vegetation of many cliff top zones, exposing Minimise or avoid the introduction and the soil to wind and sheet runoff erosion. spread of introduced plants and diseases These areas are vulnerable to further by: stormwater erosion from paved surfaces or ensuring appropriate standards of other stripped areas. hygiene for vehicles and machinery Aims working within the Parks; minimising soil disturbance during Minimise direct disturbance to soils. wildfire suppression, road maintenance Minimise damage to vegetation and and facility development works. maintain vegetation cover. Continue to control rabbits in the Park in Management strategies accordance with Parks Victoria guidelines and policy on managing the impacts of the Identify and map the types of soils, soil rabbit calicivirus. deterioration and localities in the Parks. Monitor occurrences of fungal infection in Develop a classification of soil sensitivity the Parks, and take appropriate remedial to disturbance in accordance with the action where necessary. strategies above. Plan visitor movements and other facilities Soil conservation to minimise direct and secondary impacts A variety of soil types occurs in the Parks, on soils. varying mainly with parent material. Some soils are on parent materials that are Undertake soil rehabilitation works in inherently unstable, such as the coastal dunes accordance with planned rehabilitation or weathered dune calcarenites. These soils programs (section 4.2). are predominantly calcareous, highly alkaline and permeable, and drain readily, thus providing difficult conditions for many plants. Although soils are deeper on the older, more weathered dunes, they are still vulnerable to wind erosion when vegetation cover is disturbed. This leads to rapid loss of the A horizon and removal of surface sands. Adjacent sites may then be buried by sand deposition. The sandy soils are vulnerable to physical disturbance by natural processes and human impact that breaks down the soil structure. In areas of dune calcarenite, the surface is underlain by an impermeable horizon, often at shallow depth. Stripping of the surface by either wind or water erosion exposes this hard horizon. Soils developed on the Tertiary limestones have gradational profiles of clay and clay loam with variable amounts of sand. Along many of the cliff tops are thicker clay-rich soils. Clay and loam soils are prone to compaction and dispersion. A combination of human activities and occasional salt spray wetting has damaged or destroyed the
Minimise or avoid the introduction and spread of introduced plants and diseases by: ensuring appropriate standards of hygiene for vehicles and machinery working within the Parks; minimising soil disturbance during wildfire suppression, road maintenance and facility development works. Continue to control rabbits in the Park in accordance with Parks Victoria guidelines and policy on managing the impacts of the rabbit calicivirus. Monitor occurrences of fungal infection in the Parks, and take appropriate remedial action where necessary. Soil conservation A variety of soil types occurs in the Parks, varying mainly with parent material. Some soils are on parent materials that are inherently unstable, such as the coastal dunes or weathered dune calcarenites. These soils are predominantly calcareous, highly alkaline and permeable, and drain readily, thus providing difficult conditions for many plants. Although soils are deeper on the older, more weathered dunes, they are still vulnerable to wind erosion when vegetation cover is disturbed. This leads to rapid loss of the A horizon and removal of surface sands. Adjacent sites may then be buried by sand deposition. The sandy soils are vulnerable to physical disturbance by natural processes and human impact that breaks down the soil structure. In areas of dune calcarenite, the surface is underlain by an impermeable horizon, often at shallow depth. Stripping of the surface by either wind or water erosion exposes this hard horizon. Soils developed on the Tertiary limestones have gradational profiles of clay and clay loam with variable amounts of sand. Along many of the cliff tops are thicker clay-rich soils. Clay and loam soils are prone to compaction and dispersion. A combination of human activities and occasional salt spray wetting has damaged or destroyed the vegetation of many cliff top zones, exposing the soil to wind and sheet runoff erosion. These areas are vulnerable to further stormwater erosion from paved surfaces or other stripped areas. Aims Minimise direct disturbance to soils. Minimise damage to vegetation and maintain vegetation cover. Management strategies Identify and map the types of soils, soil deterioration and localities in the Parks. Develop a classification of soil sensitivity to disturbance in accordance with the strategies above. Plan visitor movements and other facilities to minimise direct and secondary impacts on soils. Undertake soil rehabilitation works in accordance with planned rehabilitation programs (section 4.2).