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12. Tarago River - Rapids and Stream Sink

This information has been developed from one or more of these publications:

  • Sites of Geological and Geomorphological Significance in the Westernport Bay Catchment (1984) by Neville Rosengren.
  • 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 Environmental Significance in the Flood Plain of the Upper Yarra Valley Region (1983) by Neville Rosengren, Douglas Frood and Kim Lowe (as part of a study of Sites of Environmental Significance by the University of Melbourne for the then Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Authority).
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 (external link) section of the Geological Society of Australia website for details of geological heritage reports, and a bibliography.

Location:Neerim – 018995. Tarago river channel seven kilometres north-east of Neerim.
Image: Sites of Significance Westernport Bay
Cascades and small falls developed along joint planes in the Tarago River (Photo by Ian Houshold)

Access:

Elton Road.

Ownership:

Crown Land.

Geology/Geomorphology:

Below the junction of Black Butt Creek, the Tarago River crosses a series of small falls and cascades involving a drop of 12 to 15 metres. There are large bedrock potholes and examples of channel guidance along joint planes in the granite. Downstream from the falls there are incised meanders, and a stream sink in a large boulder pile marks the entrance to a short stream passage cave.

Significance:

Regional. This is one of the few falls and cascades that occur in the Westernport Bay catchment, and the stream passage cave is of particular interest.

Management:

Class 1. Construction activities that would obscure the features described above should not be permitted. These include road and bridgeworks, timber extraction, and river control works.

12 Tarago River - Rapids and Stream Sink
Tarago River
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