Peninsula-wide biolinks
Linking the Mornington Peninsula (LMPL) biolinks map
Map key*
Orange – Peninsula-wide biolinks; light-green – Watson Creek biolink; pink – Devilbend biolink (Western Linkage); purple – Sheepwash Creek biolink; darker green – Main Creek biolink; blue – Southwest Mornington Peninsula (SWMP) biolink
* Note that these shadings apply only when you are viewing the map in the default ‘Satellite’ view.
What this map shows
Peninsula-wide biolinks (orange shading)
In 2012, assisted by Mornington Peninsula Landcare Facilitator Jacqui Salter, representatives from nine Landcare groups on the Mornington Peninsula developed a map of proposed biolinks covering the entire Peninsula. The proposed biolinks are based on an analysis of vegetation quality of the Peninsula produced by the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research. Input was sought from local natural resource management professionals and ecologists to ensure scientific integrity.
The five LMPL biolinks planned so far (as at March 2017; (Devilbend, Watson Creek, Sheepwash Creek, Main Creek, and Southwest Mornington Peninsula Biolink Plans) sit within the context of these Peninsula-wide biolinks.
Main Creek Biolink (darker green shading)
Main Creek biolink properties form a corridor from Splitters Creek at the intersection of Main Creek and Old Main Creek Rd, down to Splitters Creek’s junction with Main Creek. The biolink area comprising the 12 properties has connectivity with sites containing major ecological assets, including the Greens Bush section of Mornington Peninsula National Park. A number of the biolink properties also contain significant ecological assets themselves. Splitters Creek runs through 7 of the 12 biolink properties.
Sheepwash Creek biolink (purple shading)
Sheepwash Creek biolink in the Arthurs Seat-Red Hill-South Dromana area seeks to enhance connectivity of Sheepwash Creek catchment’s areas of native vegetation. These areas form an important wildlife corridor, connecting the western section of Arthurs Seat escarpment with Mornington Peninsula National Park at Greens Bush and Bushrangers Bay/Cape Schanck. There is also potential connectivity of land for wildlife between the northern Arthurs Seat escarpment and Bald Hills and Kangerong Flora and Fauna Reserves, both adjoining McIlroys Road in Red Hill.
Watson Creek biolink (light-green shading)
Watson Creek biolink in the Baxter-Langwarrin South area is designed to be a step in the reconnection of patches of remnant and rehabilitated native vegetation from Grant Rd Somerville (Inghams and Melbourne Water-managed land) to an area of native vegetation on private property in Baxter (on Frankston-Flinders Rd). This is part of a larger vision by Watson Creek Catchment Landcare group to restore connectivity of native vegetation up to Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve in the north to where Watson Creek enters the Yaringa Marine National Park.
Southwest Mornington Peninsula (SWMP) biolink (blue shading)
The SWMP biolink properties are in the Boneo – Fingal – Rosebud West region, in an area bounded by Purves Rd to the East, Browns Rd to the South, and Jetty Rd to the West. The 10 biolink properties are in the catchment of Drum Drum Alloc Creek which runs through 9 of the properties. Peninsula Gardens Bushland Reserve to the West is a key ecological asset in this region containing high-value remnant vegetation. Peninsula Gardens and surrounding bushland is itself a stepping stone biolink between Greensbush National park and Arthurs Seat State Park. Drum Drum Alloc Creek which runs through this area connects Tootgarook Wetlands (Tootgarook Swamp) and Arthurs Seat State Park via Peninsula Gardens Bushland Reserve. The 381 ha Tootgarook Swamp is the largest example left of a Shallow freshwater marsh in the Port Philip bay region and contains fifteen state, federal, and international protected species of fauna, along with another seven species listed as vulnerable. The swamp is also home to up to 24 bioregional endangered plant communities.
Devilbend biolink (Western Linkage) (pink shading)
Note that this was the pilot biolink and only contains 5 properties. A more extensive Devilbend biolink is scheduled for development later in the life of LMPL. Devilbend biolink (Western Linkage) in the Tuerong-Mooroduc-Mt Martha area is designed to connect Balcombe Reserve at Balcombe Estuary Mt Martha to Woods Natural Features Reserve and adjoining Devilbend Reserve, taking in The Briars Park.