The existing landscape character was assessed to provide a baseline against which to assess the potential incremental impacts of the proposed CSG field. The visual assessment involved field inspections to assess, photograph and describe the existing landscape character in each of the major CSG fields at Roma, Fairview and Arcadia Valley. The site inspections also included a review of the visual aspects of existing CSG field operations that involve drilling exploration and production wells.

The visual assessment focused on views from public

roads and other publicly accessible locations within the CSG field study area. Results of the baseline landscape character assessment, combined with a review of proposed CSG field development activities. The assessment formed the basis for predicting potential visual impacts.

Visual assessment of the gas pipeline involved identification of a series of Landscape Character Zones along the pipeline corridor that were distinctive in terms of their landform, vegetation and land use. The level of potential visual impact of the pipeline construction in each

LCZ was assessed and mitigation measures identified. 

Typical mitigation measures were identified to minimise the level of potential visual impact associated with the proposed CSG field and pipeline development. They included retention of vegetation as visual screens in some locations as well as installation of earth mounding and revegetation. Examples of the proposed works were illustrated with annotated photographs and described in the visual assessment report.