Soil/Landform Unit 80

Rolling low hills on Paeaeogene volcanics (basalt), the highest landform on the Bellarine Peninsula

Area:

2673 ha

0.20% of CMA region

This single unit of hills on Palaeogene basic volcanics is the highest terrain on the Bellarine Peninsula and is surrounded by the Neogene sedimentary plateau. There are only two components; the rounded crests and the rolling convex slopes. The soils are black

friable

self-mulching

(and cracking) clays. The soils have a friable surface which may be reduced due to sheet erosion depending on slope and topographic position. The strongly structured cracking clay sits clearly over weathered rock/saprolite. The expansive clays may be detrimental to sensitive root systems if shrink-swell behaviour is common in the subsoil (through artificial watering). Land use is grazing, cropping, horticulture (grapes, olives) and quarrying.

Rolling low basaltic hills supporting intensive agriculture such as viticulature and olives
	Olive plantation on basaltic slopes with urban encroachment in the foreground

Component	1	2
Proportion of soil-landform unit	10%	90%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 680
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 10, Maximum 19
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	October-March
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Paleogene tholeite and pyroclastics, Neogene fluvio-marine sand
Geomorphology	3.3.1 Dissected low hills plateaux of the Southern Uplands
LANDUSE	Uncleared; Nature conservation; passive and active recreation Cleared areas: Sheep and beef cattle grazing; minor broadacre cropping (cereal); horticulture; quarrying
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Low hills
Elevation range (m)	8-143
Local relief (m)	40
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km²)	1.2
Landform	Hills
Landform element	Crest	Hillslope
Slope and range (%)	3 (0-10)	6 (0-15)
Slope shape	Convex	Concave to convex
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Grassy Woodland (2.3%)
SOIL Parent material	Basalt	Basalt
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Self-mulching and cracking black clay soils (30)	Self-mulching and cracking black clay soils (30)
Soil type sites	CLRA6	CLRA6
Surface texture	Light clay	Light clay
Permeability	Moderate	Low
Depth (m)	<1	<1.5
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Expansive clay soils with friable self-mulching surfaces provide a good seedbed, but this is dependent on strict moisture conditions and shrink-swell tension on sensitive roots. High water holding and nutrient holding capacity. Susceptibility to sheet erosion on solopes and minor waterlogging in depressions.	Expansive clay soils with friable self-mulching surfaces provide a good seedbed, but this is dependent on strict moisture conditions and shrink-swell tension on sensitive roots. High water holding and nutrient holding capacity. Susceptibility to sheet erosion on slopes and minor waterlogging in depressions.

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