MICK Gentleman says Justice Robert Hope Park will become a new nature reserve and the Pinnacle Nature Reserve will be extended if changes to the Territory Plan tabled today in the ACT Legislative Assembly are accepted.

“These additions to the Canberra Nature Park will provide better protection to species and ecological communities listed under the Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act,” Mick said.

“The Australian Government has approved them as offsets for new developments that will impact EPBC Act listed species and communities.

“Territory Plan Variation 349 sees the addition of 19.3 hectares to the existing Pinnacle Nature Reserve near Weetangera to offset the impact of the development of the University of Canberra Public Hospital, including 7.6 hectares of White Box–Yellow Box–Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland.

“The variation changes the zoning of the 18.6 hectare Justice Robert Hope Park from Urban Open Space to Hills, Ridges and Buffer with a nature reserve overlay. The park is dominated by large, old prolific trees that provide valuable habitat for canopy-dwelling birds and woodland fauna.

“The park will offset the impact from the proposed 3 hectare medium-density development of neighbouring Block 9 Section 64 Watson and the extension of Negus Crescent to Antill Street at Prime Television, which has White Box-Yellow Box–Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland.

“ACT woodlands are some of the biggest, best connected, most botanically diverse examples of their type still remaining in Australia and it is essential that we balance development with their protection.

“Bringing these areas into the Canberra Nature Park will allow us to better manage these areas to conserve the threatened ecological communities they represent and the diversity of threatened and non-threatened species that live within them.

“I would like to acknowledge the support of land care and park care groups in helping to establish and manage these areas to date and encourage them to continue this support,” Minister Gentleman said.

The tabling of the variation follows community consultation. Four submissions were received, which were largely supportive; any concerns have been addressed in the report on consultation available on the Environment and Planning website.

Full details of Territory Plan Variation 349 are available at act.gov.au