Waarre Land System

Download the pdf version of this document: Waarre Land System (PDF - 364 KB)
To view the information, PDF requires the use of a PDF reader. This can be installed for free from the Adobe website (external link).

Undulating plains to the north and west of Princetown are formed on Tertiary limestone, marl and calcareous clay. Only a small tract of this land lies within the study area, but the landscape is extensive in the neighbouring catchments of Scotts Creek and Cooriemungle Creek. Some faulting has led to occasional steep scarps, but most slopes are gentle and straight, separated by broad drainage lines.

The gradational soils on these calcareous sediments are heavier-textured and significantly more fertile than soils formed on Tertiary sediments in adjacent land systems. Free lime is often present in the soil profile. Remnants of the native vegetation indicate that it was somewhat stunted, possibly as a result of the proximity of the coast.

A large part of this land system lies within the Heytesbury Settlement Scheme and clearing has been widespread. Dairy farming is the main land use, although some of the earlier established areas close to the coast are used for sheep and beef cattle grazing. Subsoils are dispersible and gully erosion has occurred along some drainage lines. Landslip and slumping of road batters cause problems with road construction and access on the more undulating areas. Drainage lines remain waterlogged for most of the year and are prone to soil compaction by stock.

A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - warre

Long straight slopes with broad drainage lines typify the landscape
formed on these calcareous sediments, but occasional fault scarps
are found close to the coast.

Area: 28 km²	Component and its proportion of land system
Area: 28 km²	1 4%	2 65%	3 20%	4 8%	5 3%
CLIMATE Rainfall, mm	Annual: 900 – 1,000, lowest January (40), highest August (120)
Temperature, 0^oC	Annual: 14, lowest July (9), highest February (18)
	Temperature: less than 10^oC (av.) June – August
	Precipitation: less than potential evapotranspiration November – March
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Miocene marine clay, marl and limestone in the lower reaches of the Gellibrand River catchment
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Undulating plain with some fault scarps
Elevation, m	0 – 165
Local relief, m	45
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density, km/km²	2.9
Land form	Rise			Drainage line	Fault scarp
Land form element	Upper slope, crest	Mid slope, crest	Lower slope	-	-
Slope (and range), %	5 (2-9)	11 (4-21)	4 (1-7)	0 (0-1)	33
Slope shape	Linear	Convex	Concave	Linear	Linear
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure	Open forest	Woodland	Woodland	Closed scrub	Woodland
Dominant species	E. obliqua, E. ovata, E. aromaphloia	E. ovata, E. radiata	E. obliqua, E. ovata	Melaleuca squarrosa, Leptospermum lanigerum	E. viminalis, Acacia melanoxylon
SOIL Parent material	Clay and sand	In-situ marl, limestone	Clay and sand	Plant remnants, alluvial sand and clay	In-situ marl and limestone
Description	Brown duplex soils, coarse structure	Brown calcareous gradational soils, coarse structure	Mottled yellow and grey gradational soils	Grey gradational soils	Black calcareous gradational soils
Surface texture	Fine sandy loam	Loam	Sandy loam	Silty loam	Clay
Permeability	Very low	Low	Moderate	Low	Moderate
Depth, m	>2	1.7	>2	>2	>2
LAND USE	Cleared areas: Grazing beef cattle; dairy cattle; sheep Minor uncleared areas: Nature conservation; includes the rugged coastline of the Port Campbell National Park
SOIL DETERIORATION HAZARD Critical land features, processes, forms	Highly dispersible soils of low permeability are prone to gully and sheet erosion. Low inherent fertility and leaching of permeable surfaces lead to nutrient decline.	Clay subsoils on steeper slopes subject to periodic saturation are prone to landslips, slumping of road batters and gully erosion.	Dispersible subsoils are prone to gully erosion.	Dispersible subsoils of low permeability receiving run-off from surrounding hills are prone to gully erosion, waterlogging and soil compaction.	Clay soils on steep slopes subject to periodic saturation are prone to landslips and sheet erosion.