Gully Density — Benchmark Detail - Nature Index

Benchmark Value

0 m/ha

Range: 0 to 0 m/ha

Thresholds: Lower: —, Upper: 0

Optimal Range: 0 to 0

Direction: Lower is desirable ↓

Form: Point

Scoring Curve

This curve shows how a field measurement for this indicator would score across all available benchmark forms in this context. The scoring engine uses 4 benchmarks together — the Point form drives the primary score, while 3 guard(s) constrain the result.

Contributing Benchmarks

Point Primary MaximumOnly Guard Point Guard MinimumOnly Guard

Evidence & Context

The benchmark for the best available condition of Gully Density for Urban & Developed Land Use within Australia's Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands is 0 m/ha.

Metric Definition:

Gully Density, defined as the density of active gullies in the landscape.

Benchmark Definition:

This benchmark represents the ideal condition of zero active gullies in urban and developed areas of Australia's temperate semi-arid shrublands and open woodlands, indicating no ongoing gully erosion.

Justification:

The benchmark of 0 m/ha represents the density of active gullies. In the context of urban development, gully erosion is not a feature to be managed to a certain level, but a degradation process to be prevented entirely. Best-practice management, defined by Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), aims to eliminate the hydrological drivers of gully formation.

Sources (2)

Preview of Gully erosion | Land and soil | Environment and Heritage, accessed July 13, 2025,

Gully erosion | Land and soil | Environment and Heritage, accessed July 13, 2025, Government

Australia's Biodiversity and Climate Change - DAFF, accessed August 6, 2025

Preview of Water sensitive urban design guideline June 2023 - Transport for NSW, accessed July 13, 2025,

Water sensitive urban design guideline June 2023 - Transport for NSW, accessed July 13, 2025, Journal

Water sensitive urban design guideline June 2023 - Transport for NSW, accessed July 13, 2025,

Supporting Sources (27)

Additional references from the underlying research that informed this benchmark.

Preview of (PDF) Water Sensitive Urban Design - Case Studies (Australia/Dubai) - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025,

(PDF) Water Sensitive Urban Design - Case Studies (Australia/Dubai) - ResearchGate, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Water Sensitive Urban Design - Case Studies (Australia/Dubai) - ResearchGate, accessed July 26, 2025

Preview of Advancing gully topographic threshold analysis using an automated algorithm and high-resolution topography - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 16, 2025,

Advancing gully topographic threshold analysis using an automated algorithm and high-resolution topography - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 16, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Advancing gully topographic threshold analysis using an automated algorithm and high-resolution topography - CSIRO Research Publications Repository

Preview of Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025

Australia's bioregions (IBRA) - DCCEEW, accessed July 15, 2025

Contextual Support

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions), accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025

Chapter 13 Gully erosion and its control - Queensland Government publications, accessed August 12, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

Gully erosion and environmental change: importance and research needs, accessed July 20, 2025

Preview of East Australian Mediterranean Woodlands & Temperate Savannas ..., accessed July 15, 2025

East Australian Mediterranean Woodlands & Temperate Savannas ..., accessed July 15, 2025

Contextual Support

Temperate Grasslands - Greening Australia

Preview of Eastern Australian temperate forests - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025

Eastern Australian temperate forests - Wikipedia, accessed July 15, 2025

Contextual Support

Eastern Australian temperate forests - Wikipedia, accessed July 7, 2025,

Preview of Great Western Woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Great Western Woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 10, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Great Western Woodlands - Wikipedia, accessed July 12, 2025,

Preview of Gully Erosion Assessment and Control Guide released - Local Land Services, accessed July 13, 2025,

Gully Erosion Assessment and Control Guide released - Local Land Services, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

Gully Erosion Assessment and Control Guide released - Local Land Services

Preview of Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Gully erosion prediction across a large region: Murray–Darling Basin, Australia, accessed August 1, 2025,

Direct Evidence Journal

Australia's State of the Forests Report, accessed July 20, 2025

Preview of Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 13, 2025,

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia - Wikipedia, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Category:IBRA regions - Wikipedia, accessed August 1, 2025

Preview of Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions), accessed July 13, 2025,

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions), accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA), Version 7 (Regions)

Preview of nesplandscapes.edu.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

nesplandscapes.edu.au, accessed May 15, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Alluvial Gully Erosion Rates and Processes Across the Mitchell ..., accessed July 21, 2025,

Preview of NVIS Fact sheet MVG 32 – Mallee open woodlands and ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 13, 2025,

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 32 – Mallee open woodlands and ... - DCCEEW, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

NVIS Fact sheet MVG 32 – Mallee open woodlands and sparse mallee shrublands - DCCEEW, accessed July 10, 2025

Preview of Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed May 13, 2025

Prioritising interventions for the reduction of erosion in classical gullies: a modelling study, accessed May 13, 2025

Contextual Support Journal

2025 Guide: Australian Forestry & Sustainable Farming Standards, accessed July 31, 2025

Preview of Program - CSIRO

Program - CSIRO

Contextual Support

Program - CSIRO

Preview of Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,

Program - CSIRO, accessed August 1, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Review of soil erosion modelling involving water with field applications - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Protecting Australia's diverse soils and landscapes | Sustainable Food Trust, accessed July 13, 2025,

Protecting Australia's diverse soils and landscapes | Sustainable Food Trust, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

(PDF) Causes and Effects of Gully Erosion on Agricultural Lands and the Environment, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 13, 2025,

Repairing gully erosion in Western Australia | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Government

A framework for developing completion criteria for mine closure and rehabilitation - The Western Australian Biodiversity Science Institute, accessed July 20, 2025

Preview of Save Our Soils - Soil Science Australia, accessed July 13, 2025,

Save Our Soils - Soil Science Australia, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support

Save Our Soils - Soil Science Australia

Preview of Sedimentation from landscape clearance-induced soil erosion threatens waterhole persistence in a semi-arid river system, southern Queensland, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025,

Sedimentation from landscape clearance-induced soil erosion threatens waterhole persistence in a semi-arid river system, southern Queensland, Australia - CSIRO Publishing, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Managing outback floodplains - Local Land Services, accessed July 22, 2025

Preview of Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,

Soil | Australia state of the environment 2021, accessed August 3, 2025,

Contextual Support

The effects of clipping frequency and nitrogen fertilisation on greenhouse gas emissions and net ecosystem exchange in an Australian temperate grassland - CSIRO PUBLISHING | The Rangeland Journal

Preview of Soil Erosion in Australia: Definition, Causes and Prevention, accessed July 13, 2025,

Soil Erosion in Australia: Definition, Causes and Prevention, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Soil Erosion in Australia: Definition, Causes and Prevention, accessed July 27, 2025,

Preview of Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 13, 2025,

Soil Research - CSIRO PUBLISHING, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Assessing gully erosion and rehabilitation using multi temporal LiDAR DEMs: Case study from the Great Barrier Reef catchments, Australia - CSIRO Research Publications Repository, accessed July 20, 2025

Preview of Water Sensitive Design Guide for Rural Residential Subdivisions - WaterNSW, accessed July 13, 2025,

Water Sensitive Design Guide for Rural Residential Subdivisions - WaterNSW, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support Journal

Water Sensitive Design Guide for Rural Residential Subdivisions - WaterNSW

Preview of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

Contextual Support

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

Preview of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), accessed July 13, 2025,

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD), accessed July 13, 2025,

Preview of Water Sensitive Urban Design in North Queensland, accessed July 13, 2025,

Water Sensitive Urban Design in North Queensland, accessed July 13, 2025,

Contextual Support GreyLiterature

Water Sensitive Urban Design in North Queensland

Context

Region Australia
Biome Temperate Semi-Arid Shrublands & Open Woodlands
Land Use Urban & Developed Use
Assessment Pristine Reference
Evidence Type ReferenceCondition

Lifecycle

Status Active
Version 1
Effective From 15 Mar 2026

Notes

The presence of any active gully (density > 0 m/ha) signifies a departure from best practice and a crossing of a detrimental threshold into a state of active landscape degradation. The concepts of a "lower critical threshold" or a beneficial "optimal range" above zero are not applicable to this indicator.

Related Benchmarks

Other benchmarks in the AUS-TSW-URB-GUL family.