Page 2565 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 9 August 2016
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The ACT community is enormously proud of the amazing natural environment in which we live, and the community will also be pleased with the resources which have been committed to our nature reserves in this budget. As part of the 2016-17 budget, the government is providing $5.193 million to establish and enhance new conservation areas in Gungahlin and the Jerrabomberra Valley in Canberra’s south. These conservation areas are being established to offset environmental impacts from development. The offsets will include habitat for a range of threatened species including the golden sun moth and the striped legless lizard as well as the box gum woodland and natural temperate grasslands ecological communities in the ACT.
Also included in this year’s budget is $700,000 in additional funding to address invasive pests and weeds in the territory’s nature parks, conservation areas and unleased rural lands. For the 2016-17 year, it means that this government will spend over $2.1 million on weed management. Not only does this expenditure assist in reducing the damage caused by established invasive pests; it also makes sure that the incursions of new invasive weeds can be eradicated or contained before they spread. These programs have a huge value not just for the environment but also economically, as these weeds threaten our agricultural and tourism industries.
Protecting our precious river reserves will be a priority for government in 2016-17. The ACT government has committed over a million dollars to continue to develop the new 650-hectare Molonglo River reserve to increase its environmental conservation, recreation use and fire mitigation. The project involves reserve establishment, including weed removal, fire mitigation measures and rehabilitation of the riparian environment. As we know, as the ACT continues to expand, protecting as well as connecting these areas for the enjoyment of those around it is essential. This area in particular will attract significant amenity value to the 55,000 households which will call Molonglo home over the next 30 years.
Also included within the budget is $702,000 to protect endangered ecological communities as well as the economic, environmental and social impacts of over-abundant eastern grey kangaroo populations. The research component of this funding includes monitoring work to ensure the impacts of kangaroo numbers on endangered grassy ecosystems and the calculation of numbers of kangaroos to be culled to maintain kangaroo populations at ecologically sustainable levels in identified sites.
2016-17 is the year of opportunity for Canberra. With the investment that this government has made over a number of years, we have developed a planning and land management system which is continually delivering outcomes for the territory. We all know that the ACT has an environment which we are committed to protecting, and it is a great place to live. The budget does not just preserve it; it enhances it as well.
Madam Assistant Speaker, I would also like to make some comments in regard to the environment portfolio on behalf of Minister Corbell. The ACT has a longstanding reputation as a world leader in addressing the challenges of climate change and cutting edge environmental initiatives. The 2016-17 budget will further enhance this reputation and provide significant opportunity to gain the greatest economic benefit from being at the forefront of this work.
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