Page 5304 - Week 12 - Thursday, 28 October 2010
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Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve—Plan of Management 2010.
I seek leave to make a statement in relation to the paper.
Leave granted.
MR CORBELL: The Jerrabomberra wetlands nature reserve plan of management has been prepared under the Planning and Development Act 2007 and I am pleased to be able to present the final plan to the Assembly today. The Jerrabomberra wetlands nature reserve is located on the Molonglo River floodplain, approximately four kilometres east of Canberra city and only a short distance from the Australian government parliamentary zone.
The reserve is small, covering approximately 200 hectares. It is bounded by Lake Burley Griffin to the west and by Dairy Road to the east. The reserve includes the Molonglo Reach to the north and the Jerrabomberra billabongs and silt trap to the south. The wetlands are formed by the backed up waters of Lake Burley Griffin and the pools, channels, streams and paddocks that make up the wetlands mean that it is one of the most valuable freshwater wetland habitats in the ACT.
The presence of permanent shallow water bodies means that Jerrabomberra wetlands are regionally important as a drought refuge and as seasonal habitat for migratory species. In dry periods when Lake Bathurst and Lake George are empty, large numbers of pelicans, cormorants and coots find shelter in the wetlands. Over 80 species of water bird have been recorded at Jerrabomberra, which represents most of the commonly occurring water bird species in south-eastern Australia.
Many other birds not specifically associated with water habitats also occur in the planted woodlands and nearby grasslands of Jerrabomberra. In total, 170 bird species have been sighted in the reserve. The wetlands also support platypus, water rats, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and fish. Some sections of the southern bank of the Molonglo Reach provide breeding sites for great cormorants, little pied cormorants and darters.
Internationally, Jerrabomberra wetlands is important because it provides reliable habitat for migratory bird species such as Latham’s snipe, which are protected under international agreements that Australia has signed with Japan, China and the Republic of Korea. Locally, the Jerrabomberra wetlands is one of 13 ACT wetlands included in a directory of important wetlands in Australia. It is also listed on the ACT heritage register in recognition of the bird and other wildlife habitat that it provides.
The plan of management defines three management zones for the reserve. Zone 1 and zone 2 give priority to the goal of conserving wetland habitats, water bird populations and landscape character, with controlled and limited public access. Zone 3, while still retaining the conservation goal, provides for a range of public access. These zones largely accord with zoning identified in the national capital plan.
The scope of the plan is limited to the management of the Jerrabomberra wetlands nature reserve. Land use planning in future residential areas adjacent to the nature
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