17.3 Aire River - Landslip Lake

This information has been developed from the publications:

Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Western Region of Melbourne (1986) by Neville Rosengren
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance on the Coast of Port Phillip Bay (1988) by Neville Rosengren.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Shire of Otway (1984) by Neville Rosengren.

Geological heritage sites, including sites of geomorphological interest and volcanic heritage sites, are under regular revision by the Geological Society of Australia, especially in the assessment of significance and values. Reference should be made to the most recent reports. See the Earth Science Heritage (external site) section of the Geological Society of Australia website for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:	17-263178. Four kilometres south east of Beech Forest.	The drained lake site behind the landslip on the Aire River.
Access:	Aire Valley Road and forest road along south bank of river above camping ground.
Ownership:	Crown land (Reserved Forest).
Geomorphology:	Landslips on the northern valley slope have blocked the Aire River and at one time formed a lake 700 metres long. No details of the landslip events are known but it is clear that more than one movement has taken place in recent times. The lake has now completely drained and apart from the dead trees on the valley floor and debris in the channel at the point of the slip, there is little obvious evidence of the landslip event.
Significance:	State. The site demonstrates a major valley modification process of the Otway area, i.e. repeated slope failure, valley damming, subsequent breaching of the landslip dam, and drainage of the lake. Analysis of these sites provides a basis for assessing the rate of valley slope development, channel incision and filling.

Outline of Aire River	Site 17.3 - Aire River Landslip Lake.

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