The Barrabool Hills Salinity Province covers an eastern outcrop of the Otway group of sandstone and mudstone rocks that are deeply weathered and covered by residual clay soils.
Local Groundwater Flow Systems containing groundwater typically in the salinity range 2000 to 8000 mg/l can lead to groundwater discharge and soil salinisation processes along drainage lines and at the ‘break-of-slope’. However, the actual salinity hazard posed to land and streams in this province is poorly understood, but has likely reduced following the drier decade from 1999 to 2009.
Urban development on Geelong’s west may need to investigate and avoid groundwater discharge and watertable presence in some drainage lines, river flats and ‘break-of-slope’ locations. Farming practices should aim to to reduce recharge rates by maximising deep-rooted, perennial pasture species and trees in suitable locations to utilise as much water in the soil and regolith profile as possible
|