The COG Committee is seeking support from its members and others interested in conservation/environmental issues, for the campaign to save
the North Lawson grasslands from housing development. The campaign is headed by the ACT Conservation Council and the Lawson North Advocacy Group (representing Friends of Grasslands and other community organisations).
Late last year, COG and 108 other community groups/individuals signed a letter to the Commonwealth Defence Housing Australia (DHA), requesting
it not to build a proposed housing estate at Lawson north-east as it would destroy a large area of Natural Temperature Grassland (NTG), an area of Box Gum Woodland, (both critically endangered ecological communities) and habitat for several threatened species,
including the critically endangered golden sun moth. However, the Commonwealth/DHA, appears determined to proceed with this. The ACT Greens have recently adopted a policy to oppose the development on this
site.
The Lawson Grasslands contain over 100 hectares of Natural Temperate Grasslands, a critically endangered ecological community. The grassland at this site is one of
only thirteen areas in the ACT that is over 100 ha in area and is the largest area of NTG in Belconnen.
There is an important principle – the remaining land at North Lawson (originally a part of the Naval Transmission Station which has already been developed with housing), was identified previously for nature and heritage conservation due to its high conservation
values.
There is a petition to the developer, the Commonwealth Defence Housing Association, requesting it not to proceed.
The petition is on this link.
Protect Lawson Grasslands Would you consider signing this, circulating it amongst your circle of friends and contacts, encouraging them also to sign and submit the petition.
There is also a
Lawson Community Markets event to support the campaign on Saturday 27 March (8am-12pm). More information and map for access off Wanderlight Ave, is on the Conservation Council’s website: https://conservationcouncil.org.au/come-along-to-the-lawson-community-markets/
Cheers
Jenny Bounds
COG Conservation Officer
