AB4 Point Cook - Parallel Sand Ridges

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

Location	Altona Bay - 060000. Former Shire of Werribee. Coastal area extending two kilometres southwest of Point Cook Homestead.	AB4 - Coastal sand ridges Point Cook.
Access	Point Cook Homestead Road.
Ownership	Crown land.
Site Description	Southwest from Point cook is a zone of sand ridges 250 m wide that completely encloses a former embayment or depression in the basalt of the Newer Volcanics.
	The ridge crests are broad, parallel, evenly spaced, average 2 m in height, and at their inner margin are higher than the basalt they abut. The ridges are basically wave-built features consisting of sand, shells and rounded basalt pebbles in the lower parts. The material is generally too coarse to have been wind-blown, although the crests include some aeolian material. The swales rise above the water table and hence there is no salt marsh development.
Significance	Regional. No comparable sand ridges occur on the western coastline of Port Phillip Bay as these ridges are substantially different from those at Skeleton Creek and Altona. They represent an unusual phase of coastal progradation and are important in determining the sedimentary history of this part of the bay.
Management	Class 1. The significance of the dune system can only be maintained if there is minimal physical disturbance. Apart from walking tracks, the area of the site should be excluded from recreational or other developments. Exotic species should not be planted and effort should be made to retain and develop species native to this sandy environment.
References	Jutson, J.T. (1931). Erosion and Sedimentation in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. Proc. R. Soc. Vict. 43:164-174. McDougall, K.D. (1986).

Ab4

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