Investigation into the potential risk of acid sulfate soils on proposed development in the City of Greater Geelong.Report to the City of Greater Geelong, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority and the Victorian Department of Primary Industries

[摘要] Executive Summary:Based on previous work, including a very good review by Primary Industries Research Victoria, a total of 11,745 ha of acid sulfate soils were reported within the Greater Geelong City shire, ranking it as the second greatest for extent of acid sulfate soils of all shires in Victoria.This pilot study was commenced to identify if acid sulfate soils would have an impact on future development in the City of Greater Geelong, and to determine if a major study of acid sulfate soils was warranted.Thus a desktop study was commenced to develop a series of overlays of the spatial distribution of specific parameters that the literature said were needed for potential acid sulfate soil development (e.g. low lying areas).From this an overlay was developed to predict possible acid sulfate soil distribution within the City of Greater Geelong and compared to the zones targeted for development.Twelve sites were then chosen to confirm the presence of acid sulfate soils in the field.At three sites, samples were collected for laboratory testing for acid sulfate soils.The other sites were discounted because either there was no visible evidence of acid sulfate soils or they were within obvious wetlands and zoned 'public conservation and Resourced' areas.A previous study has shown that some of the wetlands have acid sulfate soils, but they were not sampled for laboratory testing as there will be no development on them.The laboratory analyses showed only one soil layer at one of the sites (Point Henry, PH02) that was sampled had at most a 'marginal' acid sulfate soil potential.A site at Avalon (AV02) would produce foul odours if developed.Prior to any development, these areas should be more widely sampled for potential acid sulfate soils as the laboratory tests indicated their disturbance could lead to the release of acidity, with significant risk of damage to infrastructure and downstream ecosystems.

[发布机构] CSIRO

[学科分类] 地球科学(综合)