ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING FORUM (EPF)

4.30 pm – 6.00 pm Thursday 2 March 2017

RECORD OF MEETING

Community Councils and Industry

Elizabeth Hirst – Belconnen Community Council

Damien Haas - Belconnen Community Council

Denis O’Brien – Belconnen Community Council

Larry O’Loughlin – Conservation Council

Stephen Hodge – Cycling Promotions Fund

Kevin Cox – Gungahlin Community Council

David Denham – Inner South Community Council

Chander Khera – Council of the Ageing

Glenys Patulny – Tuggeranong Community Council

Mike Reddy – Woden Valley Community Council

Fiona Carrick - Woden Valley Community Council

Andrew MacKenzie - ACT Institute of Landscape Architects

Alan Morsehel – Institute of Architects

Ewan Brown – Council of the Ageing

Leo Dobes – Inner South Canberra Community Council

ACT Government

Dorte Ekelund – Director-General, EPSDD

Gary Rake – Deputy Director-General, EPSDD (Chair)

Annie Lane, Executive Director, Environment, EPSDD

Margaret Kitchin, Senior Manager, Conservation Research, EPSDD

Claire Wimpenny, Ecologist, Conservation Research, EPSDD

Debbie Worner, Conservation Research, EPSDD

Brett Howland, Conservation Research, EPSDD

Fred Arugay, Customer Services, Access Canberra

Maria Wood, Customer Services, Access Canberra

Kathryn Rhook, Environment, EPSDD.

Helena Seagrott, Strategic Planning, EPSDD

Mayumi Smith (minute taker)

Andrew Pedersen – Director, Asset Acceptance, Schools and Active Travel, TCCS

Apologies

Australian Institute of Landscape Architects

Adam Hobill – Building Designers Australia

Brett Phillips – Executive Director, Planning Delivery, EPSDD

Barbara Norman – Climate Change Council

Michael Hopkins – Master Builders Association

Clare Wall – Planning Institute of Australia

Craig Wallace – ACT Council of Social Services

Pat McGinn – Weston Creek Community Council

1) Welcome & Apologies

The Director-General, Dorte Ekelund, welcomed members to the first meeting for 2017.

2) Notes and actions from previous meeting – 8 December 2016

Following on from December’s meeting, David Denham asked about the certifier exempt development form and how it should include an option to show that City Services has been advised. Ms Ekelund thanked Mr Denham and agreed to follow up.

A summary of action items from the previous meeting is available in Appendix A.

3) Director-General’s update report

Dorte Ekelund summarised the DG report as well as distributing the full report to all members.

Larry O’Loughlin asked about Nature Based Tourism and whether the tourism is being run by Tourism ACT. Larry also pointed out that the environment should be maintained. It was confirmed that EPSDD is driving this activity.

In referencing the 10 tonne statistic of recycling from the Multicultural Festival, the question was asked whether this was compared to the amount consumed. Larry O’Loughlin pointed out that the total of the overall waste statistic would be useful to compare the recycling effort.

Andrew Pederson from the Active Travel Office was welcomed. Mr Pederson outlined a number of activities for active travel over the last few months including school supervisors at crossings, Park and Ride scheme and Ride and Walk week. Action: Active Travel Office activities will be circulated to all members.

Action: Add active travel as a standing agenda item to future EPF meetings.

4) Kangaroo Management Plan

Claire Wimpenny presented to the forum about the kangaroo management plan, a plan that has been in place since 2009. The current plan out for consultation is not a new plan. Canberra is often referred to as the bush capital and also the kangaroo capital. The plan is about protecting the ecosystems.

Leo Dobes asked about our methods for determining kangaroo numbers. Ms Wimpenny listed a number of methods including sweep count method, kangaroo pellet method and walkline count method.

Liz Hurst asked about the University of Canberra population and the response outlined a greenfield policy that is in place to look at this site.

Damien Haas asked about the government’s strategies for managing other than culling and fertility. Ms Wimpenny outlined darting as well as fencing being an option also.

Ewan Brown asked about the kangaroo population in new developments and it was relayed that kangaroos don’t typically move in residential areas eg. Lawson where the population remains largely the same.

David Denham asked about kangaroo management in Namadgi. Kangaroo management is addressed in the plan however this particular area is an animal welfare issue.

5) Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Plan

Debbie Worner presented to the forum on the Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Pan which was released for public comment in January. There have been significant changes in management of the area following the 2003 bushfires and the primary role is protection of water supply. Fire fuel and risk management is a major consideration.

A question raised from forum member asked if mountain bike single tracks were being considered for the Lower Cotter Catchment area. Formation of single tracks is not proposed as they are likely to be accessed for illegal trail bike riding.

Mike Reddy asked why fishing was prohibited on the Cotter Dam but permitted on the Googong Dam. A key reason is that the EHN virus has not established upstream of the Cotter Dam wall. Introduction of the virus on could have a major impact on the Commonwealth listed Macquarie Perch and other native fish species.

6) H2OK campaign

Kathryn Rhook outlined the water quality campaign – H2OK - being carried out by the directorate. This new education program is aimed atimproving the health of waterways in Canberra and the surrounding region including Queanbeyan, Cooma and Yass.

The campaign, officially called the ‘H2OK: Keeping our waterways healthy’ program is part of a joint Federal and ACT Government initiative to improve water quality in the ACT and wider Murray-Darling Basin. The biggest cause of water pollution in lakes and waterways is contaminated stormwater run-off from our streets, house blocks, development sites, retail and industrial areas.

Damien Haas invited the directorate to liaise with community councils to assist in areas to target or events to attend when promoting campaigns.

Kevin Cox asked about assistance being received from ICON Water. It was pointed out that ICON is part of the working group but they are also the asset owner as well as TCCS and NCA. These organisations are contributing in-kind for the campaign and are also partners in the campaign project.

Alan Morsehel asked about animal farmyard and chemicals in relation to this campaign. Ms Rhook said that the directorate is working with Drum Muster amongst other things. Ms Ekelund welcomed more ideas to promote the campaign.

Larry O’Loughlin asked if monitoring will occur to rate the success of the campaign. Ms Rhook confirmed that this will take place.

6) Gungahlin Planning Study refresh

Ewan Brown asked about parking and roads in relation to this planning study and pointed out that we need more parking.

Fiona Carrick wanted to know how this planning study relates to the master plan. Ms Carrick also asked if planning studies will happen in other districts. Ms Ekelund pointed out that the government is at the end of the formal master plan program.

Kevin Cox asked about development approvals and wanting more clarity in this area. Ms Ekelund pointed out that the impacts of each development is looked at which includes proximity to commercial and residential.

7) DA signs

Fred Arugay showed the new DA sign to all forum members. A number of changes have been made to ensure that information displayed on future DA signs make it easier for the community to understand details about the development application. New features such as a QR code will also be included in the new signage. It is expected that the new signage will start in the next few weeks.

Action: DA Finder App note will be sent to all forum members.

8) Members issues

No issues were raised.

9) Other business

Mike Reddy thanked Dorte Ekelund for her professionalism and active participation over the years given that this meeting is Dorte’s final forum attendance.

Appendix A

Action Summary Table

Action / Status
8 December 2016
1 / Action item: Certifier exempt development form should include an option to show that City Services has been advised / To be completed
2 / Action item: Active Travel Office activities will be circulated to all members. / To be completed
3 / Action item: Add active travel as a standing agenda item to future EPF meetings / To be completed
4 / Action item: DA Finder App note will be sent to all forum members. / To be completed

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