Tamar report land Capability Survey of Tasmania k e noble 1992 Tamar Report

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TAMAR

REPORT

Land Capability Survey

of Tasmania

K E NOBLE

1992

Tamar Report

and accompanying 1:100 000 scale map

Published by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania with financial assistance

from the National Soil Conservation Program

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Published by the Department

 

of

Primary Industry, Tasmania

© Copyright 1992

ISSN 1036 5249

Printed by the Tasmanian Government

Printing Office, Hobart.

Refer to this report as:

Noble K.E. 1992, Land Capability Survey of Tasmania.

Tamar Report.

Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania, Australia.

Accompanies 1:100 000 scale map, titled 'Land Capability Survey of Tasmania.

Tamar' by K.E. Noble, Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment,

Tasmania 1992

Authors Note: The Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment

referred to in this document is now titled the Department of Primary Industries and

Fisheries.

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CONTENTS

1

Introduction

5

2

Summary

6

3

Acknowledgments

7

4

How to use this Map and Report

8

5

Methodology

10

6

Land Capability Classification

11

7 

Features of the Tasmanian Land Capability

Classification System

14

8

The Land Capability Classes

18

9

Description of Area Mapped

24

10

Description of Land Capability Classes on Tamar Map

45

11

Map Availability

74

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1.

Introduction

The Department of Primary Industry in 1989 commenced a Land Capability Survey of Tasmania

at a scale of 1:100 000.  The primary aim of the survey is to identify and map the location and

extent of different classes of agricultural land, in order to provide an effective base for land use

planning decisions.  In addition, the aim is to ensure that the long-term productivity of the land is

maintained, through the promotion of compatible land uses and management practices.  A land

capability classification system has been developed specifically for Tasmania comprising seven

classes, and is based on the capability of the land to support a range of agricultural uses on a

long-term sustainable basis.

The basis of soil conservation is the proper use and management of the land - that is, using and

managing land within its capability.  The conservation and correct management of Tasmania's

most important agricultural asset, the soil, is vital for sustained productivity.  However, much of

the land in Tasmania has limitations that restrict the land for agricultural use.  The system of land

capability recognises these limitations, and classifies the land accordingly.

This report and associated map describes and depicts the land capability of the Tamar map (1:100

000 scale Tasmap Series).  It is one in a series of land capability maps and reports for Tasmania.

All 1:100 000 maps of the Tasmap Series that contain privately owned land will be mapped.

Only Private  Freehold and  Leased Crown Land  will be  mapped  at 1:100 000 scale, with some

selected high priority areas remapped at larger scales.

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2.

Summary

This map and report describes and classifies the land capability of all privately owned land and

leased Crown land on the Tamar map.  The map covers the area between Point Sorell and

Beechford in the north, to Elizabeth Town and Westwood in the south.  Major towns in the area

include George Town, Port Sorell, Beaconsfield and Exeter.

The land capability system is based on the capability of the land to produce agricultural goods

without impairing the long-term, sustainable productive potential of the land.  A land capability

classification system has been developed specifically for Tasmania, and categorises the land into

seven land capability classes.

The land capability data and boundaries have been determined by a combination of field work

and aerial photo-interpretation.

The major constraints which have determined the land capability classes are:  slope, erosion

hazard, inferior soils (poor soil structure, low fertility soils), and rockiness.

A summary of the areas of the land capability classes mapped on the Tamar map is shown in

Table 1.

Class

Area

(ha)

%

of land area on

Tamar map

1

42

0.02

2

604

0.33

3

10 061

5.52

4

56 953

31.26

5

36 773

20.18

6

26 038

14.3

7

874

0.48

Exclusion areas

50 804

27.9

TOTAL

182 149

100

Table 1: Summary of areas on Tamar map.

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3.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgement is given to the following people who assisted with this publication:

Mr Greg Pinkard, Deputy Chief, Land Management and Chemistry Branch, Department of

Primary Industry (DPI), Mount Pleasant, for assistance in the field, editorial comment, and field

checking of the map.

Mr Warren Jackson and Mr Mike Greenhill, DPI, Prospect, Mr Jim Cox, DPI, Devonport, Mr

Andrew Johnston and Mr Viv Hannaford, DPI, Deloraine, for providing information on

agricultural and land use matters.

Mr John Farrow, DPI, Hobart, for processing photographs.

Mr Romic Pajak and Mr Rob Moreton for artwork.

Mrs Sue Weedon for typing.

Mr Derek O'Toole for drafting the map and diagrams, and for assistance in the field.

This project has been funded by the National Soil Conservation Program through the Department

of Primary Industry, Tasmania.

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