Urban planning issues for grasslands in the ACT region
Presentation to the Myer grassland symposium, Canberra, 21 May 2015
Naarilla Hirsch (Friends of Grasslands)
Larry OLoughlin (Conservation Council)
Note: this document only contains the FOG component of the presentation
Grasslands are prime urban development sites
Historically much of the ACTs grasslands became what is now urban Canberra
Leaving small unconnected fragments
Continuing urban pressures: of the 48 NTG sites identified in Action Plan 28 in 2005
Three approved for partial or full development
Also other development proposals potentially impacting on sites
Other impacts on grassland sites
Proximity to urban developments
e.g. buildings shading sites, informal tracks, garden escapees, dumping of rubbish, removal of rocks
Bushfire management around the urban fringe
Bushfire management regimes often not compatible with conservation management
Asset protection zones need to be outside conservation areas
Recent change to narrower more intensely managed zones
Other impacts on grassland sites
Piecemeal development
Initially developments in Gungahlin were approved suburb by suburb
So environmental impacts were assessed in isolation
Strategic assessment of North Gungahlin gave a better outcome
Value of each site was assessed relative to all others in the area
Connectivity values were also assessed
The ACT-NSW border creates an artificial barrier
Resourcing management of remnant grassland
Grassland areas set aside when land is developed need resources for management
Offsets are now being seen as a way to fund site maintenance
Offsets
Jury is still out
Principle is no net loss
But development will result in loss of an NTG area
So need improvement in the quality of remaining areas before offsets are actually successful
Some areas should always remain no go
But is this acceptable to urban planners?
Three main types of offsets
Placing an area into reserve
With some funds for ongoing management
Research
Restoration to improve the conservation values of a site
Offset examples in ACT grasslands
Canberra Airport
Offset package includes the Parlour Grassland and restoration work at the airport
Have tried a couple of different methods for this restoration
Recent work undertaken by GA showing some success
Golden Sun Moth research and protection
Research into translocation and GSM habitat
Problems with research as an offset include
Cost, time it takes, negative results, and implementation
A number of other offset packages approved
No recent information about outcomes on the ground
Other issues
Advanced offset concept
Identifying potential offset sites in advance
Better management rather than allowed to deteriorate
To be developed further
Changes to the legislative framework
e.g. the recent bilateral agreements on the EPBC Act
Planning and public access issues
Grasslands often small and vulnerable to disturbance by visitors
Strong culture of protecting grasslands from visitors/community rather than educating people about them
only one grassland (Umbagong) has a dedicated friends group
Different access strategies at different sites
York Park
Small and fenced with informative sign
Jerrabomberra East
Nature walk with informative sign
Low visitation rates expected
Molonglo river corridor
Adjacent to urban development
Planning before development included Plan of Management, Management Guidelines and site operational plans
Also compatible plantings and land uses next to conservation areas
But documents not finalised although development has started
Airport
Inaccessible by public
Grassland information included in schools tour program
Recently sponsored a grassland art exhibition
Conclusion
Some improvement in the way planning issues for grasslands are addressed in the ACT, e.g.
Construction mitigation sections in proposals
Via offsets we now see a monetary value is being placed on high quality grassland areas
But urban pressure on NTG sites will continue indefinitely and need to be counteracted
A danger that offsets will become a way of buying off the environmental concerns
But they do offer some advantages also, e.g. advanced offsets, money to manage grassland reserves