One last observation for anyone thinking of providing comment on this issue. The impression gained from the original wording of William Hovell Drive upgrade information was that
access and public use of Kama was to be restricted. Then the website information was changed today as noted. The new wording is consistent with the Molonglo River Reserve Management Plan 2019 which in fact suggests
increased public access and approved uses for Kama. Kama is now part of the Molonglo River Reserve that stretches from the Scrivener Dam to the Murrumbidgee reserve.
The management plan applies to the whole of the new Reserve but does single out Kama for a couple of differences in allowable use. Overall the idea is to generally provide access
to the whole reserve for walking, birding, boating, dog walking, geocaching, drones for management purposes, cycling and horse riding on paths and tracks only, as well as “non-commercial group activities (e.g. bushwalking clubs, social clubs, tour groups)”.
There are a few exceptions and the only differences I can see for Kama are that dogs and horse riding are not permitted.
I’m concerned that there is likely to be too much use of Kama to maintain its current conservation values, but have no suggestion as to how you would limit that while still maintaining
access for, for example, birding.
All this is only peripherally related to the William Hovell Drive upgrade so relevant comment would seem to be restricted to today’s suggestion of “no access to Kama from William
Hovell Drive but new access from Whitlam”.
The Molonglo River Reserve Management Plan 2019 is at
https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/View/di/2019-192/current/PDF/2019-192.PDF
Julian
From: Canberrabirds <>
On Behalf Of Steve Read via Canberrabirds
Sent: Friday, 17 December 2021 7:49 PM
To: 'Canberrabirds' <>
Subject: Re: [Canberrabirds] Kama Nature Reserve access to cease due to duplication of William Hovell Drive
Hi all
Thanks to those who have emailed to say that the ACT Government information on future access to Kama has been updated today. The information at
https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/WHDupgrade/WHD-details#faq
now says, in full
“After discussions with Parks and Conservation Service, there will be no public access to either of the nature reserves off William Hovell Drive. There is access to The Pinnacle Nature Reserve from the north via Weetangera and a new carpark
will be built in Whitlam on the eastern edge of Kama Nature Reserve providing a safe entrance away from high-speed traffic. Also, not having access from William Hovell Drive will eliminate the traffic conflict of vehicles in entering and exiting the road in
this location.”
The deadline for comment remains 11:59 pm on Sunday 19 December.
Regards
Steve
From: Steve Read <>
Sent: Friday, 17 December 2021 12:05 AM
To: 'Canberrabirds' <>
Subject: Fwd: Kama Nature Reserve access to cease due to duplication of William Hovell Drive
Hi all
COG has been informed that access to the Kama block of the Molonglo River Reserve is planned to cease on duplication of this road.
Details of this are in the email chain below. The information that Kama Nature Reserve will only be accessible to Parks and Conservation Service
can also be found by navigating to
https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/WHDupgrade/WHD-details#faq
then selecting the Roads and Public Transport tab, then the question
“What public access arrangements will there be for the Kama and Pinnacle nature reserves?”
.
Kama is of course a prime birding site close to Canberra (347 eBird checklists with 135 species). It is described on ACT government websites
https://www.environment.act.gov.au/parks-conservation/parks-and-reserves/find-a-park/molonglo-river-reserve/molonglo-river-reserve
https://www.environment.act.gov.au/nature-conservation/reserve-management-plans
as being part of the Molonglo River Reserve public reserve.
Members may wish to submit comments to the ACT Government on this potential closure using the ‘Have Your Say” function at
https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/WHDupgrade/william-hovell-drive-upgrade-feedback
(you will need to create an account) or by emailing the ACT Government at
Other possible access solutions for Kama could be considered, including through the new suburb of Whitlam, but the difficulty will be to balance
sufficient access to public woodland with mitigating any impacts from potential overuse of the reserve.
The closing date for comments is 11:59 pm on Sunday 19 December.
Regards
Steve
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Steve Read
0408 170915
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