Friends of Grasslands

supporting native grassy ecosystems

PO Box 440
Jamison Centre
Macquarie ACT 2614

email: advocacy@fog.org.au
web: www.fog.org.au

Re: Public Consultation for DA-202341900 at Block 11, Section 1, Denman Prospect

Friends of Grasslands (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 native grassy ecosystems, and carries out surveys and other on-ground work. FOG is based in Canberra and its members include professional scientists, landowners, land managers and interested members of the public.

FOG is concerned that the development of Block 11 will detrimentally impact the critically endangered ecological community (CEEC) Box-Gum Woodland and its Derived Native Grassland in Block 12. The following recommendations are provided to mitigate against potential impacts on the woodland and associated species. These should be viewed in conjunction with recommendations provided in the previous submission jointly tendered by the Conservation Council and Friends of Grasslands.

1.  The open areas of Block 12 adjacent to the Denman Prospect development site are occupied by the critically endangered ecological community (CEEC) Box-Gum Woodland and its Derived Native Grassland, a fact that had not been identified in previous studies.  Data collected by Friends of Grasslands' ecologist, Rainer Rehwinkel, in 2022, has confirmed this.  The Gang-gang Cockatoo has only recently been listed as endangered so was therefore not considered in previous studies for the area.

2.  Mature native trees occur within the development envelope. These trees provide potential nesting sites for the vulnerable Superb Parrot (Polyteles swainsonii).

3.  Fire risk to residents is of significant concern. However, it is not acceptable to have the Inner Asset Zone inside the woodland in Bluetts Block. This will inevitably lead to modifications of vegetation structure, composition and condition in the endangered woodland to reduce the fire risk to residents.

4.  Domestic and feral animal impacts are likely to increase with the adjacent development.  

5.  Invasion of weeds is likely.

6.  Higher impact recreation will be detrimental to the ecological values of Bluetts Block.

7.  Education is an important component of ensuring understanding and compliance of restrictions by residents. The establishment of the Bush on the Boundary Group, a government and community stakeholder group during the development of areas within Coombs and Wright facilitated decisions about limiting risks to adjacent areas of conservation significance.

Yours sincerely

 

Professor Jamie Pittock, President, Friends of Grasslands

19 October 2023


Local Native Plant Guide, Molonglo Valley, January 2013

Plant list produced by Land Development Agency in conjunction with Greening Australia, with minor alterations to update information about species that may be invasive.

Ground covers/creepers

 

Tall Sedge

Carex appressa

Common Everlasting

Chrysocephalum apiculatum

Clustered Everlasting

Chrysocephalum semipapposum

Small-leaved Clematis

Clematis microphylla var. leptophylla

Pale Flax-lily

Dianella longifolia

Black-anthered Flax-lily

Dianella revoluta

Purple Coral Pea

Hardenbergia violacea

Red-anthered Wallaby Grass

Rytidosperma pallidum

Hoary Sunray

Leucochrysum albicans

Spiny-headed Matrush

Lomandra longifolia

Grey Tussock Grass

Poa sieberiana

Sticky Everlasting

Xerochrysum viscosum

Small Shrubs (< 2 m)

 

Native Fuchsia

Correa reflexa

Diggers Speedwell

Derwentia perfoliata

Small-leaved Parrot Pea

Dillwynia phylicoides

Showy Parrot Pea

Dillwynia sericea

Woolly Grevillea

Grevillea lanigera

Showy Guinea-flower

Hibbertia obtusifolia

Leafless Indigo

Indigofera adesmiifolia

Slender Westringia

Westringia eremicola

Medium shrubs (2-3 m)

 

Box-leaved Wattle

Acacia buxifolia

Sweet Bursaria

Bursaria spinosa subsp. lasiophylla

Narrow-leaved Hopbush

Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustissima

Sticky Hopbush

Dodonaea viscosa subsp. spatulata

Slender Teatree

Leptospermum brevipes

Pomaderris

Pomaderris eriocephala

Large Shrubs, Small Trees (3-10 m)

 

Red-stemmed Wattle

Acacia rubida

Ovens Wattle

Acacia pravissima

Silver Banksia

Banksia marginata

River Bottlebrush

Callistemon sieberi

Small Trees (6-12 m)

 

Lightwood

Acacia implexa

Little Spotty

Eucalyptus mannifera dwarf cultivar (to 8 m)

Little Snowman

Eucalyptus pauciflora dwarf cultivar (to 7 m)

Little Star

Eucalyptus stellulata dwarf cultivar (to 8 m)