The Conservation Council ACT Region has today welcomed the decision that Block 403 and the undeveloped section of Block 12 of Ngununggula/ Bluetts Block will become part of the Molonglo River Nature Reserve. This significant win for our environment comes after years of pressure from the local community. However, we have reiterated the request that the ACT Government continue to work with the Australian National University to have Block 402 of Bluetts placed into the reserve.
Simon Copland, Executive Director of the Conservation Council ACT Region, said:
“We welcome the announcement today that the undeveloped section of Block 12 and Block 403 of Bluetts Block will become part of the Molonglo River Nature Reserve. This decision will ensure that this beautiful patch of nature will be protected and enjoyed by the Canberra community for years to come.”
“Bluetts Block, bordering the Molonglo River, in Canberra’s western edge is an area home to many plants and animals, including the critically-endangered Gang-gang cockatoo, vulnerable species such as the Scarlet Robin and Pink-Tailed Worm Lizard, and many significant orchids. The area also provides important landscape connectivity from the Murrumbidgee River Corridor to Black Mountain. We are glad the Government has recognised the extremely important ecological value of this land and has decided to protect it.”
Copland, however, said that more work needs to be done to ensure the continued health of this important area.
“This decision only goes two-thirds of the way there. While Blocks 403 and half of 12 are placed into reserve, Block 402, which is leased by the Australian National University, remains unprotected. We believe the University is currently doing little with this land, and in turn call on the ACT Government to engage in negotiations to have this block placed into the nature reserve as well.”
“Bluetts is also facing immense pressure from construction on the other half of Block 12, after the Government controversially approved the ‘Stromlo Reach’ housing development early last year. We are already concerned with how this development is impacting the area, and call on the ACT Government to keep a close and watchful eye on developers to ensure no damage is done to the new nature reserve.”
Copland concluded by saying that the Government needs to fix the processes that lead to the declaration of nature reserves.
“In most other Australian jurisdictions, the declaration of nature reserves occurs through a formal process under relevant environmental legislation. Yet, in the ACT, these decisions fall under the authority of the planning directorate. In our system, the boundaries of Reserves on Public Land can be amended with no formal process, by the mere adjustment of lines on maps buried deep in the Territory Plan. This has been exemplified by the ongoing confusion around the declaration of Bluetts, with the Government taking six months to make this decision after first declaring its intention to do so.”
“The process to declare nature reserves in the ACT is a joke. Instead of protecting our natural habitat, our legislation focuses on the needs of big developers. If our nature laws were effective, we wouldn’t have to fight tooth and nail to save each place.”
“This year the ACT Government is reviewing The Nature Conservation Act. We call on it to fix these processes so we can ensure the protection of all areas that Canberrans love well into the future.”