M1_3" = 'Fish Habitat Areas'
M1_2 (“Marine Parks”)
M1_2_Act (“Act”)
M1_2_Zone (“Zone”)
M1_2_Park (“Park”)
M1_3 (“Fish Habitat Areas”)
M1_3_Act (“Act”)
M1_3_Type (“Type”)
M1_3_Name (“Name”)
MSES – Wildlife habitat
threatened wildlife under the Nature
Conservation Act 1992 and special
least concern animal under the
Nature Conservation (Wildlife)
Regulation 2006
AND
regulated vegetation under the
Vegetation Management Act 1999
M3_1_KOALA IS NOT NULL
OR M3_1_ESSHB IS NOT
NULL OR M3_1_SPECA IS
NOT NULL OR M3_1_SPECB
IS NOT NULL OR
M3_1_SPECC IS NOT NULL
OR M3_1_ICON IS NOT
NULL OR M3_1_DUGNG IS
NOT NULL
22
M3_1 (“Threatened species and iconic species”)
M3_1_Act (“Act”)
M3_1_Icon (“Special least concern animal”)
M3_1_Koala (“Koala Bushland Habitat”)
M3_1_Esshb (“VMA Essential Habitat”)
M3_1_Dugng (“Dugong Protection”)
SPP Layer name
MSES – Regulated vegetation
MSES definition
Visible Fields & (“Alias”)
that is:
M3_1_SpecA (“Species list A”)
areas of essential habitat on the
essential habitat map for wildlife
prescribed as ‘endangered wildlife’
or ‘vulnerable wildlife’ under the
Nature Conservation Act 1992
M3_1_SpecB (“Species list B”)
regulated vegetation under the
Vegetation Management Act 1999
that is:
•
•
•
•
MSES – Regulated vegetation
(intersecting a watercourse) –
(Line layer)
GIS Query
M3_1_SpecC (“Species list C”)
"M_Table1_4" =
'REGULATED VEGETATION'
M4_VM_POLY (“Vegetation Management Status”)
M4_1 (”Regulated vegetation”)
Category B areas on the
regulated vegetation
management map, that are
‘endangered’ or ‘of concern’
regional ecosystems
Category C areas on the
regulated vegetation
management map that are
‘endangered’ or ‘of concern’
regional ecosystems
Category R areas on the
regulated vegetation
management map
regional ecosystems that
intersect with wetlands identified
on the vegetation management
wetlands map
regulated vegetation under the
Vegetation Management Act 1999
that is:
M4_RE (“RE”)
M4_1_Act (“Act”)
M4_2 (“Vegetation management wetlands”)
M4_2_Act (“Act”)
M4_2_Level (“VM Wetland significance”)
M4_2_Data (“Data Source”)
"M4_3" = 'Vegetation
Management Watercourse
Map'
M4_3 (“Vegetation Management Watercourses”)
M4_3_Act (“Act”)
regional ecosystems that intersect
23
SPP Layer name
MSES definition
GIS Query
with watercourses identified on the
vegetation management watercourse
map
MSES – Strategic
Environmental Areas
(designated precincts)
high preservation areas of wild river
areas under the Wild Rivers Act
2005
Visible Fields & (“Alias”)
M4_3_Data (“Data Source”)
"M2_3" = 'SEA'
M2_3 (“Strategic Environmental Areas”)
M2_3_Act (“RPI”)
M2_3_Data (“Strategic Environmental Area Designated Precinct”)
M2_3_Pres (“Designated Precinct”)
MSES – High Ecological
Significance wetlands
MSES – High ecological value
waters (wetland)
MSES – High ecological value
waters (watercourse)
(Line layer)
MSES – Legally secured
offset areas
wetlands in a wetland protection
area or wetlands of high ecological
significance shown on the Map of
Referable Wetlands under the
Environment Protection Regulation
2008
"M2_1"= 'HES wetlands'
wetlands and watercourses in high
ecological value waters as defined in
the Environmental Protection (Water)
Policy 2009, schedule 2
"M2_2"= 'HEV wetlands'
wetlands and watercourses in high
ecological value waters as defined in
the Environmental Protection (Water)
Policy 2009, schedule 2
In MSES drainage layer:
M2_2 (“EPP Water”)
"M2_2"= 'HEV waterways'
Data (“Data Source’)
legally secured offset areas
"M5_1" = 'Legally secured
offset areas'
M5_1 (“Legally secured offset areas”)
M2_1 (“HES wetlands’)
M2_1_Act (“Act”)
M2_1_Des (“Description”)
M2_1_Dat (“Data”)
M2_2 (“EPP Water”)
M2_2_Act (“Act”)
M2_2_Dat (“Data”)
24
M5_1_Type (“Type”)