Regenerators oppose development of Lawson Grasslands
The Regenerators have written to the Federal Defence Housing Authority to oppose the proposed housing development on the Lawson Grasslands. They wrote:
I am writing in response to your invitation to comment on the proposed Lawson Grasslands development. I don’t believe that this development should proceed and there are many reasons for this. (more…)
Canberra Nature Park Reserve Management Plan 2021
The ACT Government has recently released the 284 page management plan including all Nature Reserves currently identified in the ACT. It can be downloaded here (13.8Mb). A couple of pages is devoted to each Nature Reserve, including the Red Hill Nature Reserve at page 222. The Plan commits to the following actions at Red Hill: (more…)
Gang Gang Project update
The citizen science project to document Gang gang nesting and feeding behaviour is now underway. A summary of some of the main point are:
* Over 300 citizen scientists have contributed 800 sightings of feeding Gang-Gangs over the platforms created for the project. An additional 1000 records have been collated from the records of three Birding groups (COG, South Coast and Blue Mountains) and facebook postings.
Red Hill work activity Sunday 14 November 2021 9am to midday
Great team effort on Red Hill from local business
A team of 15 staff from the local offices of architects Darryl Jackson Alastair Swayn P/L visited the Red Hill Nature Reserve on Wednesday 10 November 2021 to help with the removal of verbascum. They succeeded in clearing about 2,000m2 of hillside, which was densely infested with mature pre flowering plants. Our thanks to the team for their solid efforts. We look forward to them returning to make this a regular event on our calendars.
Icon Water damage Red Hill
Recent works by Icon Water in the Red Hill Nature Reserve resulted in a complaint to the Chair, Icon Water about the environmental damage caused by the excavation works and asking for their restoration plan. The response from Icon Water dated 28 October 2021 was considered entirely inadequate, resulting in another approach on 8 November 2021 to Icon Water to suggest an acceptable process. The reply to a request to Parks & Conservation Service for a copy of their agreed standards and procedures was little better. They wrote:
“PCS does not have a standard policy for restoration in nature reserves as the situation is usually site specific and restoration techniques change. We do have a Site Management Agreement with ICON that outlines the requirement for them to do restoration when they have damaged land. This is not a public document so I won’t share it.”
This exchange of correspondence shows the loophole through which utilities are able to damage ACT Nature Rserves with impunity.
Red Hill work activity Sunday 7 November 2021, 9am to midday CANCELLED
Icon Water damages Red Hill Reserve – again
The President, Regenerators wrote to the Chair, Icon Water on 18 October 2021 to bring to her attention the damaged to an area inside the Red Hill Nature Reserve, which had been caused by excavations carried out by Icon Water. The President requested that Icon Water forward a copy of the rehabilitation plan for the site and a commitment towards ongoing weed control within and around the area of disturbance.