The colour maps summarise the attributes, soils and limitations for each soil landscape. The report explains the mapping system used, describes each soil landscape in detail and gives laboratory data for all soil materials. Milthorpe, P. et al. Developed by the Soil Conservation Service to provide a standardisation of terminology used in soil conservation and related disciplines. 45 Gray, J.W and Murphy B.W, 1999.
Parent material has a major influence on the physical and chemical make-up of soils.
It is a significant controlling factor of soil properties at most sites, being one of the five traditionally recognised factors of soil formation, along with climate, topography, organic matter and time. Technical Report No. 34 Gray, J The disturbance of soil and land resources during development or other land use activities has the potential for major impacts on the quality of our environment. Soil erosion, stream sedimentation, mass movement, soil pollution and altered hydrological regimes are just some of the associated environmental problems. In addition to the serious environmental degradation caused, these impacts are also associated with high financial cost to both the project proponent and the community as a whole.