Page 3283 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 23 August 2017
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We need to acknowledge the commitment not only of the trust but the rangers and other staff within the ACT government, CSIRO and the ANU in the important research work that is ongoing in this woodlands project and the enormous success it has had. The $162,000 grant to the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust to prepare a design of the Mulligans Flat ecotourism visitor centre is intended for the centre to be as the budget papers describe, that is, the gateway to one of Australia’s unique woodlands, and provide a focal point for tourists. The visitor centre was an ACT Labor commitment in the last election, but if it is to be delivered in this term of government there will need to be significant follow-up funds to see it completed.
I refer to Ms Orr having gone to the nature playground in her electorate, and I had the same opportunity at the Telopea nature park playground over the weekend. I echo her sentiments that it is a great opportunity for children to get close to nature and really see the unique beauty of our bush capital through play.
I thank Ms Orr for the opportunity to speak on the work of the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust. On that point we are certainly in agreement. As for Ms Orr’s call for the government to progress an ecotourism policy, I wish I could be more optimistic, but, given the history of this government’s failure to deliver on this policy area time and time again, I remain less than hopeful.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Urban Renewal) (5.42): I thank Ms Orr for her motion and her strong interest in the environment. It is with great pleasure that I speak today on the importance of our environment. Canberra is recognised throughout the world as a sustainable and creative city and as a place of great natural beauty. Its unique landscape setting, with parks and reserves scattered within and on the edges of the city, means that nature is easily accessed and enjoyed by many Canberrans every day.
With over half of the ACT—55 per cent—managed primarily for nature conservation and biodiversity management, the ACT government is strongly committed to ensuring that the significant tracts of land committed to the reserve system are well maintained and preserved for future generations.
Namadgi National Park, Tidbinbilla nature reserve and the Murrumbidgee River corridor protect our mountains, forests and major river corridors. Canberra Nature Park, made up of 38 separate nature reserves, provides scenic beauty as well as protection of two endangered ecological communities—the natural temperate grasslands and the yellow box-red gum grassy woodlands—as well as many other threatened plants and animals.
Canberrans are committed to and are actively involved in the day-to-day management of these natural resources through the 400-strong park care volunteer initiative. Canberra is unique in that it genuinely has incredible biodiversity right here on our doorstep. We have heard about Mulligans Flat woodland sanctuary, as part of Canberra Nature Park. There is also Jerrabomberra wetlands nature reserve, which is part of Canberra Nature Park, and one of the most valuable wetland habitat areas in the ACT, and of national and international importance.
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