The Department of Planning provides support to Local Government to enable evidence-based planning decisions. Biodiversity and Conservation Division collaborated with Cessnock City Council in 2021-2022 to deliver environmental map layers (Environmental Lands Study) that facilitate council’s review of their Local Environment Plan. This dataset is one of those and is a consolidated vegetation mosaic refined by an accurate and fine scale Woody Non-woody (WNW) layer to enhance the spatial accuracy of the data. An audit of existing vegetation products was conducted and 11 datasets were selected for inclusion based upon their quality, currency and level of supporting validation information. Vegetation units from all 11 datasets were translated to the Eastern NSW PCT Classification (Connolly et al., 2021) that is publicly available as of June 2022. The vegetation mosaic contains all original and legacy information from each of the 11 contributing datasets where that information existed. The vegetation mosaic also contains the original translations to the pre-June 2022 PCT's that was undertaken by Cockerill et al. (2013) Both classifications are now linked to DPE’s full floristic survey data (734 plots) that occur within the Cessnock LGA. These are referenced to ground truth data that also have associated Threatened Ecological Communities assigned.

The Department of Planning provides support to Local Government to enable evidence-based planning decisions. Biodiversity and Conservation Division collaborated with Cessnock City Council in 2021-2022 to deliver environmental map layers (Environmental Lands Study) that facilitate council’s review of their Local Environment Plan. This dataset is one of those and provides a scientifically valid structural connectivity analysis for the 196,468-hectare Cessnock Local Government Area (LGA) at fine/local scale using evidence-based data. The connectivity analysis was conducted at multiple raster scales then combined into a final vector format with accuracy commensurate to a scale range of 1:500 to 1:1000. This connectivity analysis is one aspect of biodiversity information that maps the current state of biodiversity movement at a scale that can inform local planning decisions. This dataset was derived using the Spatial Links analysis tool described in the mapping of habitat linkages study by M. Drielsma et al. (2007) because it overcomes some of the limitations of GAP CLoSR. The Spatial Links tool does not require nodes for patches because it can assess each cell in a patch as a start/endpoint. Additionally, Spatial Links overcomes any limitations of addressing the infinitely variable and complex spatial configuration of any landscape. A more detailed examination of the Spatial Links methodology compared to other analytical techniques is discussed in the detailed studies of connectivity for planning by M. J. Drielsma et al. (2022). This study adopted the 106 m gap-crossing threshold and overcame the singular 1100m maximum dispersal threshold by applying multiple scales that addressed a range of dispersal distances to cater for varying ecological traits of fauna and flora. The final dataset results from the Spatial Links analysis at fine scale across the Cessnock LGA buffered by 1km to avoid any abrupt termination of connectivity at the edges of the LGA.

The Department of Planning provides support to Local Government to enable evidence-based planning decisions. Biodiversity and Conservation Division collaborated with Cessnock City Council in 2021-2022 to deliver environmental map layers (Environmental Lands Study) that facilitate council’s review of their Local Environment Plan. This dataset is one of those and maps all streambanks of larger streams in the 196,468-hectare Cessnock Local Government Area using the Strahler system to identify stream type. All tenures were mapped excluding National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) estate because they are formally reserved and protected under Local Environment Plans and were outside of the scope of the Environmental Lands Study. Data is in vector format and was produced to a scale range of 1:500 – 1:3000. The process for delineating streambanks for the Cessnock LGA began by mapping stream order, then adding LiDAR and NearMap imagery as a basemap. The technique of hillshading was then used to show the streambank top edge and topographic features of streambanks. All streams higher than 2nd order were buffered by 100m to create the area of interest (AoI) for mapping streambanks. High resolution Light (or Laser) Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) was converted to a hillshade to facilitate the delineation of 3rd order and above streambanks. Streambanks were mapped at a scale of 1:3,000 as lines using a pen graphic tablet and the dataset saved to a file geodatabase. Streambanks were then buffered by 40m (as required by the Water Management Act 2000) and any areas where streambanks where more than 80m apart were eliminated.

The Department of Planning provides support to Local Government to enable evidence-based planning decisions. Biodiversity and Conservation Division collaborated with Cessnock City Council in 2021-2022 to deliver environmental map layers (Environmental Lands Study) that facilitate council’s review of their Local Environment Plan. This dataset is one of those and maps all streambanks of larger streams in the 196,468-hectare Cessnock Local Government Area using the Strahler system to identify stream type. All tenures were mapped excluding National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) estate because they are formally reserved and protected under Local Environment Plans and were outside of the scope of the Environmental Lands Study. Data is in vector format and was produced to a scale range of 1:500 – 1:3000. The process for delineating streambanks for the Cessnock LGA began by mapping stream order, then adding LiDAR and NearMap imagery as a basemap. The technique of hillshading was then used to show the streambank top edge and topographic features of streambanks. All streams higher than 2nd order were buffered by 100m to create the area of interest (AoI) for mapping streambanks. High resolution Light (or Laser) Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) was converted to a hillshade to facilitate the delineation of 3rd order and above streambanks. Streambanks were mapped at a scale of 1:3,000 as lines using a pen graphic tablet and the dataset saved to a file geodatabase.

This single layer captures critical environmental features and biodiversity persistence for Cessnock Local Government Area (LGA) which covers 196,468 ha. The layer is in raster format with a 2 × 2 m cell size and is the result of consolidating layers that capture all aspects of biodiversity. Those consolidated layers contributed species composition information, structure/condition of habitat, and ecological function attributes at the same scale and with a common scoring. The common scale and scoring system allowed for direct comparison, making it possible to combine them into one single environment layer using a peer-reviewed scientific methodology.

A vegetation survey, classification and mapping program of the Cessnock-Kurri region was carried out during 2006-07 by Stephen Bell and Colin Driscoll. The survey was principally to clarify the composition and distribution of three Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs). Nearly 70000ha of land was examined between the foothills of the Watagan Range in the south, the Corrabare and Broken Back Ranges in the west, North Rothbury in the north, and the Wallis Creek floodplain in the east. The main aim of the study was to identify, classify and map all extant vegetation within the study area, as well as to provide a pre-1750 vegetation map of the area.; Vegetation Condition and Disturbed Vegetation mapping components were also included, to assist in determining priorities for future rehabilitation of sensitive lands. VIS_ID 185

A vegetation survey, classification and mapping program of the Cessnock-Kurri region was carried out during 2006-07 by Stephen Bell and Colin Driscoll. The survey was principally to clarify the composition and distribution of three Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs). Nearly 70000ha of land was examined between the foothills of the Watagan Range in the south, the Corrabare and Broken Back Ranges in the west, North Rothbury in the north, and the Wallis Creek floodplain in the east. The main aim of the study was to identify, classify and map all extant vegetation within the study area, as well as to provide a pre-1750 vegetation map of the area.; Vegetation Condition and Disturbed vegetation mapping components were also included, to assist in determining priorities for future rehabilitation of sensitive lands. VIS_ID 183

A vegetation survey, classification and mapping program of the Cessnock-Kurri region was carried out during 2006-07 by Stephen Bell and Colin Driscoll. The survey was principally to clarify the composition and distribution of three Endangered Ecological Communities (EECs). Nearly 70000ha of land was examined between the foothills of the Watagan Range in the south, the Corrabare and Broken Back Ranges in the west, North Rothbury in the north, and the Wallis Creek floodplain in the east. The main aim of the study was to identify, classify and map all extant vegetation within the study area, as well as to provide a pre-1750 vegetation map of the area.; Vegetation condition and Disturbed vegetation mapping components were also included, to assist in determining priorities for future rehabilitation of sensitive lands.; VIS_ID 184

This dataset contains maps of woody vegetation extent and woody foliage projective cover (FPC) for New South Wales at 5 metre resolution. Woody vegetation is a key feature of our landscape and an integral part of our society. We value it because it contributes to the economy, protects the land, provides us with recreation, and gives refuge to the unique and diverse range of fauna that we regard so highly. Yet it poses a significant threat to us in times of fire and storm. So information about trees is vital for a range of business, property planning, monitoring, risk assessment, and conservation activities. The datasets are: Woody vegetation extent. A presence/absence map showing areas of trees and shrubs, taller than two metres, that are visible at the resolution of the imagery used in the analysis. This shows the location, extent, and density of foliage cover for stands of woody vegetation, enabling identification of small features such as trees in paddocks and scattered woodlands through to the largest expanses of forest in the State. Woody extent products contain 'bcu' in the file name. Woody foliage projective cover (FPC). FPC is a measure of the proportion of the ground area covered by foliage (or photosynthetic tissue) held in a vertical plane and is a measure of canopy density. Woody FPC products contain 'bcv' in the file name. Both mosaics and tiles are available, along with a shape file that identifies the location of the tiles.