The Arenosols of New South Wales (NSW): Their Identification and Some Implications for Land Use Planning
Tracks
| Monday, July 21, 2025 |
| 11:12 AM - 11:24 AM |
Overview
Speaker
Dr Linda Henderson
Scientist, Soil And Land Assessment
Nsw Dept Climate Change Energy Environment and Water
The Arenosols of New South Wales (NSW): Their Identification and Some Implications for Land Use Planning
Abstract
Sandy soils are widely distributed in NSW. These soils sit predominantly within the Australian Soil Classification (ASC) orders Podosols, Tenosols and Rudosols. But deep, non-gravelly sandy soils occur within the Arenosols, a recently added ASC order (ASC 3rd Ed.). The majority of Arenosols (ASC 3rd Ed.) were previously included within Tenosols and Rudosols (ASC 2nd Ed).
Sandy soils are widespread across the state. Well-documented occurrences include soils of the inland dune and sandsheet systems and the sandy soils formed on the Quaternary coastal marine sand bodies (including Podosols). The distribution and occurrence of other sandy soils throughout NSW are less well known, partly because of their localised and often sporadic extent. Such soils are known to occur on alluvial plains and fluvial systems; aeolian re-worked sediments; and footslopes/fans derived from quartz-rich rocks (e.g. quartz sandstone, conglomerate, granites). They have also formed in situ on quartz-rich rocks. Being a very recent addition to the ASC, the distribution of Arenosols within these areas of sandy soils can only be determined by (i) re-interpretation of existing soil surveys and other legacy data and, (ii) undertaking new soil surveys.
The deep sandy soils of NSW, such as Arenosols, can support a variety of land uses. This can be due to adequate rainfall and/or access to irrigation, and soil characteristics such as adequate soil depth, low levels of coarse fragments/gravel and high infiltration rates.
We examine 2 case studies of Arenosol occurrences from different parts of NSW: the North Coast region and the Hunter region. We describe how revisions to the ASC have modified the mapping of sandy soils and how this applies to broad-scale land use
Sandy soils are widespread across the state. Well-documented occurrences include soils of the inland dune and sandsheet systems and the sandy soils formed on the Quaternary coastal marine sand bodies (including Podosols). The distribution and occurrence of other sandy soils throughout NSW are less well known, partly because of their localised and often sporadic extent. Such soils are known to occur on alluvial plains and fluvial systems; aeolian re-worked sediments; and footslopes/fans derived from quartz-rich rocks (e.g. quartz sandstone, conglomerate, granites). They have also formed in situ on quartz-rich rocks. Being a very recent addition to the ASC, the distribution of Arenosols within these areas of sandy soils can only be determined by (i) re-interpretation of existing soil surveys and other legacy data and, (ii) undertaking new soil surveys.
The deep sandy soils of NSW, such as Arenosols, can support a variety of land uses. This can be due to adequate rainfall and/or access to irrigation, and soil characteristics such as adequate soil depth, low levels of coarse fragments/gravel and high infiltration rates.
We examine 2 case studies of Arenosol occurrences from different parts of NSW: the North Coast region and the Hunter region. We describe how revisions to the ASC have modified the mapping of sandy soils and how this applies to broad-scale land use
Biography
Dr Linda Henderson is a Scientist, Soil and Land Assessment with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Linda began her career in soil landscape mapping of eastern NSW, which included both broad-scale mapping and soil consultancy, including topsoil suitability for open-cut coal mine rehabilitation. Linda is passionate about soil biology and its application to soil health. Her work with NSW DCCEEW focuses on soil assessment for managing soils in Kosciuszko National Park and soil data for threatened species translocation and biodiversity management.
Dr David Morand
Senior Scientist - Land And Soil Assessment
NSW DCCEEW
The Arenosols of New South Wales (NSW): Their Identification and Some Implications for Land Use Planning
Abstract
Sandy soils are widely distributed in NSW. These soils sit predominantly within the Australian Soil Classification (ASC) orders Podosols, Tenosols and Rudosols. But deep, non-gravelly sandy soils occur within the Arenosols, a recently added ASC order (ASC 3rd Ed.). The majority of Arenosols (ASC 3rd Ed.) were previously included within Tenosols and Rudosols (ASC 2nd Ed).
Sandy soils are widespread across the state. Well-documented occurrences include soils of the inland dune and sandsheet systems and the sandy soils formed on the Quaternary coastal marine sand bodies (including Podosols). The distribution and occurrence of other sandy soils throughout NSW are less well known, partly because of their localised and often sporadic extent. Such soils are known to occur on alluvial plains and fluvial systems; aeolian re-worked sediments; and footslopes/fans derived from quartz-rich rocks (e.g. quartz sandstone, conglomerate, granites). They have also formed in situ on quartz-rich rocks. Being a very recent addition to the ASC, the distribution of Arenosols within these areas of sandy soils can only be determined by (i) re-interpretation of existing soil surveys and other legacy data and, (ii) undertaking new soil surveys.
The deep sandy soils of NSW, such as Arenosols, can support a variety of land uses. This can be due to adequate rainfall and/or access to irrigation, and soil characteristics such as adequate soil depth, low levels of coarse fragments/gravel and high infiltration rates.
We examine 2 case studies of Arenosol occurrences from different parts of NSW: the North Coast region and the Hunter region. We describe how revisions to the ASC have modified the mapping of sandy soils and how this applies to broad-scale land use
Sandy soils are widespread across the state. Well-documented occurrences include soils of the inland dune and sandsheet systems and the sandy soils formed on the Quaternary coastal marine sand bodies (including Podosols). The distribution and occurrence of other sandy soils throughout NSW are less well known, partly because of their localised and often sporadic extent. Such soils are known to occur on alluvial plains and fluvial systems; aeolian re-worked sediments; and footslopes/fans derived from quartz-rich rocks (e.g. quartz sandstone, conglomerate, granites). They have also formed in situ on quartz-rich rocks. Being a very recent addition to the ASC, the distribution of Arenosols within these areas of sandy soils can only be determined by (i) re-interpretation of existing soil surveys and other legacy data and, (ii) undertaking new soil surveys.
The deep sandy soils of NSW, such as Arenosols, can support a variety of land uses. This can be due to adequate rainfall and/or access to irrigation, and soil characteristics such as adequate soil depth, low levels of coarse fragments/gravel and high infiltration rates.
We examine 2 case studies of Arenosol occurrences from different parts of NSW: the North Coast region and the Hunter region. We describe how revisions to the ASC have modified the mapping of sandy soils and how this applies to broad-scale land use
Biography
