Page 3275 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 23 August 2017

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(3) calls on the Government to:

(a) continue its good work in nature conservation and scientific research;

(b) complete the promised design of the Mulligans Flat Eco Tourism Visitor Centre; and

(c) develop an ecotourism policy to support greater access, understanding and appreciation of Canberra’s natural environment.

One of the great joys of living Canberra is living in a city surrounded by nature. Our national parks, protected grassland, fresh air and some pretty amazing sunsets are a few gems our nature offers us. All of these contribute to our enjoyment as we go about our everyday lives, but our very presence within the diverse and dynamic systems of the natural environment in many ways disrupt the way our natural elements function, sometimes with little impact and sometimes with a lot.

This is no more so than in areas where, in the past, humans have trodden a bit too heavily on nature. Where our activity has disrupted the functioning of our natural environment, it may result in the natural areas taking on a new landscape but not necessarily a better landscape. As I have said before, we need to look after our environment so it can look after us.

The ACT government has taken many steps towards rehabilitating the natural environment within the ACT. Both through direct action and collaborative efforts involving many local, scientific, environmental and conservation groups, the ACT government has played a part in a number of projects aimed at preserving and enhancing the nature within our city.

Following a community-led campaign to protect box gum grassy woodlands, Mulligans Flat nature reserve was established in 1995 in north-east Gungahlin on the ACT-New South Wales border. Box gum woodland is a critically endangered ecological community, having been cleared, modified and grazed by farmers since the 1820s. Despite this, Mulligans Flat has retained substantial ecological value. The reserve covers roughly 750 hectares and is popular for bushwalking and bird watching as Mulligans Flat is known for its diverse and rare bird life.

Described as a living science experiment, the fact that so little was known about the ecological systems in box gum woodland was part of the motivation for establishing the reserve. Preserving this invaluable area, therefore, also offers opportunities in recreation, research and education. Nearly 10 years later, a similar area of box gum grassy woodland was protected just south of Mulligans Flat in Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve. In combination these two reserves total roughly 1,500 hectares, comprising the largest and most intact area of yellow box-red gum grassy woodland in Australia.

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