Kama Nature Reserve access to cease due to duplication of William Hovell Drive

[Sue Lashko via Canberrabirds <>]

A few comments:

1. I wonder how many months or years it will be before this new access point is built - the map on the website does not show the new carpark.
2. It is 500-1000 metres from the suburb, across Deep Creek, across the buffer zone, to the reserve boundary.  Will a vehicle track be built across the buffer zone, or will it be a walking track?
3. Will Kama become the mountain bike riding area for the residents of Kama - and who will police the no dog rule?

On Fri, 17 Dec 2021 at 19:49, Steve Read via Canberrabirds <> wrote:

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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