M5 Steele Creek - Terraces, Floodplain

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 Access Ownership	Maribyrnong - 128190. Former City of Keilor. Valley of Steele Creek between Buckley Street and the Maribyrnong River. Buckley Street, Brees Road Crown land	Terrace (arrow) and delta at mouth of Steele Creek, Essendon West.
Site Description	The site includes two terrace levels west of Steele Creek. The higher terrace level represents the valley of the creek when it entered the Maribyrnong 500 m west of the present junction. Incision of the higher terrace by Steele Creek diverted the stream to its present position as the valley was deepened below the level of the old outlet. A narrow deltaic deposit has been built at the present stream junction. The lower terrace is the modern floodplain and includes abandoned meanders on adjacent low terraces.
Significance	Regional. The site illustrates aspects of the geomorphological history of the Maribyrnong valley and its tributaries and includes fluvial deposits from several stages of valley development. It is a very clear example of two stage terrace development and is one of the few relatively unmodified alluvial floodplain reaches of the Maribyrnong River tributaries in the metropolitan area.	M5 - Cutoff meander (arrows) on floodplain of Steele Creek, Essendon West.
Management	Class 1. Drainage diversion or artificial straightening of Steele Creek would degrade the facilities of interest. The floodplain should not be reclaimed or filled and a maximum amount of unmodified open space should be retained in the stream valley.

M4-5 Mapsheet

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