Canberra birders: I am sending this email on
behalf of the COG Committee to seek your assistance in our efforts to save bird
habitats in the Molonglo Valley. We need you to send an email
or letter NOW to relevant ACT Government politicians, and Commonwealth
MPs for the ACT. There is a list attached with contact details of the
MLAs/MPs to write to and some words to use in a letter below.
regards
Jenny
The ACT Government is likely to decide the future
development footprint of the Molonglo Valley in May A background
paper prepared by the Conservation Council with a vision for a conservation
area in the Central Molonglo is attached. COG and other
environmental groups support this vision. This area we want protected
is broadly north of Coppins Crossing, west of William Hovell Drive and south of
Drake-Brockman Drive in Belconnen, and incorporates what is known as the Kama
woodland where the largest group of Brown Treecreepers known to occur close
to the urban fringe still survives. See the map in the pdf file
attached.
COG and other groups have not opposed urban
development in the East Molonglo Valley which lies north of Weston Creek;
this is largely former pine forest and degraded rural
land. However, there are still concerns about some issues
including development close to the river and the lake proposed by the
planning authorities.
What is at stake?
A population of 13 species of birds of prey,
unique so close to a capital city, including Wedge-tailed Eagle and Peregrine
Falcon territories.
The last two breeding territories in the ACT of the
Little Eagle, which COG has nominated for listing as threatened.
A population of threatened Brown Treecreepers,
which won't survive with urban development surrounding them.
Significant impacts on bird and other wildlife
corridors, eg from the Molonglo River through to Black Mountain/Aranda
Bushland.
Endangered communities of Yellow Box-Red Gum Grassy
woodlands and Natural Temperate Grassland.
Please send a letter or email, using the points
below, adapted in your own words:
I am writing about the urban development proposals
for the Molonglo Valley.
The Central Molonglo Valley
should not be developed for housing, as this would destroy endangered woodlands
and habitats for a number of threatened and declining bird species, including
the Brown Treecreeper, the Superb Parrot and the Little Eagle, and will impact
significantly on an important wildlife corridor.
The Little Eagle will be
lost as a breeding species in the ACT, and the Brown Treecreeper population at
the Kama woodland will not survive if the Central Molonglo is developed.
