Further hydrogeological investigations of the Mill Creek-Kansas Creek area, Northern Tasmania.

Abstract

Surface exploration has revealed three additional karstic streamsinks on the lower slopes of Western Bluff All appear genetically related to Croesus Cave, but today discharge their base flow to the more recently evolved Tailender Cave Spring. This is despite the fact that one streamsink lies only 100 m from Croesus Cave. Drainage from Blue Lake, a sinkhole pond, has been traced into Rat Hole Cave, and the connection from that cave to Tailender has been confirmed. Aquaduct Swallet probably drains directly to Tailender, 345 m lower and 3.6 km distant. A major extension has also been discovered in Rubbish Heap Cave, source of the stream that discharges from Lynds Cave, but from which drainage connections to Croesus under high discharge conditions have previously been hypothesised. These data compound the evidence for the existence of a major integrated karst drainage system and a high probability of inter flow between some of the components under high discharge conditions. The highest level of protective management is warranted for this very important complex. Introduction