8523 (8524)-33 Snowy River - Willis to Mackillop Bridge

This information has been developed from the publications:

Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in Central Gippsland (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams and S.M Kraemers.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Gippsland Lakes Catchment (1984) by Neville Rosengren.
Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in East Gippsland, Victoria (1981) by Neville Rosengren, M.S McRae-Williams

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 section of the Geological Society of Australia website for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:	252949 - 272160. Snowy River valley north from Mackillop Bridge to the New South Wales border (Willis).	Site 8523-33
Abstract:	Variations in valley and channel morphology associated with changes in lithology.
Access:	Snowy River Road (northern section) and Wulgulmerang - Deddick Road (southern section).
Ownership:	Crown land (part Tingaringy National Park).
Geology:	The northernmost sector of the Snowy River Valley in Victoria is incised in Lower/Middle Palaeozoic granitic rock of the Kosciusko Batholith. These rocks have intruded and are faulted against Ordovician slates and sandstones, the fault contact occurring across the Snowy River south of Jamb Creek.
Geomorphology:	The valley in the granitic rocks is relatively broad in contrast with the narrower gorge-like sections cut in the Ordovician sediments. South from Willis, the river is characterized by sandy and gravely channel and point-bar deposits - these are more extensive here than in any other sector of the Snowy valley in Victoria. During low flow stages, the channel is a broad braided stream subject to rapid shifts of the sand banks and channels.
Significance:	Regional. The granitic rocks represent the major occurrence of the Kosciusko Batholith in eastern Victoria. The variations in valley and channel morphology are of particular interest as they contrast with that developed on the Snowy River Volcanics to the south.
Management:	This site is the northernmost of several sites along the Snowy River which display the characteristics of geology, geomorphology, and hydrology of one of the major rivers of south-eastern Australia. Because of the area covered by this site, local land disturbance, e.g. minor roadworks, excavations, or clearing of small areas is unlikely to affect the geological and geomorphologically significance of the site. However, large scale land disturbance such as extensive forestry operations or dam construction would significantly later the hydrological and sediment logical characteristics of the Snowy River and changes of this magnitude should be prohibited.

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