The Conservation Council ACT Region has today released a plan to protect and restore the Western Edge, a 9800-hectare area of critically endangered bushland, farmland and recreational sites located on Canberra’s doorstep.
The Conservation Councils’ Western Conservation Landscape Proposal calls for the establishment of a cross-tenure, landscape-scale model of conservation across the Western Edge. This would include establishing an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA).
Conservation Council Executive Director Dr Simon Copland said the proposal is about showing the ACT Government what is possible.
“We are putting forward a positive vision for how the Western Edge could be managed in the future,” Dr Copland said.
“The creation of a ‘Western Conservation Landscape’ would provide a significant opportunity for the ACT Government to operationalise its proposed Nature Conservation Network, including through identifying Priority Conservation Areas and introducing voluntary stewardship programs on private leasehold land. In addition, led by Traditional Owners, there is a significant opportunity to establish an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA) in the Western Edge, the first of its kind in the ACT.”
Dr Copland said the ACT is behind other parts of the country on this front.
“We are one of the only jurisdictions in Australia without a system for conserving nature on private land. There are real opportunities here for the ACT Government to be a leader in working with landholders to restore ecosystems and habitat for species that are under threat.”
Selina Walker, Ngunnawal Community Leader and Emerging Elder said
“The Western Edge of the ACT holds many Ngunnawal stories that have been handed down through the generations.”
“It is vitally important to preserve Country and our stories for the future generation.”
“Wiping this out and developing on the land is colonising all over again.”
“Saying sorry means you don’t do it again, not change the wrapping and repeat.”
Rainer Rehwinkel, local ecologist said
“The Western Edge is home to some of Canberra’s most iconic and threatened species – from Gang-gang Cockatoo and Superb Parrots to Golden Sun Moth and the Striped Legless Lizard.”
“The ACT contains one of the largest contiguous Box-Gum Grassy Woodland areas remaining nationally. The Western Edge represents a prime study site for these woodlands, and would be a valuable ACT contribution to national biodiversity conservation for this critically endangered ecological community.”
Dr. Copland concluded by saying the Government must halt any plans to develop the Western Edge and embrace this positive vision instead.
“The release of the proposal forms part of the Conservation Council’s major community campaign to Save Our Western Edge and call on the Planning Minister to exclude the Western Edge from the ACT’s urban growth boundary, expected to be set in June 2027.”
“It’s time for the ACT Government to exclude the Western Edge from urban development and think boldly about how it could be managed in the future,” he said.