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.