Years of campaigning has given the ACT a new nature reserve, but does it go far enough?

The day has finally arrived. Or has it?

Residents of the Molonglo Valley have long campaigned for the bushland area known as “Bluetts Block” to be protected from development as a sanctuary for species like the Superb Parrot, Gang-gang cockatoo, Slender-tailed Dunnart, Microbat and more.

The ACT Government has agreed and designated part of it as a nature reserve, but for the lobbyists, the fight isn’t over yet.

What is Bluetts Block?

Bluetts Block gets its name from World War I veteran Elvin Joseph Aubrey Blewitt, who was granted the land in the early 20th century for cattle rearing.

Today, it’s located north of the suburb of Denman Prospect, along Uriarra Road, and on the government’s maps at least, is made up of Blocks 402, 403, and undeveloped sections of Block 12.

Groups like Conservation Council ACT Region and Friends of Bluetts Block have long argued the Molonglo River Reserve – which currently takes in 1280 hectares between Scrivener Dam to where the Murrumbidgee River becomes the Molonglo River – be expanded to include these blocks.

“Canberra’s western edge is an area home to many plants and animals, including the critically endangered Gang-gang cockatoo, vulnerable species such as the Scarlet Robin and Pink-Tailed Worm Lizard, and many significant orchids,” the Conservation Council said in a statement on 14 February.

“The area also provides important landscape connectivity from the Murrumbidgee River Corridor to Black Mountain.”

What has the ACT Government agreed?

The government has amended its Territory Plan to gazette Block 403 and undeveloped areas of Block 12, Section 1 as “nature reserve”, at least “covering part of the area commonly referred to as Bluetts Block”.

“The extension of the river reserve will protect and enhance our natural environment and remove the ability to develop the land for any other purpose,” it said in a statement.

“The area has significant environment values which are protected under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 and will be managed by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service as part of the Molonglo River Reserve.”

ACT Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development Chris Steel said it was in response to “strong support” from the community and “delivers on Labor’s plan to protect this area in Stromlo from future development”.

Minister for City and Government Services Tara Cheyne added that “new boundary fencing, gates, compliance signage and reserve entrances” will be installed shortly, as well as new tracks and trails to explore.

“Bluetts Block is a beautiful area to explore, walk, hike or ride and enjoy the beautiful landscape,” she said.

“By formally designating the area as a nature reserve, we’ll be able to protect and conserve our native and threatened animals, plants and their habitats.”

Does it go far enough?

The ACT Greens described the news as “a win for the community”, but deputy leader Jo Clay went further.

“The community are tired of fighting for piecemeal protection for nature,” she said.

“We need full protection for the Western Edge … not protect small patches as a trade-off for development.”

She added it’s time to set an “urban growth boundary” on the ACT and limit new development to within this area – a clause the Greens included in their unsuccessful negotiations with Labor to form government after October’s election.

“It’s time to get on with this work … We can’t simply keep sprawling our city to the outer fringes.”

The Conservation Council also “welcomed” the decision but argued that the ACT Government needs to negotiate with the lessee of Block 402, the Australian National University (ANU), to include this in the nature reserve as well.

“This decision only goes two-thirds of the way there,” executive director Simon Copland said.

“While Blocks 403 and half of 12 are placed into reserve, Block 402, which is leased by the Australian National University, remains unprotected.

“We believe the ANU is currently doing little with this land, and in turn, call on the ACT Government to engage in negotiations to have this block placed into the nature reserve as well.”

Mr Copland also said the government needs to fix the processes that lead to the declaration of new nature reserves.

“In most other Australian jurisdictions, the declaration of nature reserves occurs through a formal process under relevant environmental legislation,” he explained.

“Yet, in the ACT, these decisions fall under the authority of the planning directorate. In our system, the boundaries of ‘Reserves on Public Land’ can be amended with no formal process, by the mere adjustment of lines on maps buried deep in the Territory Plan.

“This has been exemplified by the ongoing confusion around the declaration of Bluetts, with the Government taking six months to make this decision after first declaring its intention to do so.”

An ANU spokesperson told Region the university is “supportive” of the government’s decision and “would welcome discussions with the ACT Government around Block 402 and the nature reserve.”