by Allen Xu u6470049

Photo of Ginninderry Community

Introduction

Ginninderry is a new developing suburb at the west of ACT and close to the boundaries of NSW. According to the Ginninderry report (Ginninderra Catchment Group, 2016), the project aims to sustainably develop the region based on the assessment of social, economic and ecological perspectives.

As the pressure applied on natural environment by rapid population growth has been significantly increasing, the balance between urban development and conserving biodiversity and habitat would be crucial within the developing projects. The Ginninderry project has been following the EPBC Act for conservation of several threatened habitat and species in this region and concurrently invest for a ecologically sustainable community.

Main issues with sustainable development

Clearing of land and previous grazing area results in habitat loss of box-gum woodland and natural grassland. Natural corridors for wildlife within the Ginninderry region have been narrowed down and significantly impacted by urban development.

Noxious weeds in habitat results in reduce of ecological and economic values of land and lack of midstorey vegetation that is competitive against them and provide habitat for birds. Difficulties in the extent of coverage of weeding and planting programs, as well as the high cost of reestablishment and maintenance. 

Strategies to address the issues

Offset Management Plan has been proposed and implemented to specify the actions required to offset the developing and residual impacts on threatened habitat. Further sustainable conservation plans following EPBC Act were required with the development of Ginninderry community. 

The Weed Management Plan has been implemented and weed surveys were conducted for mapping occurrences of noxious weeds to establish weeding programs across the region. Several weed management methods have been implemented, for example, application of herbicides, mechanical and physical removal of weeds and planting of other vegetation (Butler, 2014). 

References

Butler, G., 2014. WEED MANAGEMENT PLAN for PROPOSED RIVERVIEW DEVELOPMENT WEST BELCONNEN, Canberra: Environmental & Horticultural Consultancy.

Ginninderra Catchment Group, 2016. A Preliminary Biodiversity Survey of the Ginninderra Falls Area, Canberra: Ginninderra Catchment Group.

Riverview Projects (ACT) Pty Ltd, 2018. Ginninderry Development Offset Management Plan, Canberra: Ginninderry.

Riverview Projects (ACT) Pty Ltd, 2019. Delivering our Project Vision, Canberra: Ginninderry.