Page 2517 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 1994
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I would like now to make some comments on the consultation process. The committee was concerned that adequate steps had been taken to provide opportunity for public consultation. The committee notes that a draft management plan for the wetlands was released for community comment in December 1988. However, as a result of self-government and changes to the administrative and legislative requirements for the management of lands, a second draft was released in December 1991. The ACT Parks and Conservation Service sought public comment through the press and made copies of the plan available free of charge at ACT Government shopfronts and in response to telephone requests. Five submissions were received by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service. These were generally supportive of management objectives and no new management issues of significance were identified. The plan was reviewed in the light of comments received and a number of amendments were made to it. While only five submissions were received, the committee is satisfied that the appropriate processes of public consultation have been adequately followed.
In conclusion, the committee is satisfied that the draft plan adequately addresses the issues associated with the management of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve. The committee congratulates the ACT Parks and Conservation Service and its Minister on the excellent job it has done in preparing the plan. At this stage, the committee considers that the plan should be put in place for a period of time to assess its effectiveness. If any modifications become necessary in the implementation of the plan, the committee is confident that these will be dealt with appropriately by the ACT Parks and Conservation Service. However, the committee will be happy to look further at any issues that may arise in the implementation of the plan, if this is felt to be necessary. I present a copy of this statement, and I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the paper.
MR WOOD (Minister for Education and Training, Minister for the Arts and Heritage and Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning) (4.58): The Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve management plan describes how the ACT Parks and Conservation Service will manage this reserve to enhance its conservation, educational and recreational values. These wetlands are a significant landscape component of our city and contain bird habitat of international importance in the conservation of migratory species of water birds such as Latham's snipe. Regionally, the wetlands are important in providing food, shelter and breeding sites for many of the species of water birds that frequent the Southern Highlands. Situated at the eastern end of Lake Burley Griffin, the wetlands are close to the urban and business centres of Canberra and have enormous potential as an educational, recreational and tourist resource.
If members have not been out there recently, a visit would be truly rewarding. I commend the Fyshwick Rotary Club and the students of the Dairy Flat school for the work they have done. Rotary has put in lookouts and places to sit and watch. They have helped construct a wheelchair access area, to which people in wheelchairs will have ready access. The path is already around most of the wetlands, I think. There are hides for bird observation and a great deal of tree planting has been done. It really would repay a visit by members.
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