Assessing catchment-wide mining-related impacts on sediment movement in the Swift Creek catchment, Northern Territory, Australia, using GIS and landform-evolution modelling techniques

The Swift Creek catchment, the first catchment to be affected should any im pact occur as a result of mining of the Jabiluka uranium ore deposit, is lo cated partly within the World Heritage Kakadu National Park (KNP), and part ly within the Jabiluka Mineral Lease (JML) that has been excised from KNP. Preliminary linking of a landform evolution model with a Geographic Informa tion System (GIS) has been completed and tested on a catchment-wide basis f or long-term total catchment management. This project represents the first attempt to apply the model on a catchment-wide basis in the region. Linking the model with a GIS enhances the modelling process, as the GIS assists in the derivation, storage, manipulation, processing and visualisation of gee -referenced data on a catchment-wide scale. This preliminary assessment of landform evolution in the Swift Creek catchment demonstrates the complex pr ocess associated with the parameterisation of the SIBERIA model, and illust rates the benefits of integrating GIS with landform evolution modelling tec hniques. Additional research is required to develop a more integrated GIS a nd landform evolution modelling approach to assessing the possible impacts of mining on catchment sedimentary and hydrological processes. (C) 2000 Com monwealth of Australia.