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MULLIGANS FLAT WETLANDS TO RETURN TO FORMER GLORY
Published: January 13, 2011, 8:00 am
Section: Jon Stanhope, MLA | Media Releases
Planning work has commenced on a $200,000 repair project to a large dam in Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve that will enable the re-creation of an important wetland environment, Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Jon Stanhope said today.
"The work on this dam will help restore one of the ACT's most important wetlands to good health and once again attract a wide array of water birds," Mr Stanhope said.
Since 1995, Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve has protected a unique box gum woodland environment, as well as a large wetland area created by a very large farm dam built in the 1960s.
However, a number of breaches to the dam wall over time have reduced the size of the wetlands.
"The wetland that the dam helps to create is one of the reasons why the Canberra Ornithologists Group considers Mulligans Flat to be one of the best bird watching areas in the ACT," Mr Stanhope said.
"Investigations have revealed that the dam wall built in the 1960s needs to be better constructed to withstand heavy downpours of rain, particularly like the ones experienced in the past few months.
"In committing $200,000 to repair the dam wall, the current wetland environment will be significantly enlarged.
"This will once more attract uncommon and rare species such as the Freckled Duck, Glossy Ibis, Australasian Shoveler and birds of prey such as White-bellied Sea Eagles to the area.
"One particular species, the uncommon Latham's Snipe, was a migratory visitor from Japan and Russia to the Mulligans Flat wetlands.
"Latham's Snipe is subject of an international conservation agreement and returning the wetland environment to Mulligans Flat could play an important role in its conservation locally."
Mr Stanhope said it was anticipated that the works would be completed by the middle of the year.
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TAMS states that the purpose of the Plan is "to set out the approach to be adopted in managing the environmental, economic and social impacts of eastern grey kangaroos in the ACT, while ensuring the welfare of the animal". The Plan is premised on the understanding that the grassy ecosystems of lowland ACT need active management to ensure they retain their natural integrity, not least because urban growth has served to effectively enclose kangaroo populations.
Call Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 to arrange for a hardcopy of the Report to be posted to you. Alternatively, it can be downloaded at http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/environment/local_wildlife/kangaroo/draft_act_kangaroo_management_plan
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Please go to the GCC website and check out our background information then either lodge a submission or just complete ACTPLA's brief online survey.
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There are still a few 2008 Gungahlin Environment Calendars available for free from the Conservation Council's office in Civic and the Forde Sales and Information Centre. You can also pick up a copy at the Forde Landscaping and Sustainability Day on Sunday 22 June.
The calendar includes the twelve winning photos from the Gungahlin Environment Photo Competition, as well as information about the local environment for Gungahlin residents.