Queensland Department of Primary Industries Land Resource Bulletin QV83001 Lund resnur(es of the Burnett Region Putt 1: South Burnett B.E. Vandersee and D.J. Kent Division of Land Utilisation QUEENSLAND DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES Queensland Government Technical Report This report is a scanned copy and some detail may be illegible or lost. Before acting on any information, readers are strongly advised to ensure that numerals, percentages and details are correct. This report is intended to provide information only on the subject under review. There are limitations inherent in land resource studies, such as accuracy in relation to map scale and assumptions regarding socio-economic factors for land evaluation. Before acting on the information conveyed in this report, readers should ensure that they have received adequate professional information and advice specific to their enquiry. While all care has been taken in the preparation of this report neither the Queensland Government nor its officers or staff accepts any responsibility for any loss or damage that may result from any inaccuracy or omission in the information contained herein. © State of Queensland 1983 For information about this report contact [email protected] Queensland Department of Primary Industries Land Resource Bulletin OV83001 I_AND RESOURCES OF THE BURNETT REGION PART i: SOUTH BURNETT B.E. Vandersee and D.J. Kent Division of Land Utilisation Queensland Department of Primary Industries Brisbane 1983 ISSN 0811-9007 Oueensland Department of Primary Industries GPO Box 46 Brisbane 4001 (iii) CONTENTS List of illustrations v List of tables vii SUMMARY 1 i. INTRODUCTION 3 i.i Objectives 3 1.2 Area features 3 1.3 Methods 4 . RESOURCES OF THE SURVEY AREA 7 2.1 Climate 7 2.2 Geology 7 2.3 Landform and drainage l0 2.4 Mapping units 13 2.5 Vegetation 23 2.6 Soils 28 2.7 Land capability - land suitability 43 3. LAND USE 45 3.1 Present land use 45 3.2 Potential land use 50 4. LAND DEGRADATION 55 4.1 Extent and causes of degradation 55 4.2 Recommended correction and/or prevention methods 57 5. MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENTS 65 6. CONCLUSIONS 67 6.1 Agricultural land 67 6.2 Pastoral land 67 6.3 National Parks, State Forests, Reserves 68 6.4 Mining 69 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 71 BIBLIOGRAPHY 73 APPENDIXES I Mapping units 77 II Land units 99 III Common names of native plant species 121 IV Land capability classification 123 V Analytical methods 124 VI Soil chemical ratings 125 VII Landform 127 VIII Data recorded for each map unit and land unit 128 MICROFICHE - Site descriptions and analytical data (v) LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Page Figure 1 Land resources of the South Burnett Region - Locality Plan Plate 1 The gently undulating terrain of mapping unit Ltl 17 is extensively cultivated and cropped with peanuts, beans and grain crops The flat to gently undulating terrain of mapping 17 unit Qpl is extensively cultivated for grain cropping View across portion of the hilly to steep hilly terrain 18 of mapping unit Pz3. Extensively cleared or timber treated and used for grazing of native pastures View of portion of mapping unit Pb2. Extensively timber 18 treated and used for grazing of native pastures. 5 Severe gully erosion, due to excessive clearing, 60 overgrazing or poor siting of roads and watering points, occurs throughout the grazing areas. Only isolated examples as severe as the above photo are recorded. 6 Numerous examples of severe overgrazing occur throughout 60 the area 7 Regrowth of brigalow suckers is a major problem following the clearing in mapping unit Qp2, particularly in the 61 8 deep gilgaied areas. 9 Water table salting, both along drainage lines (A) and in lower slope positions (B), is a common occurrence 62 in this area, particularly associated with the lateritic i0 mapping units (Lt). FIGURE 1 North Keppel I. 1~2 ~ eppoon QUEENSLAND i Great Keopel I. Emu Park DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES ~Bppel (Zy fC- Keppet LAND RESOURCES OF THE IC. Capricorn SOUTH BURNETT REGION North Pt. LOCALITY PLAN ~L~acing I. ;lad,stone Ih,d,I "-~ SCALE 1:2 000 000 II,z q 10 0 50 lOOkm ~,,~----~1~ Bus ta r d Hd 20 24 ~_ I I I I "~ I/ ~Middle I. I ~, Round Hill Hd. ARTHU~S~ LEGEND Miriam V:ie ~ Major roads ~'~'- ~, BafTle Creek Railways , , WONDAI Shires Sandy C MO laberg HS kRAHERVEY BAr W~ Pt loom )UGH ~t. ~ou~e Ist~ It. 26 o- Stur Noosa Hd. CHINC! Pt Cartwright ah I. ~Bribie ~ C. Moreton Moreton I. Tara Cabawin okout Dunmore HS ~N/Stradbroke I. Hi,v* --•Ola•0[I MILLMERR /~S Stradbroke I. S0uthport 28 ~ 82 -72 - P2191 (vii) LIST OF TABLES Page 2.1 Climatic data for Nanango, Kingaroy and Gayndah 8 2.2 Monthly and annual median rainfall (millimetre) 8 data for selected centres 2.3 Dates of declaration and recovation of drought for 9 each Shire of the South Burnett since 1965 2.4 Rock units of the South Burnett ii 2.5 Great soil group or equivalent, soil family, summary 34 description, principal profile forms and land units in which soil family dominates 2.6 Sites analysed and analytical ratings for varying 38 parent materials for each great soil group. 2.7 Area and percentage of total area of each land 43 capability class 3.1 Total area, area rural holdings, area crops, area 45 sown pasture and area other uses for each Shire for 1977-78 3.2 Area planted to specific crops over a four year 46 period for each Shire 5.1 Important management requirements for mapping units 66 SUMMARY The land resources of approximately 1 064 000 ha, comprising the South Burnett portion of the Burnett Region were mapped and described. Sixty-five mapping units were delineated on the basis of geology, topography, soils and vegetation and their distribution is shown on the accompanying 1:250 000 mapping unit map. Each mapping unit is described in terms of its component land units. The broad management requirements are outlined for each mapping unit. The resources of the area including climate, geology, landform, drainage, vegetation and soils are discussed. Present land use is discussed and potential land use examined. A current land use map at a scale of 1:250 000 accompanies the report. Land degradation is not a major problem. Erosion, salinity, tree and shrub regrowth, pasture degradation and land slips were the main forms identified. Probable causes are discussed and reclamation and/or preventive measures recommended. The extent and location of degradation in the form of salinity, severe erosion and land slip are shown on the accompanying land capability- land suitability map. Gully erosion, pasture degradation and tree or shrub regrowth were the most common forms of degradation in the grazing lands. Approximately 80% of the cultivation lands requiring soil conservation measures are now protected. Conservation cropping techniques are also gaining acceptance. Current management and land use practices appear to perform satisfactorily on the main cultivation soils. Attempts to improve the carrying capacity by introducing legumes such as fine-stem stylo to native pastures and establishing a managed grazing system are justified to maintain long term productivity. I. INTRODUCTION The Burnett Region of south-east Queensland encompasses a total area of approximately 3 000 000 ha. It is one of the few large areas of the State where land resources are not adequately mapped and described. In 1977, a programme was initiated to map and describe the resources of this region. The region has been divided into three sub-regions, namely South Burnett, Central Burnett and North Burnett. The South Burnett was the first area to be surveyed and is the subject of this report. l.l Objectives The objectives of the study were to: (a) prepare a land resource map, compiled at i:i00 000 and published at 1:250 000, and describe the mapping units defined, (b) prepare a map of current land use, (c) prepare a land capability - land suitabilitymap, (d) assess and map existing and potential areas subject to land degradation, and (e) consider management requirements for the mapping units defined. 1.2 Area features This study includes the Shires of Kingaroy, Wondai, Murgon, Kilkivan West (i.e. that part of the Shire west of the Coast Range) and Nanango excluding that portion of the Shire covered by the Cooyar Grazing Lands Study (Vandersee, 1978). The total area involved is assessed as approximately 1 064 000 ha. The extent of the area, selected physical features and the Shire boundaries are presented in figure i. The Burnett, D'Aguilar and Bunya Highways provide major road links to and through the area. The majority of secondary roads are bitumen sealed with almost all of the remainder providing all weather access except in times of major floods. Kingaroy is connected by rail link through Wondai and Murgon to Theebine on the coastal rail link. Proston is connected by rail to Murgon. A major aerodrome is located at Kingaroy while minor aerodromes are located at Wondai and Nanango. Electricity is provided by the Wide Bay-Burnett Electricity Board with most properties being connected to the service. Telephone and mail services are provided to most properties. The total population (adjusted for Kilkivan Shire) of the South Burnett is approximately 20 000 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 1976). Kingaroy is the largest town with an estimated population of 4 500 (Australian Bureau of Statistics, June 1980). Other significant centres of population are Murgon, Wondai, Nanango, Goomeri, Proston, Blackbutt and Kumbia. A large power station is currently being built at Tarong in the south of the area. 1.3 Methods Relevant literature and articles were reviewed.