New South Wales Vulnerable Regulated Land Map for Vegetation Management

New South Wales data identifies land where native vegetation clearing is restricted under the Land Management Code. The map comprises three layers: vulnerable riparian land with 20m, 22.5m, and 10m stream buffers, steep land over 18 degrees slope, and special category land. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and Environment under the Local Land Services Act 2013.

Use Cases

• Analyze the spatial distribution of vulnerable riparian land using the 20m, 22.5m, and 10m stream buffer layers to assess watercourse protection zones.
• Identify steep land parcels with slopes exceeding 18 degrees derived from 5m ELVIS DEM elevation data for erosion risk modeling.
• Cross-reference special category land designations, such as areas prone to mass movement or salinity, with other environmental datasets for conservation planning.
• Monitor changes in regulated land boundaries by comparing the 2022 annual review updates, particularly for MGA Zone 56 in Eastern NSW.

Strengths

• Based on detailed 5m resolution elevation data (ELVIS DEM) for slope analysis, particularly in MGA Zones 54, 55, and 56.
• Defines specific buffer distances (20m, 22.5m, 10m) for riparian zones based on hydrographic datasets, providing clear regulatory boundaries.
• Officially prepared and published under Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013 by a state government department.

Limitations

• The underlying data is a multi-value raster, which may require specialized GIS software (like ArcGIS) for full analysis and integration with vector data.
• Spatial coverage is limited to the state of New South Wales, Australia, limiting applicability for broader regional studies.
• Updates are annual, so the map may not reflect very recent changes in land use or condition.

Provenance

Source

NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (formerly Department of Planning and Environment).

Collection Method

Generated from NSW Hydroline/HydroArea datasets for riparian buffers and 5m ELVIS DEM elevation data for steep land, compiled under statutory authority.

Time Range

Current as of the 2022 annual review; underlying elevation and hydrographic data timestamps are not specified.

Freshness

Updated annually; the latest reviewed version was published on March 23, 2022, with metadata last updated in March 2026.

Geography

State of New South Wales, Australia, with specific mention of MGA Zones 54, 55, and 56.