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.
- FOG strongly urges the incorporation of Bluett’s Block Woodland into Canberra Nature Park to ensure it is adequately protected and managed for its ecological values.
- Undertake further assessment of Block 12 to investigate potential and actual Superb Parrot and Gang-gang Cockatoo breeding locations and use of the woodland, and habitat for other woodland bird populations.
- Develop a management plan to limit damage to the ecological attributes including threatened bird species.
2. Mature native trees occur within the development envelope. These trees provide potential nesting sites for the vulnerable Superb Parrot (Polyteles swainsonii).
- There should be no removal or damage to mature native trees within the development area. Protect the group of remnant old-growth Blakely's Red Gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi) trees, which appear to be within the development envelope of the Denman Prospect site adjacent to Block 12, and outside the potential conservation area.
- Erect adequate barriers during the construction stage to protect mature native trees on and near the development site. These should be appropriately signed, with clear instructions and briefing to all workers on the site.
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.
- The IAZ must be within the housing development area.
- Relocate high density housing further from the woodland parts of Block 12 (i.e., the area retained within Bluetts Block) in order to minimize fire risk to residents.
- Maintain a substantial environmental buffer outside the envelope of Bluetts Block to protect the high biodiversity values in Bluetts Block and to minimize risks of fires to neighbouring residents.
4. Domestic and feral animal impacts are likely to increase with the adjacent development.
- Ensure that the new development at Denman Prospect has a blanket cat-containment overlay, and conduct a community education and engagement program to promote responsible pet ownership and undertake compliance actions as required.
- To provide additional protection, build effective barrier fencing between Bluetts Block and neighbouring housing developments to prevent entry of domestic animals. Include a small number of spring-loaded gates for human access and encourage people to use defined paths, protect wildlife, and limit other edge-effects, supported by signage to inform users of why these actions are being undertaken.
5. Invasion of weeds is likely.
- Do not allow plantings of non-indigenous trees, shrubs, forbs and grasses in areas within 100 metres of Block 12.
- It is especially important to not plant any identified known invasive or sleeper weeds (e.g., Chinese Pistachio, Pistachio chinensis or Chinese Elms, Ulmus parvifolia) in the street plantings.
- Provide advice to landholders on this issue, particularly to ensure the identified sleeper weeds are not planted in their home gardens (see: https://canberra.naturemapr.org/species/lists/52).
- Discourage the use of non-indigenous plants within the development streetscape and encourage the use of appropriate native species in urban gardens. A Plant Guide developed in 2013 for small urban blocks in Molonglo is attached.
6. Higher impact recreation will be detrimental to the ecological values of Bluetts Block.
- Ensure adequate recreational facilities are provided within the development zone to reduce uses in Bluetts Block that will be detrimental to ecological condition.
- Undertake alignment of any proposed foot trails within Block 12 in consultation with Friends of Grasslands, Friends of Bluetts Block, and other relevant community or expert groups, in order to minimize ecological impacts.
- Do not allow horse access within Bluetts Block, as horse manure is a well-known vector for the spread of weed seeds.
- Dogs should be on lead only in Bluetts Block.
- Provide bike tracks only outside and around the periphery of Bluetts Block, including those allowing travel to or from the Stromlo Forest bike tracks.
- Provide signage and other information to inform users of Bluetts Block about the values that are being maintained.
- Mitigate against other indirect impacts onto the reserve, including lighting and noise.
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.
- Provide information to prospective residents to ensure there is understanding of why these limitations are applied.
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) |