Swamping around in the mountains

By Ashley Devine
The Environment Expo at Wentworth Falls Lake aims to educate people on the environmental importance of hanging swamps.

The expo is part of the 16th Footbeat Festival in the Blue Mountains from October 15 to 26, an annual event that celebrates music, art and the environment.

Festival director Tom Papas said he wants people to take away from the day, ‘a pro-active approach to swamps and to get involved and go to properties to repair hanging swamps’.

Swamps not only support endangered species like the Dragonfly, a main focus of the Expo, but they also hold water (stored in peat) for later slow release, creating a self-maintaining ecosystem.

‘The expo will take place on the lake shore and community groups will promote environmental awareness,’ Mr Pappas said.

There will also be interactive talks, games and presentations and lots of great food. Other attractions on the day include Indigenous dancing, and live music by the Sean McKenzie Trio, All Phunked Up, Skankerchiefs and Tongue & Groove.

National Parks and Wildlife representatives will give talks on the environment and conduct tours.

A special attraction will be reptilian specialist Neville Burns and his reptiles. An installation of a hanging swamp will be on show to explain its environmental benefits.

‘The expo will focus on the Aboriginal relationship with the environment, as opposed to the more destructive Western approach,’ Mr Pappas said.

For more information visit http://www.aabr.org.au/index.php’option=com_content&task=view&id=55&Itemid=74