Page 1859 - Week 05 - Thursday, 11 May 2017

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(2) The current master plan for the interchange assumed the participation of the owners of Westfield Woden Plaza in the redevelopment of the bus interchange precinct. The redevelopment of Woden Plaza to support the new interchange, as envisaged in the master plan, is unlikely in the foreseeable future. The design of the interchange precinct therefore needs to be reconsidered.

(3) The design of the second stage of light rail will be integrated with the ongoing modernisation of the Woden Bus Interchange. The design of the new public transport node will progress as part of the current light rail master plan. The master plan will inform the funding and timing of future improvements.

Land—conservation
(Question No 156)

Ms Le Couteur asked the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, upon notice, on 31 March 2017:

(1) In relation to the environmental value of the rural land the Land Development Agency has speculatively purchased for future development to the west of Canberra, consisting of the properties Huntley, Bulgar Creek, Lands End and Fairvale, is the Conservator of Flora and Fauna aware of any flora and fauna studies having been conducted on this land; if so, by whom and when.

(2) Is the Conservator of Flora and Fauna aware of any environmental values of this land, including (a) species and communities protected at a national level by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cwlth), (b) species and communities protected in the ACT and (c) significant wildlife corridors and ecological connectivity links; if so, what are these values and on which of the properties are they located.

Mr Gentleman: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The Lands End property was included as part of Superb Parrot breeding sites surveys, conducted for the ACT Government over the 2011-2012 (ACT Ornithologists Group) and 2012-2013 (Ecological Pty Ltd) breeding seasons. The surveys found that the Central Molonglo area was a core breeding habitat for the Superb Parrot in the ACT and also made incidental observations of four other bird species that are threatened in the ACT.

Part of the Lands End property, was also subject to vegetation and fauna surveys as part of the planning of the Molonglo Strategic Assessment.

The Conservator is also aware that the bird life of the Central Molonglo area was the subject of a PhD study completed in 2008 by Karen Stagoll of the Fenner School, Australian National University.

In addition, the LDA has undertaken preliminary vegetation assessments over the spring season 2016-17 on Lands End, Huntly, Fairvale and Milapuru, which all fall within the western edge study area in The ACT Planning Strategy 2012. The final reports are due shortly and will be forwarded to the Conservator as soon as they are available. The findings will be used as part of a dataset that will inform any potential planning considerations and future decisions of Government.


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