Dunns Creek

Dunns Creek - Symbol: Dc

The Dunns Creek mapping unit delineates the soils of former broad alluvial plain of Dunns Creek and Brokil Creek west of Safety Beach. Another small area occurs as part of the narrow floodplain of Waterfall Creek just west of the Rosebud Park Public Golf Course. Much of the area once supported dense stands of swamp paperbark prior to clearing and remnants of this former vegetation remain. The original ecological vegetation class is probably best described as a mosaic of swamp scrub and grassy woodland.

The surface soils are dark grey light to medium clays which are generally high in organic matter, reflecting their past history as an intermittent swamp. Although the soils remain dominantly grey medium to heavy clays to 1 metre depth, they generally become mottled with yellow and brown colours with increased depth. These soils crack when dry and swell when wet, resulting in ponding during wet periods. These soils are best described as Aquic Vertosols using the Australian Soil Classification.

Where housing development has occurred, sandy topsoil has generally been added to ease gardening effort.

The soils on this unit are only suited to grazing or left uncleared as a reminder of their past history as a swamp.

Dunns Creek and sand dunes - Symbol: Dc:sd

Much of the area between Safety Beach and the Freeway is comprised of a complex of low sand dunes and clay flats. No observations were recorded here as the area is either under housing or is a golf course. However, the soils exposed y the table drain along Point Nepean Highway shows that most of the soils here have a grey clay surface.