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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 7 Hansard (6 June) . . Page.. 2029 ..

MR WOOD (continuing):

As one of its key election commitments, the government will be investing $1.5 million over the next three years to establish a new focus for nature conservation over four key areas. Firstly, additional staff and equipment are being provided for Environment ACT to increase park management, community relations and essential conservation activities. Secondly, a computer-based natural resource information management system is being developed to support nature conservation, planning and management and provide better information to the community.

Thirdly, a review of conservation priorities and management directions will be undertaken to promote a more integrated and strategic approach to conservation efforts. A review of the action plan for threatened grassy box woodlands will be a significant component. It is in these environments that much of our urban and rural development takes place and their conservation requirements must be provided for in our land use planning and management strategies. Fourthly, mechanisms for supporting volunteer groups and engaging the community in nature conservation will be reviewed and expanded to provide better guidance, more assistance and tailored education and information programs.

Other initiatives will be taken. For example, a new management plan for Namadgi National Park will be prepared in conjunction with the Ngunnawal community. Bushfire fuel management plans will pay greater attention to the ecological implications of fuel hazard management programs. Partnerships with research organisations, such as cooperative research centres and universities, will continue to be supported in the areas of freshwater ecology, pest animal control and marsupial ecology. The ACT nature conservation strategy will be reviewed in light of national developments in nature conservation and progress made in the ACT. Administrative arrangements for coordinating and funding the ACT Parks and Conservation Service will be reviewed to remove inefficiencies. The recently released ACT vertebrate pest management strategy and continuing implementation of the ACT weeds strategy will guide the efficient and effective management of environmental threats that arise from feral animals and environmental weeds.

The tree-dominated landscape of our streets and suburbs is a community and tourist asset of which we are justly proud. Trees are also an important element of our biodiversity and are often of cultural significance. The government made a firm election commitment to introduce a permanent tree protection scheme and to extend this protection to trees on public land. Some elements of the current Tree Protection Act are proving to be cumbersome and difficult to administer in an equitable way. We need to be able to strike the right balance between protecting the cultural and natural heritage of Canberra and not impinging unduly on the expectations and rights of property owners who have trees on their property. As part of the process of ensuring that our permanent tree protection scheme is the best one possible, the government is preparing a discussion paper on the issues and options that need to be explored for a more efficient and equitable strategy. I want to ensure that the diversity of views that are held in the community about tree protection is fully considered.

The management of waste in Canberra is a success story of which we all can be proud. The no waste by 2010 program, introduced by the former government, continues earlier initiatives. The program demonstrates that, with sufficient will and commitment by both

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