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This is the document Jenny alluded to in her earlier email responding to Fleur and John and the imminent destruction of habitat trees for (necessary) the widening of Gundaroo Drive, Crace.
https://www.parliament.act.gov.au/in-committees/standing-committees-current-assembly/standing-committee-on-environment-and-transport-and-city-services/Nature-in-our-City
Personally I find the 'Invitation to make a submission’ difficult to navigate and complex.
May I suggest that as many COG members as possible , please create and send succinct submission paragraphs based on their years of birdwatching in the ACT region?
Please reinforce that the natural areas that are within, around and created the internationally unique setting of Canberra:
- need to remain conservation areas
- need to remain as inspiring vistas
- need to remain as habitats for native species
- need to remain unimpacted by further infrastructure
(other than simple access & safety measures)
- reserves & Urban Open Spaces are primarily for respectful recreation, contemplation, appreciation, observation & recording of nature, low impact exercise opportunities
- reserves & Urban Open Spaces have made enormous contributions to birdwatchers’ health, fitness and wellbeing and can continue to do so if all agencies co-operate (continue to co-operate in COG’S case) in presenting the joys, awesomeness,
resilience and wonder of nature to those who have not yet begun journeys similar to ours
Canberra Nature Park reserves, the numerous neighbourhood spaces, riverine zones and wetlands may host infrastructure now but
they do not need to be targeted for ”opportunities for development of… water…and …..natural form infrastructure”.
The inquiry covers, and I quote by ‘cherry-picking’:
- the existing or potential benefits and challenges [natural areas] bring
- social amenity;
- economic development;
- functional requirements of proposed infrastructure;
- cost and maintenance considerations
- and in 3 (d), 4 and 5 you will notice that conservation, the interface and integration between or of the natural environment are last on the lists.
Thank you if you can make time to show that Canberra’s nature is essential to the majority,
Rosemary
Amateur naturalist, volunteer landcarer, COG member.
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