Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation Discussion Paper - Victorian ...

The Highlands-Southern Fall bioregion forms the
southern part of the Great Dividing Range and extends
from Melbourne to near Omeo. It contains uplands and
high plateaus, with alluvial fl ats along the valleys. The
vegetation is dominated by dry and damp forest on the
slopes, with wet forest in the valleys. Cool temperate
rainforest occurs in protected gullies. Approximately 12
per cent of the bioregion occurs in the north-eastern part
of the investigation area.
The Victorian Volcanic Plain bioregion extends west to
the South Australian border, south to Colac and north
to Broadford. The landscape contains peaks from
long-extinct volcanoes, stony rises created by old lava
fl ows, and many large, shallow lakes. Characteristic
vegetation communities on the plains include grassy
woodland and grassland, with stony knoll shrubland
on stone rises. Volcanic outcrops generally support
woodland communities. Approximately eight per cent
of the bioregion occurs in the western part of the
investigation area.
The Otway Plain bioregion extends east of Princetown to
the Bellarine Peninsula. It consists of coastal plains and
dunes, foothills with river valleys and lowland swamps.
The vegetation includes lowland forest, heathy and grassy
woodland and plains grassy woodland. Approximately six
per cent of the bioregion occurs in the western part of the
investigation area.
The Central Victorian Uplands bioregion extends from the
Grampians and Ararat in the west to Porepunkah in the
east; and from the You Yangs and Lara in the south to
Lurg in the north. 51 It contains rugged to gently undulating
terrain, with the vegetation being mainly dry forests.
Approximately one per cent of the bioregion occurs in the
western part of the investigation area.
Less than one per cent (approximately 280 hectares) of
the Highlands-Northern Fall bioregion occurs along the
northern boundary of the investigation area.
Figure 2.4
Victorian bioregions within the Metropolitan Melbourne investigation area
Source: Department of Sustainability and Environment (2005)
Legend
Victorian bioregions
Major
3.1 Victorian Volcanic Plain (VVP)
5.1 Gippsland Plain (GipP)
5.2 Otway Plain (OtP)
6.2 Central Victorian Uplands (CVU)
10.1 Highlands – Southern Fall (HSF)
10.2 Highlands – Northern Fall (HNF)
11.1 Victorian Alps
roads
Major rivers
Investigation area boundary
Water bodies
0 5 10 20 Kilometres
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