Original EA Amendment

Five land suitability classes are defined for use in Queensland, with land suitability decreasing

progressively from Class 1 to Class 5. Classes 1 to 3 are suitable for agricultural production. Class 1

land is highly productive, requiring only simple management practices to maintain economic production,

with minimal degradation to the land resource. Class 5 land has extreme limitations that preclude the

possibility of successful sustained use of the land in the proposed manner.

Figure 41. Soil Types Mount Morgan Area (ASRIS Level 4 Australian Soil Classification)

5.4. Bioregion and subregion

The study area is located within the Mount Morgan Ranges subregion of the Brigalow Belt bioregion.

The Brigalow Belt bioregion covers ~36,400,000 ha of area and is named after the brigalow tree ( Acacia

harpophylla ) which forms forests and woodland on clay soils within the region (Sattler & Williams, 1999).

The Brigalow Belt receives ~500 - 750 mm per annum of rainfall and is a major agricultural and pastoral

area (Sattler & Williams, 1999).

Sattler & Williams (1999) describe the Mount Morgan Ranges as a rugged to hilly province formed on

the Palaeozoic rocks of the coastal ranges from inland of Rockhampton extending southern to the

Eidsvold area. The Dominant rocks are volcanics with areas of igneous rocks and small areas of folded

meta-sediments. The steeper areas are dominated by narrow-leaved ironbark ( Eucalyptus crebra )

woodlands with red bloodwood ( Corymbia erythrophloia ) spotted gum (C. citriodora) and rosewood

( Acacia rhodoxylon ). Silver-leaved ironbark ( Eucalyptus melanophloia ) forms a woodland on erosional

110

Wulguru Technical Services Pty Ltd – Supporting Information to Amend an Environmental Authority

Powered by