Soil/Landform Unit 71

The valley of the Painkalac Creek remains virtually uncleared, and is pupular with bush walkers and picknickers from nearby resorts

Area:

3142 ha

0.24% of CMA region

The terrain inland from Eastern View and Aireys Inlet consists of spurs and ridges with steep slopes and deep valleys. The outcropping Paleogene sediments are partly unconsolidated, but many beds are composed of quartzitic sandstones and siltstone. The lower parts of the landscape often possess outcrops of

Cretaceous

sediments. Open forests of

Eucalyptus obliqua

E. sideroxylon

and

E. radiata

occur over most of the landscape on texture contrast soils. The drier north and west facing slopes and steep slopes carry woodlands on shallow stony soils. The Cretaceous outcrops can be recognised by the increase in understorey cover and the occurrence of species such as

Acacia mucronata

and

Cassinia longifolia

. Some selective logging of these hills is undertaken, but the main use is for recreation such as bushwalking and picnicking. The steep slopes are popular with trail bike riders, and this often results in severe damage to the vegetation and soil.

Steep northerly facuing slopes near the hillcrest (note the consolidated sands and clays of this roadside cutting)
	Open forest with E. obliqua and E. cypellocarpa common

Component	1	2	3	4	5	6
Proportion of soil-landform unit	30%	20%	7%	25%	8%	10%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 80-1050, lowest January (40), highest (August (110)
Temperature (^oC)	Annual: 13, lest July (8), highest February (17)
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	Temperature: less than 10^oC (av.) mid June-mid August Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration mid Novembr-mid March
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Paleogene unconsolidated fluvial clay, silt and sand; some silica cemented quartzitic sandstone and siltstone					Cretaceous fluvio-volcanic sandstone and mudstone
Geomorphology	3.2.2 Dissected upland ranges of the Southern Uplands
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: Nature conservation; hardwood forestry; active and passive recreation Minir cleared areas: Residential; active recreation
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Deeply dissected hills
Elevation range (m)	0-240
Local relief (m)	100
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km²)	2.5
Landform	Hills	Valley floors	Hills
Landform element	Crest and north and west slopes	Lower slope and fan	Alluvial terrace	South and east slopes	Steep north slope	Steep lower slope
Slope and range (%)	18 (6-45)	7 (1-14)	1 )0-2)	18 (10-40)	55 (40-60)	45 (30-60)
Slope shape	Convex	Concave	Linear	Convex	Linear	Linear
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure	Woodland	Open forest	Open forest	Open forest	Low woodland	Open forest
Dominant species	E. radiata, E. obliqua, E. baxteri, E. sideroxylon	E. sideroxylon, E. cypellocarpa, E. obliqua, E. baxteri	E. obliqua, E. ovata. E. sideroxylon	E. obliqua, E. cypellocarpa	E. nitida, E. obliqua, Casuarina littoralis	E. obliqua, E. radiata, E. sideroxylon
SOIL Parent material	Clay, silt and sand	Alluvial clay, silt and sand	Alluvial clay, silt and sand	Clay, silt and sand	Mainly quartzitic sandstone and siltstone	Feldspathic sandstone and mudstone
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Red-yellow/brown texture contrast soils (27)	Brown, grey or yellow gradational soils, weak structure (29)	Yellow-brown sodic texture contrast soils, coarse structure (27, 14)	Red-yellow/brown texture contrast soils (27)	Stony brown, grey or yellow gradational soils (29)	Brown texture contrast soils (6)
Soil type sites	CLRA14, OTR490, SW73	OTR497	OTR606, CLRA14, OTR490	CLRA14, OTR490, SW73	CLRA13, SW40, OTR742	OTR424, OTR735, SW71
Surface texture	Fine sandy loam	Sandy loam	Fine sandy loam	Fine sandy loam	Gravelly sandy loam	Loam
Permeability	Moderate	High	Low	Moderatw	Very high	Moderate
Depth (m)	>2	>2	>2	>2	0.7	0.9
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS	Weakly structured surface soils on steep slopes are prone to sheet erosion and compaction. Clay subsoils on steep slopes are prone to landslips.	Weakly structured soils receiving surface runoff from adjacent areas are prone to scour gullying, siltation and flooding.	Weak surface structure is prone to compaction leading to reduced permeability and increased overland flow.	Weakly structured surface soils on steep slopes are prone to sheet erosion and compaction. Clay subsols on steep slopes are prone to landslips	Stony shallow soils with weak structure and low water holding capacity on dry steep slopes are prone to sheet erosion and landslides.	Steep slopes and weakly structured surfaces lead to sheet erosion. Clay subsoils on steep slopes subject to periodic saturation are prone to landslips.

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