New maps dish the dirt on the ACT

Released 17/02/2017

Maps on soil and hydrogeology for the entire ACT are now available on the ACT Government’s mapping service ACTMAPi, Dr Annie Lane, Executive Director, Environment, Environment and Planning Directorate, said today.  

“These maps and associated reports provide insights into soil health and the quality and distribution of water in the landscape,” Dr Lane said.

“Improved knowledge about our land and water and how they interact in the landscape allows us to better manage natural ecosystems, increase agricultural productivity and plan our city.

“Land managers including ACT Government, rural landholders, and community groups now have local information available on soil characteristics such as soil depth and types and hydrology including areas of permanent and temporary water.

“Locally tailored management options are provided in detailed reports to improve soil health and manage risks such as dryland salinity, soil erosion and vulnerability of wetlands to climate change.

ACT soils range from weathered, less fertile landscapes of our hills and mountains through to the richer alluvial landscapes surrounding our creeks and rivers,” Dr Lane said.

Maps and reports completed by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in 2016, were funded by the ACT Government, with support of the Australian Government Regional Natural Resource Management Planning for Climate Change Fund.

Completing these fundamental data sets was a commitment in the ACT Nature Conservation Strategy 2013-23, said Dr Lane.  

“The maps and data made available today will complement existing databases on ACTMAPi, such as the Territory Plan, heritage, vegetation and registered trees, to support decision making by planners, land managers, researchers and members of the community,” said Dr Lane.

The ACT Soil and Hydrogeological Landscape maps and data, including soil landscape descriptions, can be accessed at www.actmapi.act.gov.au

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