Page 1000 - Week 04 - Thursday, 3 May 2007
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photographs were taken from within the block boundary and that this is unlikely to have occurred with the owner’s permission. This contradicts evidence previously provided to the Ombudsman’s office, who the Authority will be writing to advise of this latest development. The Authority is investigating the actions of an officer in respect to this matter, who has since left the public service.
Development—Molonglo
(Question No 1478)
Dr Foskey asked the Minister for Planning, upon notice, on 28 February 2007:
(1) Why isn’t the planned development at Molonglo located in areas that are already cleared;
(2) What advice did the Minister receive to assure him that the integrity of the aprasia habitat would be maintained;
(3) What vegetation and habitat will be encompassed within the dam and what is its significance;
(4) What plans are in place to mitigate against the direct and indirect impacts of the development on the river.
Mr Corbell: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) A significant part of the proposed development is located in areas that are already cleared, being areas of former pine forest destroyed in the 2003 fires, and rural areas that have been grazed over many years. Almost all of East Molonglo, which constitutes the largest development area, is located in cleared areas. The other two areas, being Central and West Molonglo, are located on both cleared and uncleared land, most of which is currently grazed.
(2) I have been fully apprised of the impacts that urban development, including inundation by the proposed lake, may have on the Aprasia parapulchella (pink-tailed worm lizard). I am satisfied that the vast majority of the habitat of this species will be retained outside the proposed development area. Importantly, proposed urban development will not interrupt the potential for gene flow between populations in the Molonglo River and the Murrumbidgee River.
(3) The vegetation encompassed by the proposed lake includes low quality riparian vegetation upstream of Coppins Crossing, which is highly degraded, infested with weed species (willow, hawthorn and blackberry) and generally considered to be of poor quality. Also inundated is a reach of medium quality riparian vegetation downstream of Coppins Crossing to the proposed dam wall, which includes native vegetation such as river she-oak and black cypress pine. The prominent area of high quality vegetation associated with the Molonglo River riparian environment is downstream of the proposed dam wall, and will not be affected by inundation or urban development.
Key habitat encompassed by the proposed lake includes riparian habitat for the pink tailed worm lizard (Aprasia parapulchella) and raptor habitat. The Aprasia habitat area inundated by the proposed lake accounts for only 2.8% of the total habitat in the Molonglo Valley. Furthermore, the area affected is near the eastern end of the lizard's
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