Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation Eradication Scheme

The Asbestos Response Taskforce (the Taskforce) was established by the ACT Government in June 2014 to provide a coordinated and compassionate response to the lasting impacts of loose fill asbestos in Canberra homes. From its commencement, the Taskforce has taken a proactive approach to engaging with individuals and the community around the activities being implemented through the ACT Government’s Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation Eradication Scheme.

The focus of the Taskforce’s engagement has been to provide targeted, practical information and support to those directly affected (homeowners and tenants), as well as neighbours and the broader community. This has involved a variety of engagement methods ranging from phone conversations, door knocking, formal correspondence, web updates, social media posts, media releases and a regular e-newsletter.

The Taskforce reviewed its information materials during the reporting period. These materials were subsequently updated to ensure stakeholders have an awareness and understanding of current processes in relation to demolition, deregistration and sales activities and the personal supports in place to assist homeowners.

From 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, the Taskforce:

• doorknocked over 680 neighbours of affected properties to provide information on demolition activity in the area and discuss any concerns face-to-face
• delivered more than 14,000 letters to homeowners, tenants and neighbours to inform them of Taskforce activities
• presented at three Community Council meetings (attended by approximately 100 people) to provide updates on Taskforce activity in specific regions
• conducted three drop-in information sessions in West Belconnen and Weston Creek
• participated in a contractor information session in Weston
• distributed seven e-newsletters that reached 2,700 subscribers per edition.

In late February 2017, the Taskforce and the Community and Expert Reference Group brought trauma specialist Dr Rob Gordon to Canberra to meet with homeowners and assist them in managing the impact of ‘Mr Fluffy’. Practical advice and assistance was provided at five workshops held over two days attended by more than 60 people.

Gungahlin Planning Refresh

From 1 March to 17 April 2017 the directorate sought community input on the future of the Gungahlin Town Centre on building height and character, upgrading and enhancing public spaces and walking, cycling and road transport.

Community input included:

• over 40 people attended a meet the planners session
• 40 people attended a Planning in the Pub session with Ministers
• 20 people attended a stakeholder workshop
• three youth engagement sessions were held with over 100 young people
• 935 responses were received from the Your Say survey
• 5,000 views of the live Facebook feed
• 16 submissions were received.

Community Benefit Provisions

The directorate proposed new provisions for the Territory Plan to encourage these higher quality outcomes in the Woden and Belconnen Town Centres.

The provision aimed to reward developments with additional floor area where the development contributes to improved design outcomes. The provisions were being investigated as a result of community engagement outcomes from the Woden and Belconnen town centre master plans.

A major stakeholder workshop was held on 30 January 2017 with the ACT Government Architect, industry representatives, ACT Property Council, architects, planners and developers. As a result of workshop outcomes, the Community Benefit Provisions are being reconsidered to be delivered through other planning processes, such as a design review process.

Dickson Village Traders Placemaking Partnership

The directorate facilitated two placemaking workshops which resulted in the Dickson Village Traders Association hosting two Flix’n Dickson events.

FOY Group Inquiry Panel

The Planning and Land Authority provided secretariat support to the independent inquiry panel established by the Minister for Planning and Land Management for the environmental impact statement for the proposed FOY Waste to Plastic Facility.

As part of this support, the authority organised community consultation sessions. The inquiry panel held two public meetings, with the invitation published on www.planning.act.gov.au and sent to 2,800 residents in Gilmore, Macarthur and Fadden and the organiser of a petition against the proposal who agreed to forward the invite to all 292 signatories.

Emails were sent to interested parties, including the 63 people who had made a representation on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and to the Hume and Jerrabomberra traders. Approximately 50 pamphlets were delivered to a local bakery (Bread Nerds) and café (Hume Cafe and Takeaway) in Hume for distribution to customers. Letters were hand delivered to six local businesses surrounding the site.

Over 120 people attended the two public meetings, taking the opportunity to voice their views directly to the panel.

The inquiry panel’s report found that the EIS and supplementary material did not adequately address key risks associated with the proposed project. The Foy Group would need to consider all matters raised in the panel’s report before pursuing the project.

Urban Sounds

The Planning and Land Authority initiated conversation on managing noise in mixed-use precincts through the Urban Sounds Discussion Paper. Eleven options were presented for public consultation between 5 August and 23 September 2016. Community engagement activities included:

• seeking feedback through the Your Say website through comments, quick polls, forums and identification of possible special entertainment precincts on an interactive map
• handing out postcards at the University of Canberra and CIT open days
• six industry consultation sessions, including an open conversation session with the Minister for Planning and Land Management
• Twitter polls through the EPSDD twitter account.

In response, around 200 online interactions took place, more than 60 people attended consultation sessions and 17 written submissions were received on the discussion paper.

Territory Plan Draft Variation DV344 – Woden town centre – Implementation of the Woden Master Plan

Statutory public notification for the draft variation was held from 3 March 2017 for an extended period to 2 June 2017.

Consultation included notices to lessees of adjoining sections in accordance with the ACT Planning Regulation requirements.

A drop-in session was held in the Westfield Shopping Centre on the evening of Friday 31 March 2017

A round table session was conducted with stakeholder groups on 25 May 2017.

Twenty-eight public submissions were received, with a report on consultation being prepared in response to the public submissions and changes to the final draft variation, which has been recommended to the Minister for Planning.

Territory Plan Draft Variation DV345 – Mawson group centre – Implementation of the Mawson Master Plan

Statutory public notification for the draft variation was held from 21 April 2017 for an extended period to 2 June 2017.

Consultation included notices to lessees of adjoining sections in accordance with the ACT Planning Regulation requirements.

A drop-in session was held in the Mawson group centre on the morning of 6 April 2017.

Twenty-one written submissions were lodged, with a report on consultation under preparation at the end of the reporting period.

Territory Plan Draft Variation DV348 – Active Living Principles

Statutory public notification was held from 9 December to 10 February 2017.

Public meetings/drop-in sessions were held on 31 January 2017 (with industry groups) and 2 February 2017 (for the public).

Thirty-nine written submissions and 17 Facebook comments were received. A consultation report is being prepared in response to the public submissions. The draft variation has not yet been referred to the Minister.

Territory Plan Draft Variation DV352 – Miscellaneous

Statutory public notification from 9 June 2017 for an extended period to 7 August 2017.

Industry groups, professional bodies and community councils were notified via email.

Two meetings were scheduled for industry and community groups on 18 July 2017 and 19 July 2017.

A report on consultation will be prepared at the end of the reporting period.

Territory Plan Draft Variation V353 - Changes to Various Zone Development Tables, Codes and Definitions

Initial external consultation was undertaken in the form of workshops with key industry stakeholders, community groups and affected parties. Statutory public consultation took place from 20 May 2016 to 4 July 2016.

A report on consultation was prepared in response to the public submissions, with a change made to the final draft variation recommended to the Minister for Planning (to include an additional provision regarding documentation requirements for food outlets in the Beard Estate). The variation commenced on 19 August 2016.

Territory Plan Draft Variation DV357 – End of Trip Facilities (replacing Bicycle Parking General Code)

Statutory public notification was held from 28 April 2017 to 13 June 2017.

Two meetings were organised on 25 May 2017 with industry groups and the public.

Five public submissions were lodged and a report on consultation was prepared in response to the public submissions. The variation will be finalised in 2017–18.

Technical Amendments to the Territory Plan

The following technical amendments underwent limited public consultation, each generally for a minimum of four weeks:

• TA2016-08 – Red Hill, Cygnet Street precinct, code and clarification
• TA2016-09 – Kingston section 49, precinct map and code changes
• TA2016-10 – Coombs and Wright - rezoning of land within the future urban areas and changes to the Coombs and Wright Concept Plan
• TA2016-14 – Miscellaneous and code amendments
• TA2016-16 – West Belconnen Concept Plan - Minor code changes to provisions regarding the Strathnairn Arts Precinct and the Little Eagle research clearance zone
• TA2016-17 – City - blocks 3, 5 and 13 section 3 - zone adjustment
• TA2017-10 – Wright, changes to concept plan
• TA2017-11 – Greenway, zone adjustment
• TA2017-14 – Moncrieff, changes to precinct code.

ACT Heritage Consultation with Representative Aboriginal Organisations (RAO)

Traditional Custodians have been the caretakers of the region for many thousands of years, with archaeological sites dating back at least 25,000 years. The Aboriginal cultural heritage of the ACT takes many forms, from the continued spiritual connection to Country to tangible places and objects which reflect this long term connection.

The Heritage Act 2004 provides protection for all Aboriginal places and objects within the ACT and requires that Representative Aboriginal Organisations (RAOs) are consulted on a range of Aboriginal heritage assessment and management matters. Four RAOs have been declared, being: Buru Ngunnawal Aboriginal Corporation; Little Gudgenby River Tribal Council; King Brown Tribal Group; and Ngarigu Currawong Clan

ACT Heritage regularly consults with RAOs on proposals that may affect Aboriginal cultural heritage, ranging from new urban developments to the management of Aboriginal collections, to ensure Aboriginal perspectives on cultural significance and culturally appropriate outcomes are understood and reflected in proposed heritage outcomes. An Aboriginal Liaison Officer forms part of the ACT Heritage team, reflecting the importance placed on consultation and engagement with the RAOs and the broader Aboriginal community.

ACT Heritage also reviews all Heritage Act 2004 applications and development application referrals to ensure proponents and heritage practitioners have consulted with RAOs on proposals that may affect Aboriginal cultural heritage. ACT Heritage is also currently developing a ‘RAO Consultation Policy’ to provide clear guidance on Aboriginal consultation and engagement requirements in the ACT.

Consultation occurred on Aboriginal heritage assessment and management projects, including:

• ACT Healthy Waterways works (ACT Government) in relation to opportunities to reduce impacts to places of natural and cultural heritage significance
• West Belconnen urban development (The Riverview Group) in relation to a cultural values assessment and a Conservation Management Plan currently in development
• expansion of Mulligans Flat Reserve (Parks and Conservation Service) in relation to protection of Aboriginal sites from predator proof fence construction
• conservation of the MV18 grinding groove site (Denman Prospect) in relation to detailed landscape planning and heritage interpretation outcomes
• MLDRIN Aboriginal Waterways Assessment—participation in cultural heritage surveys and in cultural flows discussions
• Gungahlin Town Centre East (ACT Government) in relation to heritage assessment requirements and conservation outcomes
• decision to provisionally register Umbagong District Park Grinding Grooves, Latham (Aboriginal heritage site)
• decision to provisionally register the Corroboree Ground and Aboriginal Cultural Area, Queanbeyan River, Majura and Jerrabomberra (Aboriginal heritage site).

Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme

The Energy Efficiency Improvement Scheme (EEIS) has been extended until 2020, with goals of continuing support for low income households, expanding into the business sector and adding new activities.

Consultation on proposed updates to EEIS activities included:

• responding to stakeholder recommendations made during 2016 engagement processes to implement commercial lighting, new efficient space heating and cooling and water heating activities. Stakeholder feedback was via discussion at forums, an online survey and email submissions. New activities and updates were introduced in December 2016
• seeking feedback on new activities and publishing a consultation paper in EEIS proposed updates to residential energy saving activities
• an online survey and face-to-face industry consultation were used to develop and consult on proposals.

During consultation on the Priority Household Target in early 2017, seven written responses were received, representing 11 organisations. Multiple face-to-face meetings were held to propose the 2018 target and develop strategies to ensure more low income households can benefit from the scheme.

Actsmart Sustainable Home Advice (ASHA)

ASHA is a free email and phone service for ACT residents wanting independent advice on how to reduce utility bills, save CO₂ emissions and improve household comfort.

355 residents contacted the ASHA program online and by phone.

Actsmart Sustainable Home Advice (ASHA) Workshop Series

The free workshops were located around Canberra. They aimed to help consumers reduce energy bills, save CO₂ emissions and improve household comfort. Workshops included household draught-proofing, rooftop solar installations, sustainability considerations before building a house and efficient heating and cooling of people’s houses

971 residents attended 37 workshops located in Gungahlin, Belconnen, Dickson, Weston Creek and Tuggeranong.

Actsmart Carbon Challenge

The Carbon Challenge is a free online challenge aimed at reducing residents’ CO₂ emissions and bills. Activities encourage residents to change their behaviour in relation to transport, use of disposable cups and bottles, energy consumption around the home, sustainable food choices and waste recycling.

2,989 residents signed on to the Actsmart Carbon Challenge in 2016–17.

Low Income Home Energy Efficiency Program Workshops and Information Sessions

The Society of St Vincent de Paul held workshops and information sessions to both promote the availability of the Actsmart Home Energy Efficiency program and to educate and engage the community on practical ways to save energy and money. Topics included how to effectively heat and cool a home, draught-proofing and saving energy and money within the home.

The 34 events reached more than 700 individuals through partnership with a number of community organisations and service providers across the Canberra region.

Community Partnership Organisations

The ACT Government funds three organisations (Canberra Environment Centre, SEE-Change and Conservation Council) to engage the community on a range of environmental and sustainability issues, initiatives, policies and programs.

More than 9,000 people were reached across the three organisations. Engagement activities included workshops, events, newsletters, social media, meetings and forums.

Actsmart stall at the National Multicultural Festival and the Canberra Show

The Actsmart programs team engaged more than 2,000 members of the public at the National Multicultural Festival and Canberra Show. Actsmart programs and ACT Government climate change and sustainability initiatives were promoted at these events.

Actsmart Business Recycling Program staff education

Free recycling education sessions are delivered to organisations signed up to the Actsmart Business Recycling program. The program requires 75 per cent of staff at each organisation to attend a training session Over 50,000 staff across Canberra has access to this training.

Materials Recovery Facility Tours

Staff from organisations signed to the Actsmart Business Recycling program are invited to attend free tours of the Materials Recovery Facility to gain a better understanding of what happens to their recycling once it leaves their premises. These tours are held twice yearly.

Actsmart stall for National Recycling Week

The Actsmart Business Recycling team engaged with more than 80 members of the public at a one-day stall during National Recycling Week (7 to13 November 2016). The team promoted the recycling program to the community to create awareness and increase participation in the program.

Actsmart Business Sustainability Expo

This annual Actsmart Business Sustainability Expo is held to showcase the latest technologies in waste, water and energy. This event has been held every year since 2010, with 40 exhibitors and more than 250 attendees at the 2016 event.

Actsmart Schools

All schools in the ACT are registered with the program (73,500 students), which has five focus areas—energy, waste, water, school grounds/ biodiversity and curriculum. The program offers a range of resources and services in each of these areas, such as workshops.

Staff and students share their knowledge, skills and understandings of sustainability learned at school with other members of the community.

Climate change and the ACT

The ACT Government is committed to maximising community participation in the development of ideas around climate change mitigation and adaption. Early consultation helped shape the initial direction of the development of these ideas.

Consultation included:

• a workshop with ACT Climate Change Council on 16 December 2016 on key related scientific, economic and policy issues and frameworks
• a community and stakeholder roundtable (68 participants) on 27 February 2017
• a meeting with 21 community and environment group representatives on 11 April 2017 to discuss emissions reduction, community engagement and behaviour change measures
• a meeting with environment groups on 26 April 2017, chaired by the Conservation Council ACT, to discuss technical emissions modelling, reporting implementation progress, setting interim targets and community engagement
• a workshop with 11 technical experts on 12 April 2017 to discuss trends, drivers and barriers for reducing emissions and ‘blue sky’ ideas for achieving net zero emissions
• discussion with community members at the National Multicultural Festival and the Royal Canberra Show on reducing emissions and adapting to climate change
• a second community and stakeholder roundtable (72 participants) on 1 May 2017 to seek ideas and suggestions, particularly how to achieve net zero emissions in each sector and how to best involve the community
• a meeting by the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability with key stakeholders on 31 May 2017 to discuss co-designing the community engagement approach.

Implementation of the ACT Climate Change Adaptation Strategy – Living With a Warming Climate

The Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, which was released in August 2016, has 27 actions to be completed by 2020 to help increase the Territory’s resilience to climate change impacts. A Director-General level Adaptation Steering Committee and a Senior Policy Officer Adaptation Working Group help coordinate and monitor the delivery of actions based on an implementation plan.

The development of a community engagement process to seek community advice on the implementation of specific actions from the strategy began during the year.

Parks and Conservation Service

The Parks and Conservation Service (PCS) enjoys a strong relationship with the Canberra community through its daily work at Namadgi National Park, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and other nature parks. It runs several successful community engagement programs

Indigenous engagement with PCS was strong in 2016–17. Foundational work with the PCS Healthy Country team will see Indigenous engagement in PCS activities amplified in 2017–18. A significant community activity includes cultural water assessments that were carried out in key catchments in collaboration with the Ngunnawal community

ParkCare Initiative

The ParkCare Initiative is Parks and Conservation Services flagship community engagement program. It supports an inclusive, valued and rewarding community involvement in Parks and Conservation Reserve management where positive volunteer experiences contribute to improved social and environmental outcomes for all involved. PCS staff and community volunteers work together on conservation projects throughout the PCS reserve system including weed and pest management, revegetation projects and flora and fauna surveys.

PCS supported 26 ParkCare groups and provided additional support to the 27 Urban Landcare groups. The ParkCare/ Landcare community consists of approximately 400 volunteers who completed more than 24,000 hours of work during the year. 21,000 hours were on PCS managed land. ParkCare work included extensive weeding and weed mapping activities, citizen science activities, mountain bike track construction and maintenance and fencing activities.

Conservation Volunteers Australia

In partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia, over 45 volunteers contributed significant time and expertise in providing visitor experience programs at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

The ParkCare/Transitional Release Centre Partnership

The ParkCare Ranger works with the Transitional Release Centre (TRC) to support inmates from Alexander Maconochie Centre gain natural resource management experience on PCS Reserve land. The ParkCare Ranger works with the TRC team every week and the team works unsupervised on agreed projects every fortnight. The team completed approximately 2,025 hours of work this year.

TRC team activities on PCS Reserves actively support the ParkCare Initiative. Projects included the removal of remnant farm fences and replacing barbed wire with fauna friendly fencing, preparing and installing the 25^th anniversary ParkCare benches, cutting and painting woody weeds, removing woody debris to erosion control sites and protecting plantings from grazing pressures.

Waterwatch

Waterwatch is an environmental education and awareness program that encourages and supports community volunteers to take responsibility for their catchments. This community citizen science initiative is managed by the directorate with funding from the ACT Government and Icon Water. Waterwatch operates across the Upper Murrumbidgee catchment, with community-based coordinators supporting hundreds of volunteers who regularly collect water quality data and assess the condition of in-water biodiversity and streambanks.

The annual Waterwatch Catchment Health Indicator Program Report, released in October 2016, highlighted waterway condition through 96 report cards that were based on 1,973 water quality surveys, 208 water bug surveys and 196 riverbank vegetation condition assessments, collected with the help of more than 200 volunteers. This information is proving invaluable in guiding priority setting for catchment management projects.

In July 2016, the Minister launched a directorate-funded report produced through Waterwatch and the ACT and Region Frogwatch program. The report, which used ten years of Frogwatch volunteer-collected data, explored which attributes of urban wetlands supported healthy frog populations and what management actions could improve wetland frog habitats in the ACT. The results have helped refine what frog species are most suitable as indicator species and has provided evidence to revise the mowing guidelines in the ACT in order to provide more habitat for frogs adjacent to urban wetlands.

ACT Healthy Waterways

The ACT Healthy Waterways Project is a joint initiative of the Australian and ACT Governments to protect and improve long-term water quality in the ACT and further downstream in the Murrumbidgee River system. The project, which is part of the Murray–Darling Basin Plan and has a budget of over $80 million, involves the construction of infrastructure designed to stop or reduce the amount of nutrients, sediment and pollutants entering our waterways.

Input from the community has played a vital role in the project from the start. More than 500 potential sites were initially identified across six priority catchments. A panel of technical experts and community representatives evaluated the list and prioritised the sites according to cost, feasibility, potential for improved water quality and increased amenity.

Concept plans were prepared for the resulting 188 (178 infrastructure and 10 in-lake) projects ahead of the first round of community consultations in July 2015. Comments were received from experts in the field, community groups and people who attended the six catchment-based drop-in sessions. The feedback helped shape the next step in the process: the development of preliminary plans for 24 priority projects, 12 reserve projects and in-lake research.

At drop-in sessions during September 2016, visitors could view the preliminary sketch plans, talk with the design team and provide feedback. The plans were available online on the Your Say website and the community invited to comment. A range of communication tools and mediums promoted the September drop-in sessions and encouraged website comment:

• letterbox drop to residents living the sites
• advertisements in The Chronicle and the Canberra Weekly
• regular email updates to stakeholders
• updates and event listings on social media pages
• displays of posters and brochures in all ACT public libraries
• information  in the ACT Government e-newsletters
• internal emails to all ACT Government staff
• access  Canberra public screens featured information
• articles were published in a range of publications and on associated websites, for example ACT Landcare, Youth Coalition of the ACT, various catchment groups.

Consultation ran from 22 August to 5 October 2016. More than 3,000 people attended one of the six drop-in session or visited the ACT Government’s YourSay website to view the plans. The infrastructure projects are well supported.

With the design phase consultation now complete, work is well progressed in submitting development applications for works approval. This process includes a statutory consultation period that offers members of the community another opportunity to comment on the proposed infrastructure.

H2OK Keeping our waterways healthy

The H2OK Keeping our Waterways Healthy engagement and education program is a behaviour change campaign to prevent pollution and nutrients (principally organics, fertilisers, soil and septic sewage systems) entering and polluting our waterways and water bodies.

The program, launched in February 2017 and running until 30 June 2019, is delivering a tiered program of awareness, education, incentive and behaviour change components, at various scales to various target audiences.

The program targets suburban block dwellers, rural residents and the building and construction industries.

Key components of the program include:

• a comprehensive seasonal media campaign to raise awareness and engage the regional community in social, print and radio media, through advertising and publicity
• a DrainArt program – using creative responses around our drains and waterways to highlight the connection between water quality and people’s actions
• a Stormwater Road Show – taking stormwater education message to local events, to neighbourhoods and to schools
• best  Practice Demonstration Sites Grants Program – highlighting residential, rural  and commercial properties that are showing
• training – providing training to industry in areas like erosion and sediment control
• ambassadors – training and empowering local spokespeople to promote awareness of water quality and the impact of individual behaviours.

ACT Water Resource Plan

As part of the development of the ACT Water Resource Plan, a community consultation forum was held on the draft plan in July 2016.

Consultative meetings and related workshops were held with the ACT’s Indigenous community to explain the plan and obtain their position and views on Indigenous water values and uses as a core component of water resource planning. This culminated in three field trips to selected sites to determine Indigenous water values, objectives and uses.

Aboriginal Waterway Assessments

Aboriginal Waterway Assessments assess the cultural significance of a waterway and its cultural uses and water quality. The Ngunnawal community were invited to undertake assessments on ACT parks land at Vanities Crossing, Cotter River, Paddy’s River, Coppins Crossing, Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Umbagong Grinding Grooves and Gubur Dhaura Ochre Quarry. An average of seven members of the local Aboriginal community attended each site, supported by the PCS Murumbung Rangers, Aboriginal Natural Resource Management Facilitator, Executive Director for Environment and other staff.

The cultural knowledge provided for each waterway will help PCS’s planning process acknowledge and consider the cultural significance of the area.

EcoFocus Seminar

The Conservation Research Unit provides the directorate and stakeholders with science-based research and evidence to support conservation projects. The directorate hosts annual EcoFocus information seminars that highlight research done in collaboration with the unit.

The EcoFocus seminars provide a brief overview of some of the projects and the investment in research by the government. All projects aim to strengthen and increase our knowledge and information on the ACT environment and to assist in decision making and planning in the Territory. The collaboration between the ACT Government, non-Government organisations and the community is integral to delivering good outcomes and partnerships for the Territory.

The latest EcoFocus seminar, held on 7 September 2016, attracted 103 attendees.

Draft Native Species Plan for Murray Cod

This plan provides for the protection, management and continuation of sustainable recreational fishing of the Murray Cod, which has special protection status as a listed threatened species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth.) The plan was developed with expert advice from the Natural Resource Management Advisory Committee and Scientific Committee and was released for public consultation on 15 June 2017.

Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Ramsar site Management Plan

The Conservator of Fauna and Flora prepared a new management plan for the Ginini Flats Wetland Complex Ramsar Site. The draft plan and a summary report were circulated for public consultation between 17 September and 31 October 2016.

The consultation was notified on the EPSDD and Your Say websites and publicised on the official EPSDD social media feeds, including Facebook and Twitter. The Chronicle published an opinion piece on the consultation on 27 September 2016. Stakeholders were notified via e-mail and EPSDD met with the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment to discuss the draft.

Three submissions were received, including from the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment and the National Parks Association (ACT). Comments from the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy and PCS were received and assessed prior to public release of the draft Plan.

Following public consultation and on the recommendation of the Conservator, the Minister for the Environment and Heritage approved the new management plan on 31 March 2017.

Controlled Native Species Management Plan

The Eastern Grey Kangaroo was declared a controlled native species from 8 February 2017 under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. The Conservator of Flora and Fauna (the Conservator) then released the Eastern Grey Kangaroo – Draft Controlled Native Species Management Plan for six weeks’ community consultation (7 February to 24 March 2017).

The management plan, which updates the 2010 Kangaroo Management Plan, describes the Eastern Grey Kangaroo, its habitat, its role in the ACT and its environmental, economic and social impacts and outlines how the impacts in grassy ecosystems in nature reserves will be managed on different types of land. The plan looks at kangaroo welfare, managing interactions between humans and kangaroos, managing kangaroo densities and managing captive populations.

The Conservator received 47 submissions—29 from individuals, 17 from community organisations and one from a government agency. Of these, 10 submissions supported the draft plan, 31 opposed it and six did not express ‘support/not support’ but dealt with particular aspects of the draft plan.

The draft plan was revised after taking these submissions into consideration and the final plan released on 11 May 2017.

Pink-tailed Worm-lizard Action Plan

The directorate prepared and released an action plan for the threatened Pink-tailed Worm-lizard, a small, slender legless lizard sometimes mistaken for a worm or small snake.

Following a six-week public consultation (24 October to 6 December, 2016), which included two meetings with stakeholders, the draft action plan was revised to reflect the comments and four submissions. Key messages included the role of rural land in providing corridors of connected habitat for the species and the importance of recognising the potential contribution of small isolated populations to the species’ overall genetic diversity.

The final plan was published in June 2017.

ACT Native Grassland Conservation Strategy

Natural temperate grasslands are one of the most threatened Australian ecosystems. Since European settlement our native grasslands and grassy woodlands have come under increasing pressure from human settlement, urbanisation and a changing climate. Only two to ten per cent of the lower elevation grasslands in south-eastern Australia remain in good condition. Native grasslands in the ACT are a unique ecosystem comprising a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including eight species listed as endangered or vulnerable and other grassland plants and animals under threat. Our grasslands contribute to our natural biodiversity, our history and heritage and our local amenity and community. They provide opportunities for cultural engagement, education and scientific research. They are therefore a priority for protection and management.

The Native Grassland Conservation Strategy and Action Plans follows the 10-year review of ‘Action Plan 28: Lowland Grassland Conservation Strategy’ (2005). Community and expert comments on the draft strategy and the eight associated action plans were sought in April and May 2017 through the Your Say website and social media, an information session and notification to stakeholders.

The 12 submissions (three from individuals, four from community organisations, three from government agencies and two from environmental consultants) were generally supportive. The final plan, which takes these submissions into consideration, is due to be released before the end of 2017.

Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Plan

The Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Plan was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Nature Conservation Act 2014. The aim of the plan is to actively promote regeneration of the Lower Cotter Catchment (LCC) to a fully functioning natural ecosystem and protect it from activities that may have adverse impacts on water quality.

The plan provides direction to the land manager, to utility operators, to volunteers, visitors, neighbours and the general public about how this important area of public land will be managed over the next ten years.

The plan was prepared in consultation with the ACT Emergency Services Agency and Icon Water.

Extensive consultation on the draft plan included groups and individuals with an interest in the LCC.

All directorates were consulted prior to public release of the draft plan, with general support for the plan.

The draft plan was available for public comment from 16 January to 10 March 2017.

Public notification was through a Notifiable Instrument, social media (EPSDD Facebook and Twitter), the Your Say website and directorate websites and direct liaison with stakeholder groups by email.

Printed copies of the plan were available on request and a tri-fold summary of the plan was available at government shopfronts and libraries and sent to key stakeholders. An online submission form was available.

A public workshop was held and presentations provided to interested groups on request.

A field trip was held for the local Aboriginal groups and the Traditional Custodians.

Twenty four written submissions were received.

The plan was revised after consideration of public submissions and will be sent to the Minister for Planning and Land Management in July 2017 for referral to a Legislative Assembly Standing Committee.

Canberra Nature Park Reserve Management Plan

A draft reserve management plan for Canberra Nature Park (CNP) is being prepared. Relevant community organisations were consulted including ParkCare groups and recreation user groups.

The draft plan includes management objectives, policies and priority actions. It also includes summary profiles for each of the 37 nature reserves within Canberra Nature Park and reserve specific management priorities. It proposes management zoning to protect environmentally sensitive areas, with the reserves grouped into complexes based on geography and ecology, providing a landscape-scale perspective for operational programs.

The plan has been put on hold while the National Park Feasibility Study into a new northern Canberra region national park is undertaken.

National Park Feasibility Study

A National Park Feasibility Reference Group was tasked to undertake a study into a new Northern Canberra region national park. The reference group includes representation from the Conservation Council—ACT Region, National Parks Association of the ACT, Wetlands and Woodlands Trust, ACT Rural Landholders Association, Majura Valley Landcare, Landcare ACT, Aboriginal representatives, ACT Heritage Council, ACT Recreation Users Group, Natural Resource Management Advisory Committee, Gungahlin Community Council, North Canberra Community Council and a youth representative. The Group is chaired by the Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment.

The Group held two workshops and had open and informed discussion on the merits of reclassifying a group of existing grassy woodland reserves as a national park.

The reference group will report to the Minister for the Environment and Heritage in the new financial year.

Culture and Land Management Program in ACT’s Prison

Australian Capital Territory Natural Resource Management (ACT NRM) engages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) through the delivery of the Culture and Land Management (CALM program) to detainees. The CALM program is a partnership with ACT NRM, Campbell-Page, Greening Australia and ACT Corrective Services that focuses on cultural and environmental activities while gaining non-accredited and accredited training (Conservation and Land Management Certificate II).

Landcare for Singles

ACT NRM’s sixth annual Landcare for Singles Tree Planting event was organised in partnership with Greening Australia. Held on 17 June 2017, over 70 singles from across Canberra planted more than 1,000 native tree and shrub species on a Cotter Road Horse Agistment property to support restoration of Box Gum Woodland. The event had a significant presence on social and traditional media leading up to and after the event. This included national coverage on ABC Television News, national radio coverage, media articles. An active Facebook and Twitter presence generated more than 12,000 impressions. The event was supported by the National Landcare Program and the ACT Government.

Better Grow Better Graze

Better Grow Better Graze is a six-part training course for eight ACT rural landholders aimed to support farmers to improve the efficiency and sustainability of their pastures and grazing management. The course was organised by the Regional Landcare Facilitator and delivered by experienced agronomist, Chris Houghton. It included site visits to local properties. Funding came from the National Landcare Program and the ACT Government.

Working with Weeds Workshop

Working with Weeds training is a partnership with the ACT Regional Landcare Facilitator and the Small Farms Network–Capital Region. A one-day entry-level weed workshop was held on 22 October 2016 in the Majura Valley. It targeted those new to farming and those with small land holdings to help them understand, identify and manage weeds on their properties. Funded under the National Landcare Program and the ACT Government, 33 landholders attended.

Top Lamb Crop Training Program

Twelve ACT and region sheep producers participated in the first three sessions of this six-part, one-year specialised ewe and lamb management training program. The program was organised by the ACT Regional Landcare Facilitator, Biosecurity and Rural Services in the PCS and was delivered by a private consultant, Doug Alcock from Graz Prophet Consulting. Participants collectively manage at least 8,000 hectares of rural lands in the ACT and 12,000 sheep. They are developing their skills in animal and pasture health and management through the course. This training was supported by the National Landcare Program and the ACT Government.

Weed ID Drop-in Sessions

The ACT Regional Landcare Facilitator, in partnership with Biosecurity and Rural Services, PCS and the ACT Southern Catchment Group delivered two sessions for ACT rural landholders (29 November at Pialligo and 2 December 2016 at Tharwa). These sessions provided training to landholders to identify existing widespread weeds such as Chilean Needle Grass and raise awareness of new and emerging weeds such as Coolatai Grass. This was supported by the National Landcare Programme and the ACT Government.

The Role of Legumes in Pastures Information Session

An information session on legumes in pastures was delivered to 17 rural landholders at Tharwa on 21 March 2017, organised by the Natural Resource Management Facilitator and delivered by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, South East Local Land Services, the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation and Murdoch University. Landholders heard about options for measuring and improving legume nodulation in pastures.

Based on landholder interest, Natural Resource Management in EPSDD is now developing a pasture legume and soil testing program to be rolled out in 2017-18 in the ACT, in partnership with the organisations who spoke at the information session. This was supported by the National Landcare Programme and the ACT Government.

Faecal Egg Count Training

Eight managers of ACT horse agistment properties attended this training on 27 March 2017 at Riverview Horse Agistment property on the Cotter Road, organised by the Regional Landcare Facilitator The training supported land managers to identify and count faecal worm eggs in horses under microscopes to determine appropriate levels of worming treatment for horses. This will help agistees to combat worm resistance. This training was supported by the National Landcare Program and the ACT Government.

From the Horse’s Mouth – Healthy Horsekeeping Seminar

More than 70 horse owners and managers of ACT and region horse agistment properties attended this event on 28 March, at Sutton, organised by the ACT Regional Landcare Facilitator. The purpose of the seminar was to marry land management, biosecurity, animal and human health themes to support improved horse and land management and included presentations by Stuart Myers from Equiculture and the Chief Veterinary Officer, who spoke on the risks of the Hendra virus to horses. This seminar was supported by the National Landcare Program and the ACT Government.

Majura Valley Bush Festival

The Regional Landcare Facilitator assisted the Majura Valley Landcare Group to facilitate the inclusion of the proposed Bush Festival in the 2017 Heritage Festival program and organised an information stand at the festival on 30 April 2017 to promote sustainable agriculture and environmental volunteering.

Collaborative Development of Dieback Trials

The ACT Regional Landcare Facilitator is working with CSIRO scientists, Greening Australia and staff across the directorate to develop species provenance trials for Blakely’s Red Gum and with ACT rural landholders to identify possible trial sites. This work is part of broader efforts across the directorate to map and document dieback in a range of eucalypt species and undertake research to understand possible causes of the dieback and options for addressing the issue.

Small Farms Network Support

The Regional Landcare Facilitator is a member of the steering committee for the Small Farms Network–Capital Region, which is a grass-roots information sharing network targeting new and smaller landholdings across NSW and the ACT to increase land management capacity.

With funding from the National Landcare Program, the ACT Regional Landcare Facilitator has provided technical support to the network over the past year, including building and reporting on member survey and monitoring and reporting on social media, funding and other support including assisting in planning training.

ACT Rabbit Project

The ACT Rabbit Project is a joint initiative between ACT Natural Resource Management and ACT Biosecurity and Rural Services team.

Funding is provided by the Australian Government’s Established Pest Animals and Weeds funding under the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, to support rural landholders in the Majura, Callum Brae, Jerrabomberra, Symonston and Pialligo districts to map and monitor rabbit populations and work collaboratively to control rabbit numbers in rabbit population hotspots.

Highlights in 2016–17 include:

• three training sessions in ‘Rabbitscan’, a digital mapping tool to map rabbit warrens and rabbits affected by Calicivirus
• the creation of an ACT Rabbit Project entry page on the Rabbitscan website (www.rabbitscan.org.au/ACT) to enable landholders to map rabbit warrens and rabbits affected by the virus
• more than 30 one-on-one ‘kitchen table’ and ‘paddock walks’ with landholders in the Callum Brae/Symonston/Jerrabomberra areas and the Majura Valley, to confirm landholder participation in the ACT Rabbit Project
• spotlight monitoring of rabbit numbers across 14 sites in the Majura Valley and in the Callum Brae/Jerrabomberra /Symonston areas to count rabbits and foxes, pigs, deer and Eastern Grey Kangaroos. Monitoring identified one site with high numbers of rabbits (greater than 30 rabbits per spotlight kilometre), four sites with moderate numbers of rabbits (between six to 30 rabbits per spotlight kilometre) with the remaining nine sites with low number of rabbits.
• the Best Practice Rabbit Control Field Day on 8 April in the Majura Valley, which was attended by 16 landholders and covered planning, in-field demonstrations of rabbit control techniques and an update on release of the new strain of Rabbit Calicivirus
• AQF3 training in chemical use for 17 ACT landholders (17 June 2017) that accredits the landholders in use of pesticides and herbicides to manage established pest animals and plants.

ACT NRM Investment Plan

ACT NRM, in consultation with the community and through advice from the NRM Council, has developed a draft Investment Plan to inform future investment priorities. The Investment Plan will act as an investment prospectus to design and seek funding for programs and projects, strengthen existing partnerships, attract new partners and investors and broker investments between partners.

Investment priorities have been developed using a range of methodologies including existing data sets, best practice science, expert opinion and consultation with stakeholders. In June 2017, a draft Investment Plan was made available on the directorate’s website and intensive community consultation commenced.

The Commissioner established a new ad hoc reference group with younger professionals and university students, made up of heritage consultants, science practitioners, business owners, designers and students from diverse backgrounds.

The group participated in a range of activities including:

> the Youth Technology Sustainability forum, held on 1 September 2016, engaged 40 delegates from Canberra universities and younger professionals. The forum challenged the delegates to answer the question ‘How can technology solve our local sustainability challenges?’ through a series of presentations, workshops, an expert panel discussion and other collaboration exercises.

> a session in October 2016 around issues affecting the built environment and the community’s health and wellbeing. Keynote speakers were Catherine Townsend, ACT Government Architect and Annie Kentwell and Anthony Burton from the National Heart Foundation.

> the Haig Park reference group, in March 2017, was a small, focused group of approximately five participants with backgrounds in design, heritage and digital media. The group sat within Haig Park and observed how the park was used, discussed perceptions of the park as ‘unsafe’ and imagined how it could be in the future. Inputs from the group were incorporated in the Office’s submission on Haig Park to the ACT Government.

The Office ran a competition to design a logo that encourages more women to cycle in Canberra, as currently only 35 per cent of people who ride bikes in Canberra are women.

The competition was well subscribed and students were actively involved. The Commissioner spoke at Pedal Power’s annual general meeting and the Office is continuing to promote active travel.

Approximately 12 competition entries were received from interested and engaged younger women, resulting in a number of very creative entries.

To coincide with National Tree Day, the Office ran a photo competition to find Canberra’s most amazing tree.

The competition was well subscribed and approximately 40 entries were received. The competition encouraged members of the community to get outdoors, explore nature and celebrate Canberra’s amazing trees. The photos received were inspiring and beautifully reflected the range of trees across the ACT.