21 February 2020

Win for woodland reserve as Mt Majura is protected from development

| Michael Weaver
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Mulching crew

A mulching crew during a recent clean-up at Mt Majura. Photo: Friends of Mt Majura.

An area near Mount Majura nature reserve has been protected from future development after the ACT Legislative Assembly passed a resolution put forward by the ACT Greens.

The area east of Antill Street in Watson had been zoned to allow for leisure and accommodation, but the motion, passed Thursday prevents that from occurring.

ACT Greens leader and environment spokesperson Shane Rattenbury said the passing of the resolution will improve protections for Canberra’s endangered woodlands and its biodiversity.

“This part of Watson woodlands was not protected when Mt Majura and Mt Ainslie were gazetted as a nature reserve,” Mr Rattenbury said.

The resolution now requires the ACT Government to assess this part of Watson’s endangered Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland for rezoning and addition to the Canberra Nature Park.

“This is not the place we want to see buildings like hotels springing up,” Mr Rattenbury said.

We need to ensure that developments respect local communities and protect Canberra’s unique and precious environment.

“Once these precious woodlands are gone, they’re gone for good.”

Mt Majura, nature reserve

The proposed nature reserve at Mt Majura. Image: Supplied.

The ACT’s Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland at Mt Majura is one of many listed as a critically endangered ecological community.

The woodland is dominated by yellow box, Blakely’s red gum, apple box and candle bark trees. At ground level are native tussock grasses, herbs and scattered shrubs.

It is also home to a variety of rare and threatened species including vulnerable birds and lizards, such as the superb parrot and glossy black cockatoo.

The Molonglo Conservation Group’s executive officer, Janelle Dennis, told Region Media there had also been sightings at Watson and Downer during summer of the regent honeyeater bird, which is listed as critically endangered nationally.

“We think this motion being passed is great news as it’s important to protect that area of land, at least as a buffer for other woodlands,” Ms Dennis said.

“The ACT is a stronghold of box gum woodland in Australia, so it’s important we do this, not just with a local focus, as this is nationally significant as well.

“We tend to offset areas for development where there is degraded habitat, so to focus conservation on places that are in good health and also connected to another reserve is a much better way forward.”

Mr Rattenbury said the proposed nature reserve will be similar to those at Mulligans Flat, Goorooyarroo, the lower slopes of Mount Ainslie, Callum Brae, Kinlyside and Dunlop.

“Sadly, so much of the ACT’s woodlands have already been removed for development or other infrastructure. The Greens have acted today to protect more of what is left,” he said.

“The protection of these precious woodlands is a step in the right direction.

“The blocks in question need to be incorporated into the Mount Majura Nature Reserve to ensure the integrity of the reserve and prevent ‘edge effect’, which particularly risks the introduction of predators such as domestic cats.

“Given that yellow box woodlands have already largely been cleared for housing and other infrastructure, it’s crucial that we protect these remaining areas for their ecological value and the enjoyment of all Canberrans.”

Ms Dennis said while there is more that can be done to protect the ACT’s woodland areas, more resources are needed especially following the recent bushfires that burnt large areas of the Territory.

“We need to look at what has happened at Namadgi National Park and also over the border to really see what we’ve got left and really focus on maintaining the health of these places.

“The fire that went through to Oaks Estate also went through an ACT box gum woodland and we suspect there’s going to be a pretty massive regrowth of weeds in there now because of the rain we’ve just had.”

The Government will report back to the Assembly on the rezoning of the Mount Majura nature reserve in August this year.

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