Media release from the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council 11/8/15

Planning together, for the future of Tootgarook Wetland

Mornington Peninsula Shire is currently developing the Tootgarook Wetland Management Plan (the Plan),
to identify and carry out actions with Government, Community and Landholders that are necessary to protect, enhance and restore the catchment of the wetlands to ensure that the wetland retains its beauty and function, for the greater southern peninsula.

During 2015, a draft Plan for public exhibition will be developed, in consultation with the State Government, Agencies, and the wetland Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The Shire funded wetland project has engaged BMT WBM and WetlandCare Australia as the key consultants.

The Plan will identify and describe the management objectives (aims, purpose, goals and ideas) for the wetland and will include a timeframe and related actions, and identify the groups that will work to achieve the Plan. To ensure that the management objectives are suitable for the Plan, all environmental, economic, social and cultural values and threats associated with the wetland will be identified and assessed.  This is why it is important that all interested stakeholders, including Land Owners and Occupiers, Businesses, Site Managers, Community Groups, Local Schools, Sporting Clubs, Government and Agencies have their say.

Your input is welcomed and will help establish a common set of objectives for the long term management of the Tootgarook Wetland. The Plan will identify any factors that affect the wetland and its catchment and ensure that management actions are appropriate and able to be implemented in a realistic timeframe. Your input is important to identify roles and responsibilities that involve all interested stakeholders and increase our understanding of the significance of the Tootgarook Wetland within the local region.

WetlandCare Australia, a not-for-profit organisation specialising in working with the community to protect and restore wetlands, will be co-ordinating the community, stakeholder and committee consultation elements of the Tootgarook Wetland Management Planning process.

We invite you to have your say, to participate in the activities involved in the preparation of the Wetland Management Plan, and to understand the local planning process. There are a number of ways you can do this:

• Speak to WetlandCare Australia by calling 1800 816 147 Freecall. Ask for Cassie Price or Laura White.
• Email tootgarook@wetlandcare.com.au to provide comments, ask questions or ask to be kept informed.
• Book an appointment, as we will be in the area and can come to you on Wednesday 19^th August.
  We have limited places available, so please book early.
• Drop in and speak to us, at the Mornington Peninsula Council Chambers in Queen St, Mornington from 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Friday 21^st August (please RSVP to assist with information kits and refreshments).
• Follow the progress on social media – facebook.com/wetlandcare and twitter.com/wetlandcare
  Note: Please use hashtag #TWMP15 on your shared Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram posts and photos. This will help us keep up-to-date on our community information and help share your photos.
• Search for: Tootgarook Wetland on WetlandCare Australia’s website www.wetlandcare.com.au  or the Council’s website at www.mornpen.vic.gov.au

We look forward to hearing your thoughts and views as the Plan progresses. It is also important to note that there will be several opportunities to input to the planning process and this is the first part of many to follow.

You can download a PDF of this media release here

There's 2 facebook groups dedicated to Tootgarook, you can follow them at the links below:

Save Tootgarook Swamp 

Friends of Tootgarook Wetland Reserve

Save Tootgarook Swamp has made a high-resolution poster about the local wetlands.

Click here to view and download the file (12MB)

Photo: View over Tootgarook