About the document

For some topics, Explanatory Notes have been written to supplement the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development’s (IESC’s) Information Guidelines, providing tailored guidance and up-to-date robust scientific methodologies and tools for specific components of environmental impact assessments on coal seam gas and large coal mining developments.

The Information Guidelines Explanatory Note – Assessing groundwater-dependent ecosystems reviews tools and methods for groundwater-dependent ecosystem assessment to help proponents choose the most effective approach.

The summary guide provides a short, simplified summary of the Explanatory Note and includes a framework to guide preparation of the information for environmental impact assessments on assessing the potential impacts to groundwater-dependent ecosystems.

Updates to IESC Information Guidelines and Explanatory Notes will be undertaken as new methodologies and tools become available

Further information

• Information guidelines for proponents preparing coal seam gas and large coal mining development proposals
• On 2 June 2021, the IESC hosted a virtual masterclass on its Explanatory Note: Assessing groundwater-dependent ecosystems.