A big thankyou to B Whitworth for comprehensively answering my
Jerrabomberra Wetlands Survey. More submissions are sought to gain a
balanced view of thoughts and feelings regarding the Heritage v alue
of the Jerra Wetlands environment. If you feel the questionaire is too
long (it is) just fill in the information that you can provide.
Please keep in mind that I have forwarded this survey to "Peddle
Power" as well.
Thankyou and regards,
John Schilling
im("studiovogue.com.au","info");">
Hello
Everyone,
My name is John Schilling and I am currently
working
on a submission through the University of Canberra
to list the
Jerrabomberra Wetlands as a National Heritage Precinct and to upgrade
the
current National Estate listing. I am
also investigating the reasons why the Jerrabomberra Wetlands do not
qualify
for listing with Ramsar.
If you can find the
time I
would greatly appreciate your filling in the attached questionnaire and
emailing it back to me at this address
If
a question is outside your knowledge base or you do not have a comment
please
leave the line blank.
Question 1
Will expanding the Jerrabomberra Wetlands to the East increase
the numbers of bird species labeled as potentially hazardous to
aircraft? List from the Bird Hazard
Investigation Unit
CAA, is provided………………………………………………………………………………
|
Australian Pelican
Darter
Rufous Night Heron
Sacred Ibis
Straw necked Ibis
|
|
Silver Gull
|
|
Black Swan
Masked Lapwing
Migratory Waders
Cormorants
|
|
Black Duck
Other large duck species
Royal Spoonbill
White-bellied Sea Eagle
|
White faced Heron
Marsh harrier
Yellow Billed Spoonbill
|
2.
Is it possible to construct an artificial wetland environment that
would not
encourage the above listed bird species to live
there?......................................................
3. Can you describe this
type of
wetland
environment?.......................................................
4. Are you aware of the
Griffin Plan
to extend the wetlands onto the pasture land to Dairy Flat Road in a
“Centennial
Park” style?.........................................
5. Do you think this is
advantageous
for bird
populations?..............................................................................
This extension to the
wetlands will
possibly include an extension to the current cycle path.
6. Do you think this is a
good
idea?.........................................................
7. if not, how do you
envisage
allowing residents a closer look at the proposed wetlands
extension?............................................................................................
8. How often would you
visit the
wetlands each
year?.........................................................
9. Is there sufficient
parking/access?....................................................................................
9a. Are there adequate
facilities for
visitors?……………………………………………
10. Do the current numbers
of
visitors to the wetlands pose a threat to any
species?......................
11. Which species in
particular and
why?..........................................................................
12. Are the bird viewing
hides
adequate?....................
13. Could they be
improved?...............................
14. Are there any areas
where an
additional viewing hide would be
useful?.........................................................
15. How could this threat
be
reduced?.........................................................
16. Have you seen evidence
of predatory animals like foxes and cats in the
wetlands?.........................................
17. Do you think the
current 1080
baiting scheme is satisfactory?.....................................
18. What other measures
should be
introduced to reduce the risks posed by
foxes?........................................................................
19. Would you like to see
the
Jerrabomberra Wetlands fenced to keep foxes
out?......................................
20. Are the exotic tree
species
planted in the wetlands a threat to any bird
species?..............................................
21. Do you consider
removing these
exotic tree species to be warranted or
not?..................................................
22. Should the wetlands be
essentially a native vegetation area, or is the proposed park
environment
suitable for wetland bird species?……………………………………….
23.Is there enough
community
awareness of the Jerrabomberra
Wetlands?......................................................
24. Do you consider
community
education of bird habitats as a positive
program?.................................
25. or do you consider
greater
numbers of visitors as intrusive and threatening to the wetlands
environment?...............................................
26. Do you have any ideas
on the
perfect wetland environment for Jerrabomberra Wetlands, keeping in mind
the
close proximity of development, roads, water uses, and
airport?………………………………………………………………………………..
27. How important do you
consider the
Jerrabomberra wetlands to be in the overall ecology of wetland areas in
the ACT
region?.............................................................................
28. In other words, are
their any
bird species that rely greatly on the Jerrabomberra wetlands for food,
nesting,
protection or
roosting?...............................................................
29. When visiting the
Jerrabomberra
Wetlands how do you feel?........
30. Do you enjoy the
tranquility?..........................................
31. Do you experience a
feeling of
excitement as you hope to see new or rare
species?..............................................................................
32. Do you feel a sense of
peace and contentment?...........................
33. Do you still feel in
awe of
nature?.............................................................
34. Do you feel a sense of
“Place” as
you experience the ambiance of the
wetlands?..................................................
35. Do you feel relieved
to see a
small part of nature preserved from
development?.............................................
36. How many bird species
do you know
use the Jerrabomberra wetlands for
nesting?....................................................-
37. Please name them and
approximate
breeding pairs if
known?........................................................
38. Are you aware of any
bird species
that were originally found along the Molonglo river that are now
extinct from
the region?..............................................
39. If yes, would you like
to see a
program introduced to reintroduce this bird to the
wetlands?.........................................................................
40.Are islands useful in
providing predator
free zones for nesting?....................................
41. Should more cycle
paths be
introduced into the
wetlands?................................................................
42. Do you feel the
priority for
creating the wetlands was for the people, or for the flora and fauna
now found
there?..............................................
43. Do you feel the Kingston
foreshore development is a threat to
the wetlands?...............................................
44. Should all future
building
development be restricted from approaching the waters edge in all Canberra Lakes, ponds and
waterways?...............................................................................
45. If yes,
why?.................................................................................................................
46. In your opinion how
many water
birds in total regularly use the Jerrabomberra
wetlands?......................
47. Do you know if the
Jerrabomberra
wetlands support at least 1% of any endangered
species?.........................
48. Do you know if the
Jerrabomberra
wetlands supports plants and or animals at a critical stage in their
life
cycles or provides refuge in adverse conditions such as severe
drought.?...................................
49.Are you aware of any
other threats
to the Jerrabomberra wetlands?……………………………
Which bird species habitat
would you
like to see developed in this
region?....................................
50 Any further comments on
the
Jerrabomberra wetlands and bird species in this area would be greatly
appreciated…………………………………………………………….
51. How important are the
Sewage
treatment ponds in the breeding cycle of selected
Jerrabomberra
water
birds?..................
52. How important are the
Jerrabomberra Wetlands in the ongoing survival of Latham’s
Snipe?..................
53. How important are the
ponds and
small lakes created in the ACT to water birds, and is there a better
way of
utilizing these wet areas, such as creating islands, more reed beds,
mud flats
etc?...............................
54. What long term
measures must be
addressed and or introduced to preserve wetlands into the next
century?................................................................................
Thank
you for taking the time to fill out this survey.
Thanks and regards,
John Schilling
Student, University of Canberra.Cultural
Heritage Management
