Sign our petition to help better protect the Tootgarook Swamp
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News and Updates.
2020 October 3rd - Save Tootgarook Swamp AGM - Due to the current restrictions regarding COVID-19 our AGM is available through the following link which is a PowerPoint presentation with links please click on the Start Slide Show in the upper right menu on the corner of the screen. This is best viewed on a Desktop, Laptop or Tablet due to screen size.
https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=E8D6D95B3A28352D!406409&ithint=file%2cpptx&authkey=!AB_FNfDpagXYN-I
The AGM will be available to Vote and have feed back on for 30 days ending the 2nd of November 2020.
The Presentation is also available as a PDF with working links here.
1drv.ms/b/s!Ai01KDpb2dbomPoHDuYcsSdedwl9cA?e=A7bxKt
Previous News...
https://onedrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=E8D6D95B3A28352D!406409&ithint=file%2cpptx&authkey=!AB_FNfDpagXYN-I
The AGM will be available to Vote and have feed back on for 30 days ending the 2nd of November 2020.
The Presentation is also available as a PDF with working links here.
1drv.ms/b/s!Ai01KDpb2dbomPoHDuYcsSdedwl9cA?e=A7bxKt
Previous News...
What is the Tootgarook Swamp?

Click to enlarge
The Tootgarook Swamp, or Boneo Swamp, as it is sometimes referred, is a Ground Water Dependent Ecosystem and the largest example left of an Shallow freshwater marsh in the Port Phillip bay and Western Port region.
The swamp exists on organosols soils (fibric peat), and as a peat regenerating wetland it is the most threatened form of wetland type internationally.
Peat regenerating wetlands are a major carbon storehouse, exceeding that of forests, and are worthy of international Ramsar protection.
In fact one could argue that the Tootgarook swamp matches the description of a in fact a fen.
A fen is a wetland system with a permanently high water level at or just below its surface. It’s principal source of nutrients is from surface or groundwater, and the substrate is an alkaline to slightly acidic peat soil. The vegetation is usually dominated by sedges.[1]
Similar to "The Fens" in England there are a few hills, which have historically been called "islands" as they remained dry when the low-lying swamp around them were became inundated by ground water.
The approximate 590 hectare swamp is found on the lower section of the Mornington Peninsula, called the Nepean Peninsula in Victoria, Australia.
Unfortunately a large portion of the Tootgarook Swamp is inappropriately zoned as residential and industrial, with roughly half of the actual swamp inside the green wedge and half within the urban growth boundary.
There are only 4% of total wetlands left in Victoria that are greater than 100 hectares, and of the original wetlands in Victoria, we have already lost over 37% in the last 200 years. The Tootgarook Swamp is no different since European settlement,considerable land use changes have altered the landscape, reducing the wetland area from an estimated 1,500 hectares to approximately 650 hectares.
Of the 100% of shallow fresh water marshes in Victoria, 60% [2] have been destroyed.
Australia is the most arid continent in the world, yet we still drain and fill our wetlands.
Wetlands are considered the most biologically diverse of all the planets ecosystems, but despite this they are still being destroyed at an alarming rate.
Wetlands are described as the interface between land and marine ecosystems and are known as the cradle of diversity, existing on all continents globally (including Antarctica recently discovered), essentially wetlands are a biodiversity super lab.
A wetland is like a snowflake. No two wetlands can be the same as they will not have the same conditions. There are many ingredients that add to these conditions, like the PH or alkalinity of water, soil types, climate, land shape, geology, water seasonality, atmospheric precipitation cycle, and salinity. All these ingredients combine in many different ways to create a unique genetic diversity seen only in wetland environments and specially balanced and suited to the species that inhabit it.
A healthy biodiverse ecosystem in wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp provide a number of benefits. These benefits are known as ecosystem services like;
The cost of replacing these (if possible) would be extremely expensive. It therefore makes economic and development sense to protect our wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp so they can continue to provide for us and the planet for generations to come.
Save Tootgarook Swamp is dedicated to fighting for the continued protection of the Tootgarook Swamp catchment and its unique biodiversity values, and strongly believes in the Ramsar convention's context of the Wise use of Wetlands.
So please support our campaign to help protect this precious swamp for future generations by signing the petition on the community run website.
and we hope you have a look around the website and it other page resources.
[1] IPCC http://www.ipcc.ie/a-to-z-peatlands/fens/
[2] Department Environment and Primary Industry http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/plntanml/biodiversity/directions/wetlands.htm
The swamp exists on organosols soils (fibric peat), and as a peat regenerating wetland it is the most threatened form of wetland type internationally.
Peat regenerating wetlands are a major carbon storehouse, exceeding that of forests, and are worthy of international Ramsar protection.
In fact one could argue that the Tootgarook swamp matches the description of a in fact a fen.
A fen is a wetland system with a permanently high water level at or just below its surface. It’s principal source of nutrients is from surface or groundwater, and the substrate is an alkaline to slightly acidic peat soil. The vegetation is usually dominated by sedges.[1]
Similar to "The Fens" in England there are a few hills, which have historically been called "islands" as they remained dry when the low-lying swamp around them were became inundated by ground water.
The approximate 590 hectare swamp is found on the lower section of the Mornington Peninsula, called the Nepean Peninsula in Victoria, Australia.
Unfortunately a large portion of the Tootgarook Swamp is inappropriately zoned as residential and industrial, with roughly half of the actual swamp inside the green wedge and half within the urban growth boundary.
There are only 4% of total wetlands left in Victoria that are greater than 100 hectares, and of the original wetlands in Victoria, we have already lost over 37% in the last 200 years. The Tootgarook Swamp is no different since European settlement,considerable land use changes have altered the landscape, reducing the wetland area from an estimated 1,500 hectares to approximately 650 hectares.
Of the 100% of shallow fresh water marshes in Victoria, 60% [2] have been destroyed.
Australia is the most arid continent in the world, yet we still drain and fill our wetlands.
Wetlands are considered the most biologically diverse of all the planets ecosystems, but despite this they are still being destroyed at an alarming rate.
Wetlands are described as the interface between land and marine ecosystems and are known as the cradle of diversity, existing on all continents globally (including Antarctica recently discovered), essentially wetlands are a biodiversity super lab.
A wetland is like a snowflake. No two wetlands can be the same as they will not have the same conditions. There are many ingredients that add to these conditions, like the PH or alkalinity of water, soil types, climate, land shape, geology, water seasonality, atmospheric precipitation cycle, and salinity. All these ingredients combine in many different ways to create a unique genetic diversity seen only in wetland environments and specially balanced and suited to the species that inhabit it.
A healthy biodiverse ecosystem in wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp provide a number of benefits. These benefits are known as ecosystem services like;
- Protection of water resources
- Soils formation and protection
- Nutrient storage and recycling
- Pollution breakdown and absorption
- Contribution to climate stability
- Maintenance of ecosystems
- Recovery from unpredictable events
- Food
- Medicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugs
- Breeding stocks, population reservoirs
- Future resources
- Diversity in genes, species and ecosystems
- Social benefits, such as
- Research, education and monitoring
- Recreation and tourism
- Cultural Values
The cost of replacing these (if possible) would be extremely expensive. It therefore makes economic and development sense to protect our wetlands like Tootgarook Swamp so they can continue to provide for us and the planet for generations to come.
Save Tootgarook Swamp is dedicated to fighting for the continued protection of the Tootgarook Swamp catchment and its unique biodiversity values, and strongly believes in the Ramsar convention's context of the Wise use of Wetlands.
So please support our campaign to help protect this precious swamp for future generations by signing the petition on the community run website.
and we hope you have a look around the website and it other page resources.
[1] IPCC http://www.ipcc.ie/a-to-z-peatlands/fens/
[2] Department Environment and Primary Industry http://www.nre.vic.gov.au/plntanml/biodiversity/directions/wetlands.htm
Social Feeds
Videos
Tootgarook from Anthony Kelly on Vimeo. |
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Newsletters and Downloads
save_tootgarook_swamp_submission_to_the_extent_of_tootgarook_wetland.pdf
Save Tootgarook Swamp Submission to Mornington Peninsula Biodiversity Plan Feb 2019.pdf
submission_sts_to_southern-peninsula-arterial-corridor-investigation-oct-2018-fin.pdf
submission_in_response_how_can_we_best_manage_domestic_cats_in_australia_from_the_victorian_feral_cat_declaration.pdf
2017 5th AGM.ppsx
To determine the possible breeding and presence of Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus - C.Brown 31st May 2017.PDF
2016 4th AGM.ppsx (YouTube Video Version)
Q3 2016 Newsletter
Wetland Fact Sheets produced by the Ramsar convention of Wetlands with information on the benefits of wetlands, their alarming loss, wise use of wetlands, and what you can do as an individual.
2015 3rd AGM.ppsx
Q2 2015.pdf
Q1 2015.pdf
Biosphere Connector, Issue 4 Jan - Mar 2015.pdf
2014 2nd AGM.ppsx.
'WHY IS TOOTGAROOK SWAMP IMPORTANT AND NEEDS SAVING?'Flyer.pdf
Q2 2014.pdf.
Swamp Management
Guidelines for the Greater Tootgarook Swamp Final Version 2014 June.pdf
Q1 2014.pdf.
'Help Preserve Australia's Wetlands'
A0 biodiversity poster.pdf
2013 1st AGM (Very large file).ppsx.
Q2 2013.pdf.
Q1 2013.pdf.
Save Tootgarook Swamp Submission to Mornington Peninsula Biodiversity Plan Feb 2019.pdf
submission_sts_to_southern-peninsula-arterial-corridor-investigation-oct-2018-fin.pdf
submission_in_response_how_can_we_best_manage_domestic_cats_in_australia_from_the_victorian_feral_cat_declaration.pdf
2017 5th AGM.ppsx
To determine the possible breeding and presence of Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus - C.Brown 31st May 2017.PDF
2016 4th AGM.ppsx (YouTube Video Version)
Q3 2016 Newsletter
Wetland Fact Sheets produced by the Ramsar convention of Wetlands with information on the benefits of wetlands, their alarming loss, wise use of wetlands, and what you can do as an individual.
2015 3rd AGM.ppsx
Q2 2015.pdf
Q1 2015.pdf
Biosphere Connector, Issue 4 Jan - Mar 2015.pdf
2014 2nd AGM.ppsx.
'WHY IS TOOTGAROOK SWAMP IMPORTANT AND NEEDS SAVING?'Flyer.pdf
Q2 2014.pdf.
Swamp Management
Guidelines for the Greater Tootgarook Swamp Final Version 2014 June.pdf
Q1 2014.pdf.
'Help Preserve Australia's Wetlands'
A0 biodiversity poster.pdf
2013 1st AGM (Very large file).ppsx.
Q2 2013.pdf.
Q1 2013.pdf.