Friends of Grasslands

supporting native grassy ecosystems

 

PO Box 987

Civic Square ACT 2608

 

Commonwealth and Territories Section
Approvals and Wildlife Division
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
email: epbc.referrals@environment.gov.au

 

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

Residential development/West of Mulligans Flat Road, Gungahlin

Reference Number: 2010/5742

 

FOG is pleased to see that, even though a 24.5 ha area was area assessed for potential development in Bonner 4 East, only 1.7 ha of this area is now proposed for development.  We applaud the decision to proceed with the alternative that would retain significantly more land for biodiversity conservation and keep the remainder of the referral area as open space.

 

We note that the maintenance of the proposed inner asset protection zone to control the regeneration of trees through an appropriate mowing regime should maintain suitable potential habitat for golden sun moth in that area, as long as vehicle hygiene measures are adhered to, to prevent the spread of weeds, especially Chilean Needle Grass and African Love Grass. 

 

We support the measures to reduce impacts on the high conservation areas mentioned in the referral (both during construction and afterwards), and that they be written into construction contracts for developing the Bonner 4 East estate.  FOG does ask that adherence by contractors to these measures be monitored, with penalties applied for any accidental breach of them.

 

FOG recommends that the remaining area covered by this referral (i.e. the area not being developed) be integrated into the adjoining Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, since it is contiguous with the Nature Reserve.  We would see this as the best way to ensure that the area is managed for conservation, noting the competing requirements of the golden sun moth and the regenerating box-gum woodland (both endangered).

 

FOG is a community group dedicated to the conservation of natural temperate grassy ecosystems in south-eastern Australia. FOG advocates, educates and advises on matters to do with the conservation of grassy ecosystems, and carries out surveys and other on-ground work. FOG is based in Canberra and its more than 200 members include professional scientists, landowners, land managers and interested members of the public.

 

Sincerely yours

 

 

 

 

Geoff Robertson

President

 

6 December 2010