Re. Draft Territory Plan amendment 05 - removal of FUA from Bluetts Block and Coombs Peninsula

Friends of Grasslands (FOG) is a community group dedicated to the conservation of grassy ecosystems in south-eastern Australia - natural temperate grasslands and grassy woodlands. FOG advocates, educates and advises on matters to do with the conservation of these ecosystems, and carries out surveys and on-ground work. FOG is based in Canberra and its members include professional scientists, landowners, land managers and interested members of the public.

FOG supports the removal of the Future Urban Area (FUA) overlay from Bluetts Block and from parts of Coombs. In respect of Bluetts Block, FOG has seen and supports the submission by Friends of Bluetts Block which states:

• Removal of the FUA overlay from Bluetts Block and the small areas of Coombs will ensure protection of the threatened open woodland/dry sclerophyll forest, and grassland left in the Molonglo valley and future-protect’ the wildlife corridor across the Molonglo Corridor Reserve to the reserve areas in the northern parts of the ACT. Connectivity across the landscape is recognised as being critical for biodiversity conservation, particularly in the face of climate change.
• In support of our recommendation, we note the strong biodiversity values of Bluetts Block: its high floristic diversity ... including the high orchid diversity — with 33 orchid species from 14 genera ... . The fauna, too, is of high biodiversity value, especially of birds, among them the threatened Superb Parrot, Gang-gang Cockatoo and Scarlet Robin and the locally rare Painted Buttonquail and Chestnut-rumped Heathwren (see Ebird 2025). The area also supports populations of the threatened Pink-tailed Worm-lizard, and rare Slender-tailed Dunnart and Yellow footed Antechinus (ACT Government 2022).

FOG supports the removal of the FUA overlay from Coombs Peninsula and other parts of Coombs. This appears consistent with Figure 6 on p. 14 of the ACT Government’s NES Plan for East Molonglo.

The reason given for the removal of 1.4 ha from the Molonglo River Nature Reserve, close to its junction with Weston Creek, is not good. The values of this 1.4 ha are not mentioned. Whether this area is remnant grassy woodland is not stated. The reason provided in support of the removal, and this is all the explanation provided, is “to align with existing fence lines and land management practices.” If this area has significant values, there are alternatives. These include changing fence lines and management practices. Alternatively, a case with substance should be put explaining and illustrating the problem.

On its face, developing the portion of this 1.4 ha that will retain its FUA overlay (Figure 1, the area within the yellow rectangle) could sever part of the good connection between the nature reserve and the urban open space to its south. This will be significant if Weston Section 124 Block 3 is developed.

Yours sincerely

SIGNED

Professor Jamie Pittock

President, Friends of Grasslands

11 August 2025

 

Figure 1: Land to be removed from Molonglo River NR – close to its junction with Weston Creek – including a portion that could, in future, be developed (in the yellow box)