West Belconnen Bush on the Boundary Reference Group Minutes: 9 December 2015

David Wong GCG

Attending: Kip Tanner, Roz Chivers, Jason Cummings, Ken Hodgkinson, Rosemary Blemings, Larry O’Loughlin, Barbara Payne, John Connelly, Damon Cusack, David Wong

1. Introduction to the Recreational Trails Masterplan – Kip Tanner

Kip Tanner of Canberra Town Planning gave an overview of the process of producing the Recreational Trails Masterplan

• Mapping
• Consultation with user groups – demands and aspirations
• Determine projected use – volume of visitation etc.
• Stakeholder engagement
• Aiming for a draft report by Christmas 2015

Conservation Council are of the opinion that the reserve should be a conservation reserve rather than a recreation reserve

Kip Tanner: Tracks will aim to link desire lines with recreational areas

Damon Cusack raised the issue of the current plan looking more like a recreation reserve

Need to be clear on the status of the reserve first. Will conservation or recreation be prioritised?

The issue of interpretation was raised: signage or app. Pros and cons were discussed e.g. signs vandalised

Kip Tanner mentioned that the process is usually to design tracks first and then work out the interps

The issue of mapping “no-go” zones was raised.

Damon Cusack raised the issue that having vehicle access right to the river will increase traffic to falls and potentially increase impact.

Rosemary Blemings suggested the idea of developing an app with interpretation in the area.

Mountain Biking was discussed

It is a challenge to come up with a trail network that will avoid trail building, going off track etc.

Idea of having an area available where people could build tracks etc. e.g. tip site

There is a need to emphasise that this is a special place

Ken Hodgkinson suggested that biological hotspots should be identified.

Rosemary suggested the potential to treat the whole area as a biodiversity hotspot.

Road to river will be part of the Riverside Park DA. Would need to refer to EPBC if it is likely to have a significant impact on Pink-tailed Worm Lizard.

Possibility of BoB writing a letter enquiring about the status of the trust was raised.

Question of whether Strathnairn would be one of the stakeholders engaged in the consultation.

Siting of the road to the proposed Discovery Centre was raised. Potentially impacts significant areas. The possibility of moving this to a higher point in the landscape was suggested.

Comments on these issues could be submitted during the public notification period for the rezoning.

Next steps

Kip Tanner to present report at the first BoB meeting after Christmas 3 Feb 2015.

Engage ecologist and cultural heritage expert to walk the proposed tracks

Rosemary Blemings raised the idea of a Landcare School. Circulated a document.

Roz Chivers will follow up as to whether there is still potential for this to be considered for the proposed school site near Strathnairn

1. Report on other working groups:

• Ginninderra Falls Biodiversity Working Group representatives met to discuss alternative conservation line proposed by GCG. Next step will be to go on site to gps the proposed line and discuss from there.
• Report back to working group on 15 December.

1. Items for future meetings:
2. 3 Feb – Kip Tanner to present Draft Recreational Trails Masterplan
3. Open space strategy
4. Incorporation of Aboriginal knowledge, involvement and employment into the development
5. Invite John Starr and rural lessees to talk about their experience with the rural/urban interface
6. The trust
7. Offsets