Page 592 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 2019
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Environment—threatened species
MS ORR: My question is to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. What update does the minister have about striped legless lizards at Palmer Nature Reserve?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Orr for her question and also for her interest in the environment. The future is brighter for the threatened striped legless lizard at the Palmer Nature Reserve. This is because we are establishing a new population of the species at the reserve. I am advised that there are only about half a dozen healthy populations remaining in the territory.
Striped legless lizards were declared vulnerable in the ACT in 1996 and have a special protection status. The lizards moved to the reserve have survived. My advice is that we may be at the beginning of a self-sustaining population, although this could be some years away.
Palmer Nature Reserve plays an important role in the conservation of natural grassy ecosystems favoured by the striped legless lizard. The government is committed to protecting our threatened species. Our 37 reserves within the Canberra Nature Park are essential to this task.
MS ORR: Minister, how is the government protecting other threatened species across the territory?
MR GENTLEMAN: Last year the government launched an updated aquatic and riparian conservation strategy, along with seven associated action plans for threatened species. The strategy outlines how the government can continue to partner with the community, given that the community volunteers are essential to aquatic and riparian management and rehabilitation programs. The action plans to further protect threatened species in these ecosystems include the Macquarie perch, two-spined blackfish, trout cod, Murray crayfish, silver perch, Murrumbidgee bossiaea and Tuggeranong lignum. The strategy builds on the successful protection and management of aquatic and riparian areas achieved since the original 2007 aquatic species and riparian zone strategy and will be integral to the upcoming ACT water resource plan, the urban lakes and ponds land management plan and the environmental flow guidelines.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, has the government provided support to local groups to support environmental protection?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Pettersson for his interest in these local volunteer groups. Protecting the environment is a shared effort; we rely on the volunteers and local groups to help with many of our efforts and it is pleasing to be able to recognise their efforts.
Eleven grants have been awarded through the 2018-19 environmental grants program. The grant recipients have a broad range of objectives, from landscape restoration to biodiversity and native habitat enhancement, threatened species research and
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