An Environmental Profile of the Loddon Mallee Region
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An Environmental Profile of the Loddon Mallee Region View from Mount Alexander looking East, May 1998. Interim Report March 1999 Loddon Mallee Regional Planning Branch CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY …………………………………………………………………………….. 1 2. INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 Part A Major Physical Features of the Region 3. GEOGRAPHY ………………………………………………………………………… 5 3.1 GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 5 3.1.1 Location ………………………………………………………………………………………... 5 3.1.2 Diversity of Landscape ……………………………………………………………………….…. 5 3.1.3 History of Non-Indigenous Settlement ……………………………………………………………. 5 3.2 TOPOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6 3.2.1 Major Landforms ………………………………………………………………………..………. 6 3.2.1.1 Southern Mountainous Area …………………………………………………………….…………..…. 6 3.2.1.2 Hill Country …………………………………………………………………………………….…….………. 6 3.2.1.3 Riverine ………………………………………………………………………………………….……………. 6 3.2.1.4 Plains …………………………………………………………………………………………….….……….. 6 3.2.1.5 Mallee …………………………………………………………………………………………….….………. 7 3.3 GEOLOGY …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8 3.3.1 Major Geological Features …………………………………………………………….………… 8 3.3.2 Earthquakes …………………………………………………………………………………….. 10 4. CLIMATE ……………………………………………………………………………… 11 4.1 RAINFALL …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….. 11 4.2 TEMPERATURE ……………………………………………………………………………….………. 12 4.2.1 Average Maximum and Minimum Temperatures …………………………………………….………… 12 4.2.1 Temperature Anomalies ………………………………………………………………….……… 13 4.2.3 Global Influences on Weather…………………………………………………………………….. 13 4.2.3.1 El Nino………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….. 13 4.2.3.2 La Nina ………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………….. 14 5. RIVERS AND BASINS ……………………………………………………………………………….. 15 5.1 MAJOR RIVER BASINS…………………………………………………………………………………………… 15 5.2 VARIATION IN RIVER FLOWS……………………………………………………………………………………. 16 Part B Environmental Factors Affecting Health And Well Being 6. MINING PRACTICES….……………………………………………………………………………… 17 6.1 PAST MINING PRACTICES………………………………………………………………………………. 17 6.1.1 Arsenic……………………………………………..………………………………………………………. 17 6.1.2 Antimony…………………………………………..………………………………………………………. 18 6.1.3 Mercury……………………………………………..……………………………………………………… 18 6.2 Current Mining Practices..………………………………………………………………………………. 19 7. LAND USE……………….……………………………………………………………………………… 20 7.1 IRRIGATION FARMING…………………………………..………………………………………………………. 20 7.2 INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE……………………………..………………………………………………………... 21 7.3 BROAD ACRE FARMING…………………………………..……………………………………………………… 21 8. LAND DEGRADATION….…………………………………………………………………………….. 23 8.1 TYPES OF EROSION…………………………………..…………………………………………………………… 23 8.1.1 Sheet Erosion……………………………..………………………………………………………………… 23 8.1.2 Gully Erosion…………………………………..…………………………………………………………… 23 8.1.3 Wind Erosion…………………………………..…………………………………………………………… 24 8.2 SALINITY…..…………………………………..………………………………………………………………….. 24 8.2.1 Deep Lead Salinity……………………………..………………………………………………………….. 24 8.2.2 Dryland Salting…………………………………..………………………………………………………… 26 Loddon Mallee Regional Planning Branch 9. WATER CONTAMINATION……………………………………………………………………………. 27 9.1 WATER QUALITY..………………………………………………………………………………………. 27 9.2 WATER BORNE DISEASES……………..………………………………………………………………………….. 27 9.3 ALGAL BLOOMS..……………………………………………………………………………………..…. 28 10. BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE…………………………………………………………………………… 30 10.1 TRANSPORT…………………………………..………………………………………………………………….. 30 10.1.1 Roads……………………..……………………………………………………………………………..… 30 10.1.2 V/Line…………………………..…………………………………………………….…………………… 31 10.1.3 V/Line Buses……………………..……………………………………………………………………….. 32 10.1.4 Private Transport……………………..…………………………………………………….…………….. 33 10.2 COMMUNICATION…………………………..…………………………………………………………………… 34 10.2.1 Newspapers………………………………..………………………………………………………………. 35 10.2.2 Radio Stations………………………………..……………………………………………………………. 36 10.2.3 TV Stations……………………………..…………………………………………………………………. 36 10.2.4 Mobile Phones…………………………………..………………………………………………………… 37 10.2.5 Internet Services……………………………..……………………………………………………………. 37 10.2.6 ISDN/OnRamp Access Points…………………..………………………………………………………… 37 APPENDICES…………………………..…………………………………………………………………………… 38 Loddon Mallee Regional Planning Branch List of Figures 1. Mount Macedon from the North, May 1998 .................................................................................................................. 6 2. Remnant Mallee Vegetation near Culgoa (Buloke Shire) June 1998 .......................................................................... 7 3. Hanging Rock the remnants of Volcanic Cone, May 1998. ......................................................................................... 8 4. Geomorphology of Loddon Mallee Region ................................................................................................................... 9 5. Epicentres and Intensities of Earthquakes in and near LMR 1950-1997 .................................................................. 10 6. Average Rainfall in Victoria 1961-96 ............................................................................................................................. 11 7. Average Maximum and Minimum Temperature and Rainfall for Victoria 1900-1995 ....................................... 12 8. Annual Mean Temperature Anomalies for Australia 1910-1996 .............................................................................. 13 9. Variation in Southern Oscillation Index 1993-1998 ..................................................................................................... 14 10. The Murray River at Swan Hill, May 1998 .................................................................................................................. 15 11. Salt Harvesting near Kerang, May1998........................................................................................................................ 15 12. Kangaroo Lake: Part of the Lake System North of Kerang, May 1998 .................................................................... 16 13. Calcined Pyrites Sand Dump near Green Street, Eaglehawk, May 1998 ................................................................ 17 14. Fosterville Heap Leach Pad, June 1998 ......................................................................................................................... 19 15. Broad Acre Boom Spraying, Near Swan Hill, May 1998 ........................................................................................... 20 16. The Waranga-Western Channel at Bears Lagoon, May 1998 .................................................................................... 20 17. Piggery near Leitchville, May 1998 ................................................................................................................................ 21 18. Grain Handling Facilities at Elmore, May 1998 ........................................................................................................... 21 19. Landuse in the Loddon Mallee Region ......................................................................................................................... 22 20. Severe Gully Erosion near Wedderburn, May 1998.................................................................................................... 23 21. Loddon Deep Lead ........................................................................................................................................................... 24 22. Salt Effected Trees near Kerang, May 1998 .................................................................................................................. 24 23. Water Table Heights in the Murray Goulburn Irrigation System 1990 ................................................................... 25 24. Water Table Heights in the Murray Goulburn Irrigation System 1994 ................................................................... 25 25. Major Dryland Salinity Areas for Loddon Malleee Region in 1997 ......................................................................... 26 26. Giadia & Cryptosporidium in Water ............................................................................................................................ 27 27. Algal Blooms Reported 1928 to 1995 in Loddon Mallee Region .............................................................................. 29 28. Loddon Mallee Region Highways ................................................................................................................................. 31 29. V/line rail transport network ......................................................................................................................................... 32 30. V/Line Regional Bus Routes ........................................................................................................................................... 33 31. Regional Daily Newspapers with Circulation Area, October 1998.......................................................................... 35 32. Regional Weekly Newspapers, October 1998 .............................................................................................................. 36 33. Coverage from the ABC FM Radio Transmitters in the LMR, October 1998 .........................................................37 34..Coverage from the TV Transmitters in the LMR, October 1998 ............................................................................... 38 List of Tables 1. The major river systems in the Loddon Mallee Region ............................................................................................