Re. Sullivans Creek re-naturalisation plan

 

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.

Friends of Grasslands supports the re-naturalisation of Sullivans Creek within the urban area. The application of Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) principles in this project will ensure suitable environmental and aesthetic outcomes. These principles should be focussed on sections 1-4, where extensive development of Sullivans Creek has already occurred.

Friends of Grasslands would like to see sections 5 and 6 managed separately to the other sections. Specifically, section 5 should be divided into two parts: upstream and downstream of the Flemington Ponds. This division is important, given the differences in the state of development of Sullivans Creek (concrete vs vegetation-lined) and the adjacent land uses (commercial and residential vs farmland). Furthermore, the area upstream of Flemington Ponds (we will refer to this as section 5b) is currently undergoing development so WSUD principles should be proactively applied rather than retroactively fitted.

There are a number of other factors that mean section 5b and 6 should be managed with different principles. For context, Friends of Grasslands strongly advocates for the establishment of a biodiversity network, protecting and managing areas of conservation value that are outside the reserve system. Section 5b and 6 contain very large areas which have been identified as part of the 'Blue-Green Network' on the ACT Ecological Network Dashboard, meaning they are important components of a biodiversity network. Additionally, section 5b contains a large offset area, which will require management that is more closely aligned to section 6, which contains a nature reserve, than sections 1-4, which contain primarily residential developments. It is important to note that the offset area contains approximately 9 ha of EPBC-listed Natural Temperate Grassland and approximately 120 ha of endangered Box Gum Grassy Woodland.  

Friends of Grasslands is very interested in this project, and would look forward to further engagement on matters relating to ecological connectivity and appropriate tree planting.

Yours sincerely

 

Professor Jamie Pittock
President, Friends of Grasslands
5 December 2023