Page 3333 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 17 August 2011
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As a consequence, the government commenced a review of the conservation values of Throsby, particularly the northern half known as the Throsby Neck, which is bounded on three sides by existing nature reserve. As part of this review, surveys of the golden sun moth, vegetation and the superb parrot have been undertaken. The vegetation survey mapped 185 hectares of critically endangered yellow box red gum grassy woodland. This woodland is a continuous part of one of the largest patches of this vegetation type in Australia.
The ACT government has also commissioned two complementary studies to identify areas of importance to ecological connectivity across the ACT. The initial study was undertaken by the Fenner School at the Australian National University. The second study was undertaken by the landscape modelling and decision support section within the New South Wales environment department.
This latter study subjects the data collected in the first study to high-powered computations, required to provide information down to a 15 metre grid scale, about the size of an individual paddock tree. The studies have mapped tree canopy and habitat value across the ACT. In relation to connectivity value, connectivity value is determined by two key factors. The first is how habitat is arranged in the landscape and takes into account the size, condition and spatial configuration of the habitat. The second is how important a patch of habitat may be to linking other areas of habitat.
The connectivity work has identified the northern part of Throsby as important for maintaining woodland connectivity. Across the ACT, the vulnerable superb parrot has been observed displaying breeding behaviour at 39 woodland trees. Thirty-four of these nest trees or 87 per cent of the total trees are in the larger Throsby-Goorooyarroo area and 22, or 56 per cent, are within the proposed Throsby development area. Breeding within Throsby has been increasing in recent years and this trend may continue. The superb parrot tends to breed in groups and it is likely that increased breeding would occur within the vicinity of the existing breeding trees.
Paddock trees along Gungaderra Creek have been observed as an important link for foraging parrots moving from the nest sites to feeding sites in Gungahlin and Belconnen. Habitat for several other threatened woodland birds such as the white-winged triller and varied sittella have been recorded within Throsby, while the surrounding woodlands are an ACT stronghold for threatened woodland birds.
The natural regeneration of the understorey that is currently occurring in Throsby will favour these birds. In respect of breeding habitat for the banded lapwing, a bird not recorded as breeding in the ACT since 1982, it was recently twice observed breeding within the Throsby development area. The critically endangered golden sun moth has been recorded at 67 different locations within Throsby and potential habitat extends for about 350 hectares, though most of the moths were observed at a few locations.
Mr Assistant Speaker, as part of the review of Throsby advice is being sought from the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary Board, the Flora and Fauna Committee and the Natural Resource Management Advisory Committee about whether they feel that land at Throsby should be added to the reserve network. The boards and committees
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