What key land and vegetation issues are critical when managing soil landscapes in the Top End?
Intense rainfall during the wet season means that bare soil on the minimal of slopes (>0.5%) is an erosion risk. This means most land to be disturbed will require erosion and sediment control measures. Land Management advice concerning erosion and sediment control can be sought from this department. Always remember that it is far more cost effective to prevent land degradation then to rehabilitate after the event. Poorly drained land or seasonally waterlogged land is also a major land management issue in the Top End, posing problems for urban housing, rural living and horticulture. During wetter months these soils lack oxygen needed for crops, posing operational and health problems for septic systems as well as the obvious problems associated with access and building foundations. These areas also often have conservation values for birdlife and are vital for catchment health. As a result these areas are often excluded from subdivisions in Darwin’s Rural Area. If poorly drained land is n
