Summary

Natural resources in the ACT are at risk. Despite more than half the territory being protected in conservation reserves, some 31 plant and animal species and two ecological communities are either vulnerable or endangered. These species and habitats occur mostly in the lowland open woodland and grassland areas where the city is located and rural activities take place. At the same time, the population of the ACT is increasing, placing a higher burden on the territory’s land, water and biodiversity.

The ACT also imposes a very high (by world standards) ecological footprint on the Earth – higher than any other city in Australia. It was measured at 2.65 million hectares in 2003/04 which is more than 11 times its actual size.

Wildflowers in an urban setting: Xerochrysum viscosum on Mount Majura. Xerochrysum viscosum Photo Sarah Ryan

This plan is about repairing and maintaining the landscape of the ACT so that it is sustainable. It is integrated with other ACT plans that take account of natural resources, and recognises the ACT’s place in the local Murrumbidgee catchment and the wider Murray–Darling Basin.

This plan for managing the ACT’s natural resources is a revision of the territory’s first plan published in 2004. It takes account of progress made since that plan, and changes in values and environmental status.

Management of natural resources needs to be sustainable ensuring that land, water and biodiversity remain healthy and viable,
to support a healthy and viable ACT community. Issues of immediate concern in the ACT include:

  • urban expansion – threatening remaining areas of woodland and grassland, and species that depend on them, and placing an ever greater pressure on water resources
  • fragmentation – resulting in at-risk plants and animals only occurring in less viable isolated pockets
  • pest plants and animals – threatening ecological communities particularly at the edges of developments
  • climate change – increasing demands on water and energy, and severely affecting the ability of native plants and animals to survive
  • water extraction and waterway modification – threatening natural river flows and reducing water quality and quantity for downstream users
  • bushfire hazard – ensuring hazard is reduced while not threatening natural values and strengths.

In this plan, the management of natural resources has been divided into the categories of community, land, water and biodiversity. Sixteen targets have been developed addressing issues of concern. These targets are to guide natural resource management actions for government and community. They do not impose data collection responsibility on any specific agency. The targets will also be used to support funding proposals.

 

Community targets

Vision: Our diverse community has a cohesive sense of its special place and the capabilities to ensure the wise use and enjoyment of our natural systems in perpetuity
1. Ecological footprint
Intermediate
Agreed ecological footprint measures are established and progress reported publicly in the ACT state of environment reporting (from 2008)
A 15% reduction in the 2008 per capita ecological footprint has been achieved (2015)
Long-term
A 30% reduction in the 2008 per capita ecological footprint has been achieved (2030)
2. Indigenous engagement
Intermediate
Traditional knowledge has actively influenced significant decision making in Namadgi National Park and more broadly over ACT public land (2015)
Long-term
Application of traditional knowledge and values has influenced the conservation and management of the ACT’s natural assets (2030)

Indigenous employment and active participation in natural resource management activities has more than doubled from its 2008 base (2030)

3. Community Capacity
Intermediate
Training of 2200 adults to assist the delivery of natural resource management outcomes, through an annual program of targeted capacity building and learning opportunities (2015)
Long-term
Training of 5000 adults to assist the delivery of natural resource management outcomes, through an annual program of targeted capacity building and learning opportunities (2030)
4. Community Participation
Intermediate
Community participation in natural resource management has grown by 11 000 people (2008 to 2015)
Long-term
Community participation in natural resource management has grown by 23 000 people (2008 to 2030)
5. Integration of planning frameworks
Intermediate
One set of natural resource management objectives for the ACT, expressed consistently in the Territory Plan, the National Capital Plan, the Natural Resource Management Plan, and echoed in management plans for specific places and their progress reported in regular state of environment reports (2015)
Long-term
An enduring, stable and ACT-wide natural resource management planning framework that ensures that natural resource management targets are generally accepted in the community and that delivers significant natural resource management outcomes (2030)

 

Land Targets

Vision: Land is recognised as the foundation of ACT landscapes and is used and managed in a way that is consistent with its capability, sensitive to catchment health, responsive to climate change, adaptable to the carbon economy and contributing to sustainable community development
6. Urban land health
Intermediate
Achievement of urban soil health at above the average for large Australian cities and preservation of vegetation cover on buffer land (2015)
Long-term
Maintenance of urban soil health at above the average for large Australian cities (to 2030)
7. Rural land health
Intermediate
80% of rural land meets the top standard for land health in relation to land capability (2015)
Long-term
95% of rural land consistently meets the top standard for land health in relation to land capability (2030)
Target timelines

Both intermediate and long-term targets are proposed in this plan. Intermediate targets are intended to be achieved by the year 2015; long-term targets by 2030. Targets and progress towards them will be reviewed at regular intervals.

Community engagement in natural resources.
Community engagement Photo Sarah Ryan
Road upgrade disturbing soil
Land Photo Colin Chandler

 

Water Targets

Vision: The health of all ACT water ecosystems is consistently the best of all Australian capital cities and their catchments
8. Water supply catchments
Intermediate
Revegetation and better road management in the lower Cotter stabilises sediment movement to streams in the lower Cotter catchment at below pre-bushfire levels (2015)

Ensure water supply security that results in water restrictions limited to one in every 20 years or less than 5% of the time (2015)

Long-term
The excellent condition of all ACT water supply catchments provides resilience to loss of water quality in parts of the catchment due to periodic bushfires or other periodic disturbance (2030)
9. Water use
Intermediate
Achieve a reduction in per capita mains water use from 174 kL (2003) to 153 kL; and 20% of water use to be recycled, stormwater and rainwater. Total net water use remains within the Cap agreed by the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council and due for review in 2011 (2015)
Long-term
Reach a stabilised per capita mains water use of 130 kL and maintain the 20% increase in the use of recycled, stormwater and rainwater. Total net water use remains within the Cap agreed by the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council and due for review in 2011 (2030)
10. Surface water quality
Intermediate
Surface water quality in all rivers, streams and lakes is ‘fit for purpose’ for 90% of the time with respect to the Water Quality Standards as defined in the Environment Protection Regulations 2005 (2015)

AUSRIVAS scores average ‘B’ or better (2015)

Long-term
Surface water quality in all rivers, streams and lakes is ‘fit for purpose’ for 95% of the time with respect to the Water Quality Standards as defi ned in the Environment Protection Regulations 2005 (2030)

AUSRIVAS scores average half way between ‘A’ and ‘B’ (2030)

11. Riverine ecosystems and wetlands
Intermediate
Riparian health of the Molonglo River between Queanbeyan and Lake Burley Griffin enhanced (2015)
Long-term
The extent, integrity and condition of riverine and wetland ecosystems is maintained and enhanced in accordance with their stated values (2030)
12. Environmental flows
Intermediate
The ecological objectives in the environmental flow guidelines are achieved (2015)
Long-term
The ecological objectives in the environmental flow guidelines are achieved (2030)
13. Groundwater
Intermediate
Field validation of the extent and yield of all aquifers is completed and their sustainable yields determined (before 2015)
Long-term
No water management areas experience groundwater extraction beyond sustainable yields (before 2030)

 

Biodiversity Targets

Vision: Biodiversity decline is halted, then sustainably managed to ensure resilient ecosystem functioning
14. Communities and habitat
Intermediate
Fire hazard management is improved so that it is more compatible with protection of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (2015)

A strategy is in place to guide management and conservation of biodiversity threatened by climate change (2015)

Long-term
The integrity, condition and resilience of native terrestrial and aquatic communities and related habitats is as good or better than it was in 2008 (2030)
15. Endangered species and communities
Intermediate
Trajectories show that endangered species and communities are becoming less threatened (2015)
Long-term
The conservation listing status of endangered species and communities improves by 20% (2030)
16. Urban biodiversity
Intermediate
Provision for enhancing urban biodiversity values and functions is incorporated into development decisions, management plans and local neighbourhood actions (2015)
Long-term
Healthy and resilient urban biodiversity, at local and landscape scale (2030)

Canberra has established a strong international reputation as a ‘bush’ capital and is widely used as a best practice case study (2030)

Ginini Flats – a harbour of biodiversity Biodiversity

Photo Parks Conservation and Land

Stream in the Orroral Valley, Namadji National Park Biodiversity Photo Mark Stewart


 

Implementation

Implementation and progress of the targets in this plan will be monitored and evaluated regularly as part of an adaptive management process (i.e. planning, acting, reviewing, replanning and adapting and then acting again).

Caring for Our Country

In March 2008, the Australian Government announced the Caring for our Country program. It commenced on 1 July 2008 and will integrate delivery of the Commonwealth’s existing natural resource management programs – the Natural Heritage Trust, the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality, the National Landcare Program, the Environmental Stewardship Program, and the Working on Country Indigenous Land and Environmental Program.

Caring for our Country will address six national priorities:

  • a national reserve system

  • biodiversity and natural icons

  • coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats

  • sustainable farm practices

  • natural resource management in remote and northern Australia and

  • community skills, knowledge and engagement.

The ACT is well positioned to work with the Australian Government in delivering Caring for our Country as the targets in this plan align with these priority areas.

The ACT Natural Resource Management Council (Council) is working with the ACT Commissioner for the Environment and Sustainability to align reporting on progress with targets with ACT State of the Environment reporting. Currently these reports are required once within the four-year fixed-term of each Assembly. Other specific asset-related monitoring and reporting activities will also inform progress against targets.

This plan will be reviewed every fi ve years; investments will be reviewed annually.

This plan provides targets for investment. This investment can be from any source, although the ACT and Australian governments are likely to be the major investors. Other investors include community-based organisations, business, industry, academic and research organisations, and members of the general public. All contributions are valued and are necessary to ensure that the targets are met.

Related strategies include the:

  • Natural Resource Management Investment Strategy

  • Communications Strategy

  • Capacity Building Strategy and

  • Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Strategy.