Soil erosion is one of the most significant environmental challenges facing Australian land managers. According to the Queensland Government, around 80% of the state's cultivated land is vulnerable to erosion, with the Darling Downs alone losing between 20 and 60 tonnes of soil per hectare each year.
Sustainable, natural and affordable erosion prevention materials are now more readily available than ever. Understanding the different types of erosion and their triggers helps landowners, civil contractors and landscapers develop better prevention and revegetation strategies.
Australia's erosion problem spans the entire continent. In tropical steep lands, soil losses can reach 400 tonnes per hectare annually. Along the coast, Geoscience Australia reports that approximately 39,000 buildings sit within 100 metres of soft, erodible shoreline.
Soil erosion falls into four broad categories: water erosion, wind erosion, coastal erosion and mass movement. Each type has distinct characteristics and requires different control approaches depending on location and land use.
The economic impact extends beyond lost topsoil. It affects agricultural productivity, water quality, infrastructure stability and ecosystem health across the nation.
Wind erosion typically occurs in arid and semi-arid zones where large amounts of fertile topsoil are carried off by strong gusts and gales. This reduces the organic, productive value of the land and can create dust storms that travel hundreds of kilometres.
The primary cause of wind erosion is lack of surface vegetation. When ground cover is removed through overgrazing, drought or land clearing, the exposed soil becomes vulnerable to wind action. Wind moves soil particles through three distinct processes:
Key factors that contribute to wind erosion include:
Central and western Australia are particularly susceptible to wind erosion. The combination of low rainfall, sparse vegetation and strong prevailing winds creates ideal conditions for topsoil loss.
Water erosion is the most widespread category affecting Australian landscapes, from high-rainfall coastal zones to dryland farming regions. During periods of intense rainfall, the vulnerability of soil to erosion depends on several key factors:
Water erosion follows a worsening progression. What begins as minor splash damage can escalate through sheet, rill and gully stages if left unchecked.
Splash erosion is the first stage of water erosion. Raindrops strike bare soil with enough force to dislodge particles, breaking down soil aggregates and creating a sealed crust on the surface. This crust reduces water infiltration and increases surface runoff, setting the stage for more damaging erosion types.
Sheet erosion occurs when the topsoil layer on hillsides erodes uniformly over time. This renders paddocks less arable and can go unnoticed until significant soil depth has been lost.
Rill erosion develops when small channels (typically under 30 cm deep) start to form as water continually runs down the same path off a hillside. These rills become deeper over time and can evolve into more serious gully erosion if left unchecked.
Gully erosion represents the most severe form of water erosion. Deep channels cut into the landscape, removing vast amounts of topsoil and subsoil while creating drainage problems and limiting land use options. Once gullies form, they cannot be corrected through normal cultivation and often require engineering solutions.
Scalding happens when erosion exposes the saline or sodic soils underneath the topsoil layer. This leads to plant death and results in a hard, smooth surface that is impermeable to water and unable to support vegetation.
Tunnel erosion occurs beneath the soil surface when water exploits cracks and root channels. Around 45% of Queensland has soils with sodic properties that make them susceptible to this type of erosion. The land appears stable from above but collapses when the underground tunnels can no longer support the weight.
Streambank erosion affects waterways when flowing water undercuts and collapses riverbanks. This is particularly problematic in agricultural areas where livestock access points accelerate bank degradation.
Floodplain erosion occurs during major flood events when high-velocity water strips the topsoil from otherwise flat, productive land. A single flood can remove 100 to 150 mm of topsoil from a paddock, particularly after bushfires have removed protective ground cover.
Australia's 34,000 km coastline faces ongoing erosion from wave action, tidal currents and storm surges. Coastal erosion can be gradual (sand slowly shifting along a coastline) or rapid (storm surges cutting metres of dune in a single event).
Both forms threaten infrastructure, natural habitats and recreational beaches. Natural fibre products like coir logs and jute matting play an important role in stabilising coastal dunes and embankments by holding sand in place while native vegetation establishes.
Mass movement refers to the downslope movement of soil and rock under the direct influence of gravity. Unlike water or wind erosion, mass movement does not require a transport medium. Common forms include:
Eastern Australia's hilly terrain makes regions like the Great Dividing Range and far north Queensland particularly vulnerable to mass movement after prolonged wet weather.
All these erosion types introduce high levels of sediment into streams, lakes and oceans. This sediment load changes the ecosystem within our waterways and affects aquatic life.
Nutrient-rich topsoil washing into water bodies can trigger algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels and create dead zones where fish and other aquatic organisms cannot survive.
Sediment also smothers important habitats like coral reefs and seagrass beds. The Great Barrier Reef faces ongoing challenges from sediment runoff originating from erosion in coastal catchments, making understanding the full effects of soil erosion essential for anyone managing land in northern Australia.
The amount of vegetation cover is a major contributing factor to erosion control. The NSW Government recommends maintaining at least 70% ground cover (or 50% in semi-arid areas) to protect against erosion.
To increase vegetation on exposed sites and reduce the risk of erosion, natural fibre matting products for erosion control provide immediate protection while plants establish. These biodegradable materials break down over time as vegetation takes over the protective role.
For gentle to moderate slopes requiring quick vegetation establishment, a 620gsm jute matting roll protects exposed topsoil while acting as roll-on mulch that suppresses weeds and reduces evaporation. The tight weave provides excellent coverage for preventing sheet erosion during the critical establishment period.
On steeper slopes or areas with higher erosion risk, the heavier 750gsm jute matting offers increased durability and longer-lasting protection as your revegetation efforts take hold. The extra weight and thickness resist displacement during heavy rainfall events.
Coir matting features an open weave that is excellent for trapping seeds and giving them a secure place to germinate without being washed away. The 400gsm coir matting roll works particularly well on slopes where seed retention is the primary concern, allowing water to penetrate while holding soil and seeds in place.
For streambank stabilisation and gully erosion control, coir logs provide structural support while encouraging vegetation growth. A 300mm diameter coir log offers substantial erosion barrier capacity along waterways and drainage lines. For guidance on positioning, see our guide to installing coir log silt berms along drainage lines and waterways.
On construction and development sites, silt fencing for sediment control is often a regulatory requirement under erosion and sediment control plans. Silt fences capture runoff before it leaves the site, protecting downstream waterways from sediment loads.
Natural products work by protecting exposed topsoils and creating favourable microclimates for plant establishment. Native species like Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), Wallaby Grass (Rytidosperma) and deep-rooted shrubs like Grevillea and Banksia are particularly effective for long-term erosion control in Australian conditions.
Early intervention is always more cost-effective than waiting until erosion has become severe. Small rills can be addressed with simple revegetation, while gullies may require engineering solutions and significant investment.
All Stake Supply has been providing environmental terrain solutions since 1976, with over 1,000 products in stock at our St Marys NSW warehouse. Our team can help you choose the right erosion control products for any situation. Give us a call on 1300 130 123 or contact the team for trade pricing and bulk orders.
Australia experiences four main categories of erosion: water erosion (including splash, sheet, rill, gully, tunnel, streambank and floodplain types), wind erosion in arid and semi-arid zones, coastal erosion from wave and tidal action, and mass movement (landslides and soil creep) on steep terrain. Water erosion is the most widespread, affecting both high and low rainfall regions.
These three types represent a worsening progression of water erosion. Sheet erosion removes a uniform thin layer of topsoil across a broad area, often going unnoticed. Rill erosion concentrates water flow into small channels under 30 cm deep. Gully erosion is the most severe stage, where channels cut deeply into the landscape and often require engineering solutions to repair.
The primary cause is removal of protective ground cover through overgrazing, land clearing, drought, bushfire or construction activity. When vegetation is stripped from the soil surface, it becomes exposed to the erosive forces of rain, wind and gravity. Australia's climate extremes (prolonged droughts followed by intense rainfall) make exposed soils particularly vulnerable.
Vegetation protects soil in several ways. Leaf canopies intercept raindrops before they hit bare ground, preventing splash erosion. Root systems bind soil particles together, making them resistant to being washed or blown away. Ground-level plant matter slows surface water flow, giving it time to infiltrate rather than run off.
Tunnel erosion occurs beneath the soil surface when water flows through cracks and channels in sodic or dispersive soils. It is dangerous because the land surface appears stable while extensive tunnels form underground. When these tunnels collapse, they can swallow fences, machinery and livestock without warning.
Effective native grasses include Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra) and Wallaby Grass (Rytidosperma), which establish dense root systems quickly. For deeper root penetration on slopes, native shrubs like Grevillea, Banksia, Callistemon (bottlebrush) and Acacia species work well. Using proven revegetation techniques alongside biodegradable erosion matting gives these plants the best chance to establish.
