Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 10 Hansard (13 October) . . Page.. 3086 ..

MR SMYTH (continuing):

lessees. To assist land managers protect biodiversity on their lands, the ACT Government will also commence this financial year a rural conservation trust to assess rural lessees for undertaking conservation measures such as fencing and tree planting.

The ACT Government continues to support and fund a comprehensive weeds program. In addition to implementing an annual program developed by the ACT Environment Advisory Committee, a "weeds hit team" has been established to assist with the management of environmental weeds. Last year the willow management strategy was released, which will help clean out our waterways.

The Government worked with the Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra to produce the very successful leaflet, Garden Plants Going Bush. This is very interesting, because this week is weed busters week. And what has the conservator been able to do? Well, Mr Speaker, you might not be aware, but at the instigation of the conservator, Bunnings, a national firm, and Magnet Mart, a very significant ACT firm, have recently agreed to ensure that no environmental weeds are sold through their stores, through their nursery sections. That is a fairly significant achievement, where the Conservator of Flora and Fauna in the ACT is able to influence nationwide firms and substantial local firms, at some financial risk to themselves, not to stock plants that have the ability to go bush and become environmental weeds. It shows very clearly that the conservator is doing an excellent job in protecting the biodiversity of the ACT. I have also recently announced the gazettal of a pest plant list under the Land Act 1991.

Mr Speaker, programs to support the management of feral animals and pests continue. Species targeted include rabbits, wild dogs, feral pigs, foxes, feral goats and feral deer. For instance, the introduction of the rabbit calicivirus has been particularly successful in controlling rabbit numbers. Some areas of the ACT reported up to a 90 per cent reduction in rabbit population; protecting the wide diversity of the ACT under the conservator. The ACT has developed the bushfire fuel and management plan with a strong focus on ecological protection considerations.

I was lucky enough to launch that plan. It was a pleasure to work with Mr Humphries as the Minister responsible for emergency services, to put that together. But an important part of that plan was working with the conservator to make sure that biodiversity considerations were taken into account. The plan outlines what all ACT government land managers need to do to reduce threats to life, property, natural and cultural resources from bushfire.

The ACT Government has also been implementing a program to enhance visitors services and infrastructure so that not only do we protect and guard these resources, we actually educate the public on how to make best use of them. At Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve this has included road and car park improvements and the construction of a boardwalk through the wetlands. Improvements in Namadgi National Park include the establishment of a new campground and the upgrading of other camping facilities. We have planned improvements to include the construction of a regional visitors centre, which will be completed this year - in December hopefully. A nature education centre is to be completed by the end of this year.

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .