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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 03 Hansard (Wednesday, 10 March 2004) . . Page.. 990 ..

The commissioner found that no listed threatened species or extremely rare plants or animals were identified as being present on Conder 4A and that most of the native species found at Conder 4A occur somewhere within the ACT Nature Reserve system. The view that I expressed in recent times is that that is all well and good. The fact is that over the last 100 years or so that area has suffered from past land use practices but it is something that has been created over the last 1,000 years or so. We need to preserve this area so that the native trees, native grasses and native animals can regenerate instead of banishing them forever over the hill.

The Commissioner for the Environment recommended a 10-year moratorium on residential development in that part of Conder 4A shown for conservation, with the environmental value to be re-assessed in eight years. I say: why wait eight years? We can do it now. He also recommended that, if the government does not agree with the concept of a moratorium, it should immediately authorise variation of the Territory Plan and incorporate that part of Conder 4A shown for conservation into the Tuggeranong Hill Nature Reserve as part of the Canberra Nature Park. That is the recommendation that I put to the Chief Minister.

The former government’s decisions on the recommendations of the commissioner were to allow partial development of Conder 4A; implement a 10-year moratorium on further residential development of part of the area to permit a reassessment of its environmental values in eight years time; and, importantly—and I give credit where it is due—to construct the floodway and ponds for an associated wetlands project. I acknowledge the role of the former minister—it was a great bipartisan approach—in preserving this piece of land forever.

There are a number of organisations responsible for pushing for the preservation of Conder 4A. Friends of Grasslands, in particular, are notable for their advice to the Commissioner for the Environment and for pushing for its preservation. The Conder community landcare group played a significant role in this particular issue. The group was established in 1994 following the earlier formation of a group of teachers at Charles Conder Primary School. In 1997, the Conder community landcare group proposed the development of wetlands in the floodway along Tom Roberts Avenue instead of the usual drainage system—and that is now a fact. If my memory serves me correctly, there was a big celebration when that project was formally opened. I think it was opened in conjunction with Clean Up Australia Day.

The Conder community landcare group, comprising 34 members, was responsible for instigating and driving the wetland project, which took about four years to design and complete. Members of the local community also recognised the conservation value of the yellow box/red gum grassy woodland adjacent to the wetland site and were responsible for instigating the 10-year moratorium on residential development for the site, along with the Commissioner for the Environment. Four local schools supported the wetland development: Lanyon High School, St Clare of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Charles Conder Primary School and Gordon Primary School.

Friends of Grasslands approached the then shadow minister for the environment, Mr Corbell, on the issue. Mr Corbell wrote to them in October 2001. He said:

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