np NEWPORT Aeolian

Landscape⎯gently undulating plains to rolling rises of Holocene sands mantling other soil
materials or bedrock. Local relief <10 m, slopes <10% on lower slopes and plateau surface and up
to 35% against obstacles facing prevailing winds. Extensively cleared low eucalypt open-
woodland, scrub and open-heathland.
Soils⎯shallow (<50 cm), well sorted Siliceous Sands (Uc1.21, Uc4.24, Uc4.31) overlying
moderately deep (<150 cm) buried sands including yellow Podzolic Soils (Dy5.41, Dy5.51, Dy5.62)
with sandy topsoils on crests and gentle slopes; deep (>200 cm) Podzols (Uc2.32) on steep slopes,
lower slopes and in depressions.
Limitations⎯very high soil erosion hazard, localised steep slopes, very low soil fertility, non-
cohesive topsoils.

LOCATION
Exposed coastal areas close to marine sand or Hawkesbury alluvial sand sources on the Erina Hills
and the Botany Lowlands. Examples occur at Newport, Sans Souci, Banksia, Kogarah, Dee Why,
Long Reef, Harbord and Avalon.

LANDSCAPE
Geology
The shallow windblown sands of the Newport soil landscape unit overlie the Newport and Garie
Formations of the Middle Triassic Narrabeen Group, which consist of interbedded laminite, shale
and quartz to lithic quartz sandstone. In some instances the underlying material is Hawkesbury

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Sandstone. This is a medium to coarse-grained quartz sandstone with minor shale and laminite
lenses.
Topography
Gently undulating plains to rolling rises. Local relief is <10 m. Slopes up to 12%. The windblown
sands of Newport soil landscape are usually shallow. Landform is influenced by the shape of
underlying bedrock. The surface has a smooth, rounded appearance, characteristic of windblown
sand sheets.
Where wind-blown sand has been deposited against obstacles soil depth tends to be greater. These
slopes (usually with a southerly or westerly aspect) are gently to moderately inclined (slope
gradients 10–30%) with distinctly concave slope profiles. In isolated areas undercutting by streams
or by wave erosion has resulted in steeper (<35%) slope gradients. An example can be found at
Bellevue Hill.
Vegetation
The original vegetation has been extensively cleared. Patches of remaining vegetation consist of
low open-woodland, scrub and open-heathland. Low open-woodland remains on lower slopes
and where there are patches of deeper sands. Dominant tree species include old man banksia
Banksia aemula, coastal banksia B. integrifolia, red bloodwood Eucalyptus gummifera and smooth-
barked apple Angophora costata. Other species include forest sheoak Allocasuarina torulosa, grey
gum E. punctata, forest red gum E. tereticornis, slaty red gum E. glaucina and scribbly gum
E. racemosa. The understorey consists of dry sclerophyll shrub species from the families Fabaceae,
Proteaceae and Epacridaceae.
In more exposed positions coastal scrub and heathland often replace woodland. Species include
shrub sheoak Allocasuarina distyla, heath banksia Banksia ericifolia and coastal teatree Leptospermum
laevigatum.
Land use
Land use is substantially urban residential.
Existing Erosion
Minor sheet erosion is common where ground cover has been disturbed. Where storm-water
runoff is not adequately controlled serious gully erosion has occurred. This resulted in the
undermining of buildings at Bellevue Hill during the heavy rains of November 1984 (SCS n.d.b).
Slumping is commonplace where cut and fill operations do not include provision for adequate
retaining walls.
Associated Soil Landscapes
Erina (er) and Lambert (la) soil landscapes are often closely associated with Newport soil
landscape.

SOILS
Dominant Soil Materials
np1⎯Loose dark brown loamy sand. This is commonly loose dark brown sand to sandy loam
with loose apedal single-grained structure and porous sandy fabric. It generally occurs as topsoil
(A1 horizon).
Surface condition is loose or occasionally friable when organic matter content is high. Colour is
most often dark brown (10YR 3/3), but ranges between black (10YR 1.7/1) and brownish grey

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(10YR 4/1). This material consists of well sorted quartz sand grains of 0.2–0.5 mm diameter. The
pH ranges between moderately acid (pH 5.0) and neutral (pH 7.0). Stones are absent, but roots are
common.
np2⎯Massive, greyish-yellow-brown clayey sand. This is commonly a sand or clayey sand with
apedal massive structure and porous sandy fabric. It often occurs as an A2 or B horizon.
The colour is commonly greyish-yellow-brown (10YR 5/2) but may vary to dull yellow-orange
(10YR 6/3). This material is well sorted and dominated by medium sized sand grains. The pH
ranges between strongly acid (pH 4.5) and neutral (pH 7.0). Roots are rare and stones and charcoal
fragments are absent.
np3⎯Bleached loose sand. This is bleached sand with loose apedal single-grained structure and
porous sandy fabric. It commonly occurs as an A2 horizon.
Where exposed it is loose and non-cohesive. Colours are bleached when dry and moist colours
range from brownish grey (10YR 5/1) to greyish yellow (2.5Y 7/2) to dull yellow orange (10YR 7/4).
The pH ranges from moderately acid (pH 5.5) to neutral (pH 7.0). Charcoal, rock fragments and
roots are few or absent.
np4⎯Black soft sandy organic pan. This is commonly a black organic stained sand to loamy sand
with apedal massive structure and sandy fabric. It generally occurs as subsoil (B horizon).
This material consists of quartz sand grains that are coated and weakly cemented with black,
organic aluminium compounds. Colour ranges from black (10YR 1.7/1) to brownish black
(10YR 3/1). The pH ranges from moderately acid (pH 5.5) to neutral (pH 7.0). Stones, charcoal and
roots are absent.
np5⎯Brown, soft sandy, iron pan. This is commonly a brown, iron stained, sand to loamy sand
with apedal massive structure and sandy fabric. It generally occurs as subsoil (B horizon).
This material consists of quartz sand grains coated and weakly cemented with sesquioxides.
Colour varies from bright yellowish brown (10YR 7/6) to brown (10YR 4/6). Dark orange and
brown mottles are common. The pH ranges from moderately acid (pH 5.5) to neutral (pH 7.0).
Stones and charcoal are absent and roots are rare.
np6⎯Yellow, mottled, massive sand. This is a yellow to clayey sand with loose apedal single-
grained or apedal massive structure and sandy or earthy fabric. It usually occurs as deep subsoil
(B horizon).
This material consists of clay coated quartz sand grains which are compacted, but not cemented.
Colour varies from light yellow (2.5Y 7/4) to dull yellow-orange (10YR 7/3) or brownish grey
(10YR 6/1). The pH varies from moderately acid (pH 5.5) to neutral (pH 7.0). Stones, charcoal
fragments and roots are absent.
Occurrence and Relationships
Crests and gently sloping sideslopes. Generally up to 30 cm of loose dark brown loamy sand
(np1) overlies up to 50 cm of greyish yellow brown massive clayey sand (np2). Where wind-blown
sand has buried existing soils np1 and np2 overlie a range of soil materials from associated soil
landscapes. Total soil depth is generally >150 cm. The boundary between the topsoils and subsoils
is sharp. Topsoils are well sorted and sandy [Yellow Podzolic Soils (Dy5.41, Dy5.51, Dy5.62)].
In some places wind-blown sands have been deposited directly onto bedrock. Generally up to
30 cm of np1 overlies up to 50 cm of np2. np2 overlies weathered bedrock. Boundaries between
soil materials are gradual [Siliceous sands (Uc1.21, Uc4.24, Uc4.31)].

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Lower slopes, steep sideslopes and depressions. Pockets of deeper aeolian sands, and their
reworked products have often accumulated on the lower slopes and in depressions and against
steep sideslopes.
Generally up to 20 cm of np1 overlies up to 50 cm of bleached loose sand (np3) and up to 50 cm of
black soft organic pan (np4) and brown soft iron pan (np5). These pan materials are often mixed
together. Below the soft pan materials there is usually >50 cm of yellow mottled massive sand
(np6). Total soil depth is >200 cm. Boundaries between soil materials are generally clear [Podzols
(Uc2.32)].

LIMITATIONS TO DEVELOPMENT
Urban Capability
Low to moderate capability for urban development.
Rural Capability
Not relevant.
Landscape Limitations
Erosion hazard
Wind erosion hazard
Steep slopes (localised)
Shallow soil (localised)
Non-cohesive soil
Soil Limitations
np1 Erodibility
Low fertility
np2 Low available water capacity
Erodibility
Low fertility
np3 Low available water capacity
Low fertility
Strongly acid
np4 Low available water capacity
Very low fertility
Strongly acid
Hardsetting surface
Very high aluminium toxicity
np5 Low available water capacity
Very low fertility
Strongly acid
High aluminium toxicity
Hardsetting
np6 Low available water capacity
Very low fertility
Strongly acid

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Fertility
The general fertility is low to very low. The soil materials have low to very low organic matter, low
available water capacity, very low CEC and very low nutrient status.
Erodibility
np1–np3 and np6 are moderately erodible consisting of weakly coherent loose sands with low
organic matter. np4 and np5 have low erodibility as they consist of sand grains weakly cemented
by organic compounds (np4) or iron compounds (np5).
Erosion Hazard
The erosion hazard for non-concentrated flows is generally high, but ranges from high to extreme.
Calculated soil losses for the first twelve months of urban development range up to 119 t/ha of
topsoil and 127 t/ha of subsoil. The erosion hazard for concentrated flows and wind is high.
Surface Movement Potential
Stable to slightly reactive. In rare instances, where >50 cm of buried Erina clay occurs, moderate
reactivity can be expected.

Schematic cross-section of Newport soil landscape illustrating the occurrence and relationship of the dominant soil
materials.

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