38,800+ people say NO to bulldozing in Lake Knox.
38,800+ people say NO to bulldozing in Lake Knox.
90 species recorded. 1 chance to stop this...
90 species recorded. 1 chance to stop this...
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...But we need your help to do it!
...But we need your help to do it!
We are currently at VCAT presenting our case to protect Lake Knox.
We are currently at VCAT presenting our case to protect Lake Knox.
To make this possible, we have engaged lawyers to assist us and experts in ecology to present at the tribunal.
To make this possible, we have engaged lawyers to assist us and experts in ecology to present at the tribunal.
Unfortunatly this will cost us over $100,000 and we need your help to pay our consultant fees.
Unfortunatly this will cost us over $100,000 and we need your help to pay our consultant fees.
If you are able, please donate online or via one of the other methods listed on our Membership page.
If you are able, please donate online or via one of the other methods listed on our Membership page.
What is Lake Knox?
What is Lake Knox?
Lake Knox is a naturalised wetland in the heart of Knox, affectionately named by the many locals who value this large, deep-water body.
Acting for the State Government, Development Victoria intends to fill in Lake Knox for a new blank canvas on which to meet stormwater requirements so that they can build medium-density housing developments onsite. The proposal would disturb and destroy the home of endangered species, for the mighty dollar once again.
The current proposal is to build a wetland next to where Lake Knox is now. This is great in theory, and it will provide a lot of habitat, however the plans do not provide suitable habitat for two very important local species; the Blue-Billed Duck and Eel Grass. These two species are rare and endangered in Victoria and losing Lake Knox means that these two species will loose another of the few remaining suitable habitats locally, putting even more pressure on their survival.
Please see our Updates page for current campaign progress and information.
The best place to see Lake Knox is via the Blind Creek Trail
The best place to see Lake Knox is via the Blind Creek Trail
*Please note that there is no public access to the lake as it is on government land.
Photo by Nalini Scarfe
Selling Off Threatened Habitat
Selling Off Threatened Habitat
The current proposal will see crucial deep-water habitat for the Blue-billed Duck lost. This duck is listed as endangered in Victoria, and the governments own action statement for the duck recommends ensuring important breeding sites are secured from further environmental degradation, and the protection, enhancement and restoration of key sites in parks, reserves and private land.
The planned wetland area to replace Lake Knox will see the current ecology trashed. The Blue Billed Ducks will not return to the site as they require a deep large body of water for their habitat requirements. The area of the lake will expand, but it will lose 10million liters (or 1/3) of its capacity. The deep water body that it is, will not be recreated, and what you'll end up with is just another “wetland”.
Further reading: 11 Key Points in the Case to Save Lake Knox
Planned development areas.
Planned development areas.
Crowd-funded Professor Paul Boon Report
Crowd-funded Professor Paul Boon Report
This report reviews the ecological values of Lake Knox and the likelihood that the new lake/wetland complex will adequately replace the foregone biodiversity and ecological values if Lake Knox were to be destroyed. Two expert reports now state that the Development Victoria proposal essentially seeks to ‘engineer’ away a problem through off the shelf design options that do not stand up under even limited scrutiny from an ecological/biodiversity/urban design point of view.
We wish to highlight that over 132 people contributed to a crowd funding campaign in order to pay for this report.
Review of proposal to drain Lake Knox & replace it with a constructed stormwater lake/wetland complex: ecological considerations by Professor Paul I Boon, Dodo Environmental, 18 September 2020.
Community ecology surveys after State Government failed.
The State Government failed to conduct proper ecology surveys. So what happens when over 140 members of the community focus on Lake Knox? They…
· Identify 76 different species using Lake Knox! (as of 3/7/21)
· Make over 450 wildlife observations! (as of 3/7/21)
· Record evidence of the endangered Blue-billed Duck breeding onsite, which the State Government denied!
The iNaturalist project ‘Wildlife of Lake Knox’, which recorded the community findings, can be here: www.inaturalist.org/projects/wildlife-of-lake-knox
The iNaturalist project ‘Wildlife of Lake Knox’, includes up to date observations by the community at Lake Knox.
The iNaturalist project ‘Wildlife of Lake Knox’, includes up to date observations by the community at Lake Knox.
More about the Ecology of Lake Knox
More about the Ecology of Lake Knox
Conservation status of Fauna and Flora living at Lake Knox
Conservation status of Fauna and Flora living at Lake Knox
State (Victoria):
State (Victoria):
Endangered - Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis)
Endangered - Hardhead Duck (Aythya australis )
Rare - Floodplain Fireweed (Senecio campylocarpus)
Locally (in Knox):
Locally (in Knox):
Critically engangered - Eel Grass (Vallisneria australis)
Critically engangered - Hairy Knotweed (Persicaria subsessilis)
Critically engangered - Small Mudmat (Glossostigma elatinoides)
Endangered - Hop Wattle (Acacia stricta)
Endangered - Tree Everlasting (Ozothamnus ferrugineus)
Endangered - Tasmanian Wallaby grass (Rytidosperma semiannulare)
Endangered - Narrow-leaf Cumbungi (Typha domingensis)
Endangered - Pale Flax-lily (Dianella laevis)
Source: Flora, Fauna and Native Vegetation Assessment 609-619 & 621 Burwood Highway Knoxfield by ECOCENTRIC Environmental Consulting dated 4th August 2017.
For more information on the conservation values of the site, please view the Ecological Assessment by Dr Graeme Lorimer.
For more information on the conservation values of the site, please view the Ecological Assessment by Dr Graeme Lorimer.
For more information on the Blue-billed Duck, please see the Flora and Fauna Garuntee Act Action Statement. And the SWIFFT - State Wide Integrated Flora and Fauna Teams - Profile of the Blue-billed Duck.
For more information on the Blue-billed Duck, please see the Flora and Fauna Garuntee Act Action Statement. And the SWIFFT - State Wide Integrated Flora and Fauna Teams - Profile of the Blue-billed Duck.
Together we can stop this development!
Together we can stop this development!
Here are some of the other ways that you can help!
Here are some of the other ways that you can help!
Donate
Donate
Our VCAT hearing is just around the corner and we have lawyer and expert fees to cover.
Show your support at VCAT
Show your support at VCAT
Please join us in the public gallery for the start of the Lake Knox VCAT hearing.
Seeing community support is valued by VCAT, so please grab a few friends, maybe stop for some breakfast in the city and then join us to show VCAT that the loss of Lake Knox and its critical habitat for endangered species is something that our community will not stand for. And don't worry, you won't be asked to speak, your presence is enough!
If you can't attend in person, there is the option to view online. We will put out instructions on how to do this soon.
Where: VCAT tribunal, 55 King St, Melbourne
When: 10am Mon 28th Aug
Join the Facebook event
Sign the petition
Sign the petition
Sign the Petition on Change. org and share it with your friends on social media and email.
Posters
Posters
Help spread the word by printing off one of these posters and popping them up:
At your local community noticeboard.
At your local community building.
On your front fence.
On your shopfront window or ask a local business to do so.
Lots of other opportunities exist too! Just look around!
Social Media
Social Media
Follow the campaign on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and share posts with your friends.
Join the discussion in the Facebook group - Save lake Knox
Further Reading
Further Reading
Updates
Updates
Campaign Updates from Richard Faragher, the president of the KES
Letters Sent
Letters Sent
Letter to Development Victoria from Dr Bruce Lindsay at Environmental Justice Australia, 22nd June 2020
Letter to Michael Wandmaker, Managing Director at Melbourne Water from FFDC, 27th of July 2020
Letter to Nick Wakeling MP and Jackson Taylor MP from the President of the Knox Environment Society, August 2020
The letter to Dr Kirsten Shelly, General Manager Waterways and Land, Melbourne Water, from the FFDC, September 2020
The letter to Dr Kirsten Shelly from Richard Faragher, KES President, October 2020
Review of proposal to drain Lake Knox & replace it with a constructed stormwater lake/wetland complex: ecological considerations by Professor Paul I Boon, Dodo Environmental, 18 September 2020
The letter to Dr Kirsten Shelly, General Manager Waterways and Land, Melbourne Water, from the FFDC, May 2021
Letters of Support
Letters of Support
Rakali Ecological Consulting Letter of Support - Signed by Damien Cook, Senior Ecologist and Director, September 2020
Wildlife Victoria Letter of support - Signed by Dr Megan Davidson, CEO, October 2020
Werribee River Association letter of Support - Signed by John Forrester, October 2020
Port Phillip EcoCentre Letter of Support - Signed by April Seymore, EcoCentre Executive Officer and Neil Blake OAM, Port Phillip Baykeeper, October 2020
Yarra Riverkeeper Association Letter of Support - Signed by Andrew Kelly, October 2020
PeTA Letter of Support - Signed by Laura Weyman-Jones, October 2020
Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc. Letter of Support - Signed by Peter Hylands, President, October 2020
Jane Goodall Institute Australia Letter of Support - Signed by James Forbes, Chief Executive Officer, November 2020
Victorian Greens Letter of Support - Signed by Ellen Sandell, State MP for Melbourne, November 2020
Environment Victoria Letter of Support- Signed by Signed by Dr Nicholas Aberle, Campaigns Manager, December 2020
Darebin Creek Management Committee Letter of Support - Signed by Dr Graeme Hamilton, Executive Officer
Greenpeace Letter of Support - Signed by Nelli Stevenson, Head of Communications, May 2021
Croydon Conservation Society Letter of Support - Signed by Liz Sanzaro, President, May 2021
Other
Other
Yahoo News article - Plan to replace endangered duck breeding site with housing - 20 May 2021.
The Age newspaper - 'We will not be gagged' - December 2019
Knox Leader newspaper - "Fears for Endangered Duck with Popular Lake to be Drained"
Herald Sun newspaper - "Friends of Lake Knox Sanctuary rally to protect it", December 30, 2016
Development Victoria website
Lake Knox Development Plans Questioned, Rod Barton MLC
Let the community decide the fate of Lake Knox, Red Barton MLC
Their Own Words - Lake Knox, Endangered Ducks, and Community Action, Climactic Podcast
Videos
Videos
Photos
Photos
Lake Knox
A Blue-billed Duck mural by Jimmy Beattie, aka Dvate in Knoxfield 2020.
Photo by Nalini Scarfe
Photo by Nalini Scarfe
Google Sites
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