Page 676 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 2019
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(2) In relation to the Holder site, did the Government previously write to the licence holder, to ask whether stock could be reduced on the site due to environmental degradation; if so, when and how often.
(3) How will the land now be managed.
(4) Will the land be managed by Parks and Conservation.
(5) Will the local Parkcare/Landcare group be invited to assist with rehabilitation.
(6) What alternative land use does the ACT Government plan for this site.
Mr Gentleman: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) Livestock grazing licences are issued under section 303 of the Planning and Development Act 2007 for short term use of unleased Territory Land to manage vegetation for fire fuel reduction, conservation or drought relief grazing purposes.
Licence holders are regularly requested to remove livestock and the licence terminated once the vegetation (ground cover) has been reduced or other land management objectives achieved. The intention of managing grazing in this manner is to ensure that the land does not degrade to a point that requires intensive rehabilitation. This principle is widely understood by ACT rural landholders. Grazing licences have not been granted to members of the public for horse agistment for many years.
In this case, it is anticipated that removal of livestock from the site will support the regeneration of vegetation and ground cover.
(2) On 11 April 2018 Leasing Services within the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate wrote to the licence holder to notify them that the licence would be terminated. Since then ACT Parks and Conservation Service officers have discussed in person, corresponded over the phone, via email and via letter in relation to this matter with the licence holder on a number of occasions. There also has been two extensions granted regarding this matter.
Reduction in the stocking level was not an option due to the small size of the licence area. The Dry Sheep Equivalent (DSE) for this licence area is 6 DSE which would equate to less than 1 horse (1 horse = 10 DSE). The DSE is a measure of the maximum carrying capacity for stock on a piece of grazing land above which pasture cover and soil condition deteriorates.
(3) Once the stock are removed and public access reinstated, the land will be managed by the custodian of the land, Transport Canberra and City Services, City Presentation Section in accordance with its landscape maintenance standards for urban open space.
(4) No. The land will be managed by Transport Canberra and City Services who is the custodian of this piece of public land.
(5) This is an option open to Transport Canberra and City Services once they resume maintenance responsibility for the land.
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