Page 3247 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 October 2022
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the assessment of Aboriginal cultural values. Key matters for the western edge include: bushfire risk, climate change, the protection of the Murrumbidgee River, water quality, environmental connectivity, environment and aquatic habitats, species and heritage. These will continue to be addressed as the project progresses over the coming years.
At a different scale, budget-funding technical studies on establishing an entertainment precinct in the city centre are underway. It is expected that the findings from these studies will provide recommendations on the principles and requirements that will need to be incorporated into the new Territory Plan, an upgraded city plan and relevant regulations as well. The entertainment precinct will work to support live music and nightlife, as per the intentions of the parliamentary and governing agreement and the Entertainment Action Plan, and provide certainty for nightlife operators and nearby residents.
At a suitable time, we will engage with the community on the studies undertaken, what we have found and what more needs to be assessed and investigated. In the mean time and in the interests of transparency, most of the preliminary investigation reports are available on the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate website.
I would like to also report on this government’s commitment to securing environmental offset values along the Eastern Broadacre employment corridor. The Eastern Broadacre employment corridor is a critical industrial and commercial development opportunity for the territory that will significantly impact matters of national environmental significance. These matters include the golden sun moth, the striped legless lizard, box gum woodland and natural temperate grassland. The impact of this development has triggered the Eastern Broadacre strategic assessment under the commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The strategic assessment includes legally binding commitments to protect threatened species and ecosystems in the Jerrabomberra and Majura valleys.
The government is investing $1.911 million to undertake conservation management and threat abatement actions to meet these commitments. Over a two-year period, this investment will allow the government to employ staff that are essential to the delivery of weed and pest animal control, biomass management, infrastructure repair and unexploded ordnance removal. These actions will facilitate the unimpeded release of developable land within the Eastern Broadacre employment corridor.
The 2022-23 budget further identifies the government’s commitment to providing the Canberra community with opportunities to connect with nature—specifically, enhancing the visitor experiences in the Canberra Nature Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. It sets aside $1.074 million over the next two years to directly improve visitor experience and enable people to get outside, exercise and relax. Nature provides the setting for Canberra’s identity as the bush capital, and the tracks and trails have proven to be a great respite to Canberrans throughout COVID. Our iconic tracks and trails will receive $0.426 million to address high priority safety improvements. There will be quality access, which is essential for people to connect with nature for the health and wellbeing benefits that it provides.
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