Page 1001 - Week 04 - Thursday, 3 May 2007

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range, so unaffected populations downstream of the dam will still retain important genetic links to populations of the Molonglo and Murrumbidgee rivers downstream. Raptor habitat affected by the proposed lake includes 1 Wedge-tailed Eagle nest and 1 Brown Falcon nest. Both species are widely distributed in Australia and common in the Canberra region. The majority of habitat for the raptor community in the Molonglo Valley is located outside proposed urban development areas, particularly in the Molonglo gorge area, downstream of the proposed dam wall.

While some areas of habitat and vegetation will be lost in order to provide critical components of the project (such as the lake as part of the overall stormwater management strategy), new habitat will be created elsewhere in the development (eg. in and around the lake and Weston Creek pond and within drainage corridors).

(4) Plans are currently being prepared to mitigate against the direct and indirect impacts of development on the river, and importantly, to improve the river environment in terms of water quality and quantity, biodiversity and recreation value. These initiatives include:

• the proposed lake will improve water quality in the Molonglo River by treating stormwater from the urbanised catchments of Western Creek and Yarralumla Creek, as well as the proposed urban areas of East Molonglo;

• off-line ponds in the Central and Western area to protect water quality in the Molonglo River;

• an on-line pond on Weston Creek to treat stormwater run-off (currently untreated) from Yarralumla and Weston Creeks as well as the initial stages of the proposed development;

• leading practice water sensitive urban design (WSUD) principles at all levels of the development (block, neighbourhood, catchment) to protect and enhance water quality in the Molonglo River;

• the potential to provide environmental flows below the dam wall to protect and improve water quality downstream;

• protecting natural drainage lines and incorporation of these into the development as urban open space;

• minimising water use in the development and reticulation of non-potable water;

• ensuring urban development is set well back from the river edge by a landscape buffer to minimise potential edge effects;

• ensuring the river and lake will be a resource enjoyed by all the community through appropriate recreation access; and

• provision of habitat for aquatic life and foraging habitat for birds and amphibious species by the construction of a large water body.

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