Soil Landscape mapping of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment provides a framework for examining soil- and landscape-based limitations to both rural and urban development. The Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment covers approximately 22 000 square kilometres and has a population of 1.09 million. The catchment water resources contribute to the generation of 70% of the goods and services produced in NSW (Hawkesbury-Nepean River Management Forum, May 2004). The Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment and River system is under enormous pressure in terms of soil erosion, water quality and quantity. Overall catchment health is under pressure predominantly from population growth and its associated demand for rural and residential developments and infrastructure.

This poster presents a series of soil landscape derivative maps that were produced by the NSW Department of Infrastructure Planning and Natural Resources in 2003. The soil maps contain derived rural and urban-based themes including; erosive soils, soil acidification hazard, soil limitations for sewage effluent reuse and soil limitations for cast-iron pipe longevity. The themes presented reflect issues highlighted by the Hawkesbury-Nepean River Management Forum (May 2004) and are presented for selected sub-catchments of the Hawkesbury-Nepean, demonstrating how soil landscape mapping and value-added products associated with the maps provide a guide for more informed catchment planning decisions.