News and Updates.
2018 October 14th -
We have finished our submission to the Mornington Peninsula Shires Southern Peninsula traffic investigation.
We can find our submission here. submission_sts_to_southern-peninsula-arterial-corridor-investigation-oct-2018-fin.pdf
2018 August 15th -
PLEASE HAVE YOUR SAY: Council working to unlock congestion on the Southern Peninsula and inviting you to provide your thoughts on a preliminary investigation report.
https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Have-your-say/Have-Your-Say-Southern-Peninsula-Traffic-Investigation
https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/News-Media-Publications/News-Media/Council-working-to-unlock-congestion-on-the-Southern-Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula Shire is investigating alternative traffic plans to using the southern peninsula freeway reserve through the environmentally and culturally significant Tootgarook Wetlands and reduce traffic congestion. We have been involved in this process which is aimed at getting ahead of the game and doing something to change the future for the benefit of the entire Southern Peninsula and it’s biodiversity and Ecosystems before any road announcement can be made.
The 590-hectare Tootgarook Swamp is the largest Shallow Freshwater Marsh in the Entire Western Port and Port Phillip bay region, we have destroyed and modified and drained all the others. We certainly shouldn’t be destroying our Southern Peninsula Biodiversity and Environment for a few weeks of the year, and certainly Should be destroying what is the most significant wetland in the entire Melbourne region.
We recommend that everyone views this PowerPoint presentation that Save Tootgarook Swamp ran during a public meeting we put on in April to understand the values of the Freeway Reserve and why it's important to not increase traffic levels, before doing the survey as to have a greater understanding of the issue.
https://1drv.ms/p/s!Ai01KDpb2dbolpsgiOtFNSbbD21DZg
We also have lots of information on our website www.savetootgarookswamp.org to help understand the Tootgarook Swamp better as a community resource.
The 50-year-old Public Use Zone and Public Acquisition Overlay have never been assessed entirely for cultural or biodiversity considerations, it’s outdated.
An extremely significant amount of biodiversity values are sighted on the PAO.
We need to remove cars from roads specifically day trippers in the peak season A smarter traffic system is needed on the Nepean Peninsula, one that splits traffic up based on destination, with better traffic flow designed on the existing road networks.
This is why it’s time for other alternative options such as pushing for a ferry service to Melbourne and Frankston, we will never be linked by rail, there simply is not enough land on the Southern Peninsula due to geographical restraints.
We also recommend that you write a submission if you feel that the online survey doesn’t you’re your view point.
Email your submission to: haveyoursay@mornpen.vic.gov.au with the subject line ‘Southern Peninsula Traffic Investigation’.
2018 July 1st -
We strongly advocate for biodiversity as the fundamental condition to health and wellbeing, the protection of biodiversity and our environment is the greatest good.
Based on the alignment of particular local issues being raised in Local Government and State, free ranging cats continuously being seen and suggestions that Trap Neuter Release or similar programs could be suited to Australian conditions by the RSPCA we have written a Submission in response to the “How can we best manage domestic cats in Australia?” following on from the Victorian Government Feral Cat declaration. following the RSPCA's paper “How can we best manage domestic cats in Australia?” The only moral and ethical question that we should be asking is, should we let cats persist outdoors despite the consequences that they have for indigenous species and to humans?
2018 May 9th -
The Tootgarook Wetland Management Plan is finally returning to Council on Monday 14th of May at 7pm for adoption. It is the largest groundwater dependent ecosystem and freshwater marsh in the entire Western Port and Port Phillip bay region.
The coming together of this plan has been a long time in the making and has had a lot of information and knowledge put into it about an important geological and geographic feature that has been largely unrecognised and misunderstood by many over time.
The coming together of this plan has provided a pathway forward, to deal with these issues, whilst protecting our biodiversity, groundwater, and existing use rights. The greatest threat to the wetland remaining is a potential large and costly freeway that is an outdated plan not in line with our understanding of environment, wetlands and biodiversity today.
We currently are pursing independent community action to help strengthen Council’s resolve to remove the PAO over the freeway extension.
While the Wetland is not currently a Ramsar designated wetland, the Ramsar Nomination Feasibility Study commissioned by Council in June 2013, found that it arguably meets several listing criteria.
International recognition of this wetland would aid and benefit not just the biodiversity of the wetland, but also provide opportunities for recreation, education and greater sense of connection with the natural environment, attracting international visitors with a specialised interest in conservation and the natural environment.
Planning Services Committee Agenda - 14 May 2018 https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/new-website-documents/about-us/meetings-amp-minutes/2018/agendas-2018/planning-services-committee-agenda-14-may-2018-no-attach.pdf
Planning Services Meeting Attachment Book - 14 May 2018.pdf https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/new-website-documents/about-us/meetings-amp-minutes/2018/attachments-2018/attachment-booklet-14-may-2018.pdf
2018 April 10th -
We would like to thank all who took the time to attend the meeting on Saturday the 21st of April regarding the removal of the current Freeway Overlay on the Southern Peninsula. Even with the turnout we had, people from 12 different localities from all over the Peninsula attended which is a great way to get this ball rolling!
Where to from here?
The information gathered will be looked at over the next few weeks and from this a further strategy will be developed based on the thoughts and ideas of those that attended.
It’s important to recognise the current usage of the Freeway reserve, which includes primary production, business, employment, residential uses, biodiversity values, amenity, and cultural heritage.
This is a large and challenging issue to deal with and I thank you for all the input and support you have given so far, of course I am open to any thoughts and ideas that you may have so feel free to add these to this page or email these any time at contact@savetootgarookswamp.org
Should you wish to revise review and refresh your memory, the link attached bellow is the meeting's presentation for you all to look at your leisure, particularly some of the last slides I skipped through in relation to roads, due to time constraints.
https://1drv.ms/p/s!Ai01KDpb2dbolpsgiOtFNSbbD21DZg
If you have not yet read the Mornington Peninsula Tourism Board's presentation to the Nepean Conservation Group (highly recommended!), it provides a vital insight into the type trips we see from our roads.
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ai01KDpb2dbolptgJosaxAeHmCDfOg
To read more about the subject, just follow this online link to a folder with all the information and resources available to you.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ai01KDpb2dbogyWGgvSvSI9k6TEG
2018 April 10th -
Save Tootgarook Swamp and Southern Peninsula Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association, are holding a meeting on Saturday the 21st of April at 5pm till 7pm.
Meeting - Community Collaboration 4 removal of the Southern Peninsula PAO/Freeway reserve.
Location - 12 Napier St, Rye VIC 3941, (Rye Civic Hall).
Light refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP to help us plan for numbers. Please email contact@savetootgarookswamp.org
Alternatively if you are on Facebook please indicated your attendance here.https://www.facebook.com/events/337098710122172/
The purpose of this meeting is to gather/collate information, data, concepts and ideas, effects and ramifications and capture this into a single working document that holds all our views in regards to the PAO/Freeway reserve. (VicRoads, Compulsory Acquisition Overlay), to support and show why this removal should take place.
The aim of this meeting is to get us to unite in to a single unit of solidarity, amongst our supports for this removal are who people who hold extensive valued expertise from either the positions they used to work or currently work, or their inherent skills and knowledge.
From Biodiversity, through to Agriculture, former VicRoads Officers and Traffic Engineers, to Economists and much more. We have a great community of very well respected and skilled people.
We need to pose questions analyse the Strengths, Weaknesses and Threats, and formulate alternative concepts.
2018 April 3rd -
We have just finished our submission to the Green Wedge Management Plan, having not long finished reviewing the Shire Tootgarook Swamp Management Plan.
We were very impressed with the Shire Tootgarook Swamp Management Plan, and having been involved in the process since it's inception, the biggest surprise was coming to submit a submission to the plan and having very little to say. With only a letter of support.
To us this means that process has been very well undertaken, and while there was a few points, which we aired at the last stakeholders meeting for the release of the plan and taken on board the overall project has been well done.
We have written our submission to the Green Wedge Management Plan and have received a receipt as the 16th submission. Submission close on the 5th of April, and we encourage people to get involved.
https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Have-your-say/Have-Your-Say-Green-Wedge-Management-Plan-2018
Our submission.
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ai01KDpb2dbolppSRcJ3j74J0hH56g
2018 February 6th -
We are excited to say that residents and community are being invited to have a say on Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Draft Tootgarook Wetland Management Plan from Friday 9 February.
At last nights Planning Services Committee Meeting on Monday, 5 February 2018 Council resolved at its to place the Draft Tootgarook Wetland Management Plan on a six-week public exhibition period closing Friday, 23 March 2018.
The plan seeks to prevent further degradation of the Wetland, promote its values, recognise its role in the Catchment and broader Port Phillip area, and define the key risks to its values. We strongly urge the community to get involved in this project as we believe it a project that can bring closer together the people of the township and there with people of the rural area, around the common concept of water and the environment that connects us all, the Tootgarook Swamp.
www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Have-your-say/Draft-Tootgarook-Wetland-Management-Plan
2018 January 14th -
We were informed today by one of our local Councillors Cr Celi about a Notice on page 18 of the Victorian Government Gazette.
http://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/g…/Gazettes2018/GG2018G002.pdf
The Shire has made the move by Notice of Acquisition Compulsory Acquisition of Interest in Land to begin the process to publicly acquire the private property at 92 Elizabeth Ave Capel Sound.
We are absolutely ecstatic at the decision that has been made, decades of community advocacy going all the way back to the 1990's has been focused on preservation of preserving this land.
It could now be said that the former Hiscock estate (Tootgarook Estate) is preserved for all future Australians.
Many years the community most recently through our organisation and other prominent local groups, have stood ground to protect these Wetlands from inappropriate development.
The last number of years having strategically won a series of complex VCAT cases for a number of planning development and compliance issues joining with other parties and the Shire.
The site is an a vital and integral part of the Tootgarook Swamp the largest remaining shallow freshwater marsh in the entire Port Phillip and Western Port region. It contains a large amount of significant fauna species such as, 106 bird species including migratory bird species listed under four international conventions signed by Australia on migratory species.
The Japan-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (JAMBA); China-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (CAMBA ) and Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement ( ROKAMBA)"
The site also contains 5 state significant ecological vegetation classes.
A big thank you to all the support we have received, help and advice from everyone in the community and to our council for preserving wetland biodiversity for all. There are more updates to come so stay tuned.
Previous News...
We have finished our submission to the Mornington Peninsula Shires Southern Peninsula traffic investigation.
We can find our submission here. submission_sts_to_southern-peninsula-arterial-corridor-investigation-oct-2018-fin.pdf
2018 August 15th -
PLEASE HAVE YOUR SAY: Council working to unlock congestion on the Southern Peninsula and inviting you to provide your thoughts on a preliminary investigation report.
https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Have-your-say/Have-Your-Say-Southern-Peninsula-Traffic-Investigation
https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/News-Media-Publications/News-Media/Council-working-to-unlock-congestion-on-the-Southern-Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula Shire is investigating alternative traffic plans to using the southern peninsula freeway reserve through the environmentally and culturally significant Tootgarook Wetlands and reduce traffic congestion. We have been involved in this process which is aimed at getting ahead of the game and doing something to change the future for the benefit of the entire Southern Peninsula and it’s biodiversity and Ecosystems before any road announcement can be made.
The 590-hectare Tootgarook Swamp is the largest Shallow Freshwater Marsh in the Entire Western Port and Port Phillip bay region, we have destroyed and modified and drained all the others. We certainly shouldn’t be destroying our Southern Peninsula Biodiversity and Environment for a few weeks of the year, and certainly Should be destroying what is the most significant wetland in the entire Melbourne region.
We recommend that everyone views this PowerPoint presentation that Save Tootgarook Swamp ran during a public meeting we put on in April to understand the values of the Freeway Reserve and why it's important to not increase traffic levels, before doing the survey as to have a greater understanding of the issue.
https://1drv.ms/p/s!Ai01KDpb2dbolpsgiOtFNSbbD21DZg
We also have lots of information on our website www.savetootgarookswamp.org to help understand the Tootgarook Swamp better as a community resource.
The 50-year-old Public Use Zone and Public Acquisition Overlay have never been assessed entirely for cultural or biodiversity considerations, it’s outdated.
An extremely significant amount of biodiversity values are sighted on the PAO.
- 5 EPBC matters, plus 9 migratory agreement species.
- 2 FFG listed EVC’s and another 6 State significant endangered EVC’s.
- 10 FFG listed species and another 8 Near Threatened and Vulnerable Species.
- 1 endangered and 7 Rare plants.
- This doesn’t include regionally significant data, that is species that are becoming extinct on the Mornington Peninsula, but are common elsewhere.
We need to remove cars from roads specifically day trippers in the peak season A smarter traffic system is needed on the Nepean Peninsula, one that splits traffic up based on destination, with better traffic flow designed on the existing road networks.
This is why it’s time for other alternative options such as pushing for a ferry service to Melbourne and Frankston, we will never be linked by rail, there simply is not enough land on the Southern Peninsula due to geographical restraints.
We also recommend that you write a submission if you feel that the online survey doesn’t you’re your view point.
Email your submission to: haveyoursay@mornpen.vic.gov.au with the subject line ‘Southern Peninsula Traffic Investigation’.
2018 July 1st -
We strongly advocate for biodiversity as the fundamental condition to health and wellbeing, the protection of biodiversity and our environment is the greatest good.
Based on the alignment of particular local issues being raised in Local Government and State, free ranging cats continuously being seen and suggestions that Trap Neuter Release or similar programs could be suited to Australian conditions by the RSPCA we have written a Submission in response to the “How can we best manage domestic cats in Australia?” following on from the Victorian Government Feral Cat declaration. following the RSPCA's paper “How can we best manage domestic cats in Australia?” The only moral and ethical question that we should be asking is, should we let cats persist outdoors despite the consequences that they have for indigenous species and to humans?
2018 May 9th -
The Tootgarook Wetland Management Plan is finally returning to Council on Monday 14th of May at 7pm for adoption. It is the largest groundwater dependent ecosystem and freshwater marsh in the entire Western Port and Port Phillip bay region.
The coming together of this plan has been a long time in the making and has had a lot of information and knowledge put into it about an important geological and geographic feature that has been largely unrecognised and misunderstood by many over time.
The coming together of this plan has provided a pathway forward, to deal with these issues, whilst protecting our biodiversity, groundwater, and existing use rights. The greatest threat to the wetland remaining is a potential large and costly freeway that is an outdated plan not in line with our understanding of environment, wetlands and biodiversity today.
We currently are pursing independent community action to help strengthen Council’s resolve to remove the PAO over the freeway extension.
While the Wetland is not currently a Ramsar designated wetland, the Ramsar Nomination Feasibility Study commissioned by Council in June 2013, found that it arguably meets several listing criteria.
International recognition of this wetland would aid and benefit not just the biodiversity of the wetland, but also provide opportunities for recreation, education and greater sense of connection with the natural environment, attracting international visitors with a specialised interest in conservation and the natural environment.
Planning Services Committee Agenda - 14 May 2018 https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/new-website-documents/about-us/meetings-amp-minutes/2018/agendas-2018/planning-services-committee-agenda-14-may-2018-no-attach.pdf
Planning Services Meeting Attachment Book - 14 May 2018.pdf https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/files/assets/public/new-website-documents/about-us/meetings-amp-minutes/2018/attachments-2018/attachment-booklet-14-may-2018.pdf
2018 April 10th -
We would like to thank all who took the time to attend the meeting on Saturday the 21st of April regarding the removal of the current Freeway Overlay on the Southern Peninsula. Even with the turnout we had, people from 12 different localities from all over the Peninsula attended which is a great way to get this ball rolling!
Where to from here?
The information gathered will be looked at over the next few weeks and from this a further strategy will be developed based on the thoughts and ideas of those that attended.
It’s important to recognise the current usage of the Freeway reserve, which includes primary production, business, employment, residential uses, biodiversity values, amenity, and cultural heritage.
This is a large and challenging issue to deal with and I thank you for all the input and support you have given so far, of course I am open to any thoughts and ideas that you may have so feel free to add these to this page or email these any time at contact@savetootgarookswamp.org
Should you wish to revise review and refresh your memory, the link attached bellow is the meeting's presentation for you all to look at your leisure, particularly some of the last slides I skipped through in relation to roads, due to time constraints.
https://1drv.ms/p/s!Ai01KDpb2dbolpsgiOtFNSbbD21DZg
If you have not yet read the Mornington Peninsula Tourism Board's presentation to the Nepean Conservation Group (highly recommended!), it provides a vital insight into the type trips we see from our roads.
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ai01KDpb2dbolptgJosaxAeHmCDfOg
To read more about the subject, just follow this online link to a folder with all the information and resources available to you.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ai01KDpb2dbogyWGgvSvSI9k6TEG
2018 April 10th -
Save Tootgarook Swamp and Southern Peninsula Indigenous Flora and Fauna Association, are holding a meeting on Saturday the 21st of April at 5pm till 7pm.
Meeting - Community Collaboration 4 removal of the Southern Peninsula PAO/Freeway reserve.
Location - 12 Napier St, Rye VIC 3941, (Rye Civic Hall).
Light refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP to help us plan for numbers. Please email contact@savetootgarookswamp.org
Alternatively if you are on Facebook please indicated your attendance here.https://www.facebook.com/events/337098710122172/
The purpose of this meeting is to gather/collate information, data, concepts and ideas, effects and ramifications and capture this into a single working document that holds all our views in regards to the PAO/Freeway reserve. (VicRoads, Compulsory Acquisition Overlay), to support and show why this removal should take place.
The aim of this meeting is to get us to unite in to a single unit of solidarity, amongst our supports for this removal are who people who hold extensive valued expertise from either the positions they used to work or currently work, or their inherent skills and knowledge.
From Biodiversity, through to Agriculture, former VicRoads Officers and Traffic Engineers, to Economists and much more. We have a great community of very well respected and skilled people.
We need to pose questions analyse the Strengths, Weaknesses and Threats, and formulate alternative concepts.
2018 April 3rd -
We have just finished our submission to the Green Wedge Management Plan, having not long finished reviewing the Shire Tootgarook Swamp Management Plan.
We were very impressed with the Shire Tootgarook Swamp Management Plan, and having been involved in the process since it's inception, the biggest surprise was coming to submit a submission to the plan and having very little to say. With only a letter of support.
To us this means that process has been very well undertaken, and while there was a few points, which we aired at the last stakeholders meeting for the release of the plan and taken on board the overall project has been well done.
We have written our submission to the Green Wedge Management Plan and have received a receipt as the 16th submission. Submission close on the 5th of April, and we encourage people to get involved.
https://www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Have-your-say/Have-Your-Say-Green-Wedge-Management-Plan-2018
Our submission.
https://1drv.ms/b/s!Ai01KDpb2dbolppSRcJ3j74J0hH56g
2018 February 6th -
We are excited to say that residents and community are being invited to have a say on Mornington Peninsula Shire’s Draft Tootgarook Wetland Management Plan from Friday 9 February.
At last nights Planning Services Committee Meeting on Monday, 5 February 2018 Council resolved at its to place the Draft Tootgarook Wetland Management Plan on a six-week public exhibition period closing Friday, 23 March 2018.
The plan seeks to prevent further degradation of the Wetland, promote its values, recognise its role in the Catchment and broader Port Phillip area, and define the key risks to its values. We strongly urge the community to get involved in this project as we believe it a project that can bring closer together the people of the township and there with people of the rural area, around the common concept of water and the environment that connects us all, the Tootgarook Swamp.
www.mornpen.vic.gov.au/About-Us/Have-your-say/Draft-Tootgarook-Wetland-Management-Plan
2018 January 14th -
We were informed today by one of our local Councillors Cr Celi about a Notice on page 18 of the Victorian Government Gazette.
http://www.gazette.vic.gov.au/g…/Gazettes2018/GG2018G002.pdf
The Shire has made the move by Notice of Acquisition Compulsory Acquisition of Interest in Land to begin the process to publicly acquire the private property at 92 Elizabeth Ave Capel Sound.
We are absolutely ecstatic at the decision that has been made, decades of community advocacy going all the way back to the 1990's has been focused on preservation of preserving this land.
It could now be said that the former Hiscock estate (Tootgarook Estate) is preserved for all future Australians.
Many years the community most recently through our organisation and other prominent local groups, have stood ground to protect these Wetlands from inappropriate development.
The last number of years having strategically won a series of complex VCAT cases for a number of planning development and compliance issues joining with other parties and the Shire.
The site is an a vital and integral part of the Tootgarook Swamp the largest remaining shallow freshwater marsh in the entire Port Phillip and Western Port region. It contains a large amount of significant fauna species such as, 106 bird species including migratory bird species listed under four international conventions signed by Australia on migratory species.
The Japan-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (JAMBA); China-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement (CAMBA ) and Republic of Korea-Australia Migratory Birds Agreement ( ROKAMBA)"
The site also contains 5 state significant ecological vegetation classes.
A big thank you to all the support we have received, help and advice from everyone in the community and to our council for preserving wetland biodiversity for all. There are more updates to come so stay tuned.
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
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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.
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.
