Inquiry into "Nature in our city" -matters affecting the value of the natural
environment in an urbanising Canberra
G .. d -)\ 1nn1n erry Presentation to the ACT Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on the Environment and Transport and City Services
a case study
8 May 2019
Jil!!l_ Riverview ·BAJ · Developments
lltt at'anbtrra limt• TO SERVE THE NATIONAL CITY
10 ~ril2019
"should housing be the priority over the environment?"
Robyn Coghlan
President, Ginninderra Falls Association,
Interviewed by the Canberra Times as a
concerned conservationist
G .. d * 1nn1n erry
This is not a "one or the other" argument.
Ginninderry project has taken a 'triple l;>ottom line" approach, addressing social,
environmental, and economic objectives
concurrently.
• Demand for affordable housing in the
ACT region is very real and sites able to
accommodate housing are scarce.
• The environment that sustains the city
must be conserved
• Whatever we do must be economically viable
Jil!LRiverview ~Developments
" ...... the urban development and conservation corridor at West Belconnen (Ginninderry) is an outstanding example of sustainable development with strong environmental outcomes".
G .. d * 1nn1n erry
Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy, April 2019
• i, ' •. J>." •
. ::- , ,. ~ ~:. Australian Government '"".:.: .... , . ....., r~ ---- -----
,1}.,j\~ef~~~'J{"-· Department of the Environment and Energy
Jil!lRiverview ~ Developments
Master planning was preceded by detailed scientific studies and definition of biodiversity values over the whole site.
G .. d * 1nnm erry
Rural land
/ '
~ Possi ~M.inderra D · • alignment ,,,- ....... ~~-.'-~•· _1. ; . __ ~~-- . •
,v ..... . .. .. , ... '\ ". , .:;- i': .~r ~- --- ,- .
ll, - , . ---....__ '. ': .• - ·, ·-:·· •
.:z.~c:/ ·" ... , "' --·?,·,,.. • . ., •t, -·.:· • . ~~-\ :· · •. ':'P .. ,l•J~:_:_,, ·-.~\.-. ~- ~~:(
/ Dunlop /
/
~·~t. ·.' . t -: •. ::.!p ' .~ • -~ t '
• . . ·'l_:i ·,,· a:-- ' --it .. ·' . • , V •.• ,. ~. ·· .• ~~ A - ' - ·-
- ' ·-.: J.. , .-., .. a:~..., .. - 1 11
•·•• I,'-,... ~-: "'·· Rural land
Kippax
Golf course
Rural and viticulture
North LMWQCC
~Riverview ~ Developments
Natural Environment Reports commissioned to date:
G .. d * 1nnin erry
• Peer review by David Shorthouse • Geoff Butler & Associates, Conservation Management plan for part of Ginninderra Creek,
4 November 2009. • Kevin Mills & Associates, West Belconnen Project ACT & NSW Land Flora and Fauna Studies, January 2009. • Kevin Mills & Associates, Further Flora and Fauna Studies, Land at West Molonglo and Ginninderra Creek. July 2009. • Kevin Mills & Associates, West Belconnen Project NSW Land Flora and Fauna Studies, September 2013. • Kevin Mills & Associates, West Belconnen ACT Parkwood land Flora and fauna Assessment, December 2013. • Kevin Mills & Associates, West Belconnen Project ACT and NSW Land Targeted Bird Surveys, September 2013. • Kevin Mills & Associates, Ecological Studies West Belconnen Australian Capital Territory, January 2014. • Nash, K., & Hogg, D. West Belconnen Woodland Areas Confirmatory Ecological Assessment, May 2013. • Osborne, W., & Wong, D. The extent of habitat for the vulnerable Pink-tailed Worm Lizard (Aprasia parapulchella) in the West
Belconnen - Ginninderra Creek investigation area - confirmatory distribution surveys and mapping, 10 may 2013. • Rowell, A. West Belconnen Golden Sun Moth surveys, October to December 2012., 2013 • Procedures Manual, Baseline Condition Assessment, Sarah Sharp, March 2015 • West Belconnen Vegetation Survey Summary, August 2015, Robert Jessop Pty Ltd. • West Belconnen Tree simulation modelling: Stage 1 Precinct Plan, Darren Le Roux, Philip Gibbons, Karen lkin and Laura Rayner
Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University • Movements of the little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) surrounding the proposed Riverview Development Area, Australian
Capital Territory, Renee Brawata and Bernd Gruber, 2016. • Little eagle scat analysis, completed during 2014 • A Preliminary Biodiversity Survey of the Ginninderra Falls Area, Ginninderra Catchment Group 2016. • Heath Goanna Habitat Assessment, Dec 2016, Eco Logical Pty Ltd. • Natural Temperate Rocky Grassland Assessment, SMEC, Jan 2017.
Proposed West Belconnen Conservation Area Options for establishment and management, TRC,10 June 2014 • Draft Management Plan, West Belconnen Conservation Reserve 2016 - 2021, TRC, Nov 2016. • Ginninderry Project, Rosenbergs Goanna Discussion Paper, May 2017, Eco Logical Pty Ltd
• Habitat evaluation of two proposed extension areas to provide improved ecological outcomes for Varanus Rosenbergii, Brian Green, Fiorenza Guarino and William Higgisson Institute of Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, March 2017.
Jib~ Riverview ~ Developments
This science-based process led to the definition of a conservation corridor that includes all significant biodiversity & cultural values on the site
All urban requirements, e.g. bushfire protection, within the urban area.
G .. d * 1nn1n erry . r.1m.. Riverview ~ Developments
Conservation corridor
Total 596 ha 36% of gross area
ACT portion now in place rezoned 2016
NSW rezoning anticipated 2019/20
G . . d * 1nn1n erry _D_Riverview ~ Developments
The master plan
Master planning for urban development then proceeded on land not identified as having significant biodiversity value
(largely farmland, also including 107 Ha. landfill site, quarry, powerline easements)
Designed to complement and integrate with the conservation corridor
G . . d * 1nnin erry
Legend
--- Sl,e Boundary
- NSW / ACT Border
Proposed Urban Areas
Possible Schools ~' to confrmotionl
Ploying Fields
Mixed Use
PolenHol Mixed UseSvoitel IO Further Remectct.on Srvcllc:
Employmen1
« • Porks
Box Gvm Woodland
Transmission line Eosmen1 Polonlol I.XCls Ma( lrd,de,
F\iblltOoenSOCQ
Pooostrior,/Cvd,tNc:rwor~
Cc:mm1.1ntry Gc:rd«'d
Urba1.Agrio.rlll.n-
J Possible Sile lor Switching Station
Pol•nl'id Uws lkTf ncludt:
01Sf11CI Pkr,trtg.f6115.
SuslolnoMt ~chnolog m:.
i«ydng foc-'.1ie5
WSUO Feature Basins
Jil!L Riverview ~ Developments
"Ginninderry environmental management trust" is now established
Environmental management trust structure
Board, 8 members + independent chair:
• skills-based 'community reps' including 2 aboriginal reps
• 'reserved' posit ions - 1 for ACT Govt; 1 for YVC; 1 for NSW Govt; 1 for JV
• These 8 reps appoint an Independent Chair, with a casting vote
G .. d * 1nn1n erry JimL Riverview l!!IAf Developments
J
The conservation corridor is subject to a Management Plan:
• Management plan has been approved by the ACT Conservator and the ACT Environment Minister
• Developed with the community
• Subject to public scrutiny
• Periodic review and approval by ACT Conservator and NSW agencies
• Available on Ginninderry.com reports library
G . . d * 1nnm erry
Ginninderry Co11servation Corridor
G . . d -i-inn1n erry
2018 - 2023
ff_ Riverview ~ Developments
Conservation Corridor Funding
The agreed funding model includes 3 primary revenue streams:
• Capital contributions to the Trust equivalent to 1% of sales revenue across the project area {NSW & ACT)
• A $100/annum 'rates surcharge' on each dwelling for NSW, equivalent from ACT Treasury annually
• Some within-corridor commercial revenue streams (e.g. commercial licences, car parking, venue hire, sponsorship)
G .. d * mn1n erry
r Jill._ Riverview -BAJ-Developments
'
G . . d * 1nn1n erry
Key financial model outputs Net Income (Excluding Interest)
$3.5
$3.0
~\ $2.5
- ~
"' $2.0
~ s: -~ ~
$1.5
- 11111 $1.0
$0.5
$0.0
- Total Expenses --Total Revenue
Surplus funds generated for future investment and post-project sustainability
IHI 1111
Costs
- Approx $2m pa once corridor is completely opened
r Jil!l Riverview l!!Uf Developments
'
Outcomes for nature conservation
Before:
1600 Ha of largely agricultural land with:
• Degrading biodiversity values, minimal or no protection for listed species and ecological communities
• No recognition of Aboriginal cultural values or capacity for cultural site management, protection or access by Aboriginal community
• No public access
• No community say in the future of the site
G .. d * inn1n erry
After:
596 Ha Conservation reserve
• Identification of all biodiversity values, scientifically based, fully funded, long-term management and rehabilitation strategy.
• Full recognition of Aboriginal cultural values, management arrangements and funding secured for the long term. Aboriginal memberships on Environmental Trust Management Board
• Open for public access
• Community input by way of the community based environment management trust.
falm Riverview li!llif Developments
'
Other initiatives to bring nature into the city at Ginninderry:
• Interpretation strategy • Front yard landscaping • Water sensitive urban design strategy -
42 ponds and wetlands • Remnant tree research with ANU Fenner
school - 80% protection and rehabilitation • Urban agriculture & community gardens • Bee and bird friendly landscapes
G . . d * 1nn1n erry r.lm Riverview ~ Developments
To summarise:
• Ginninderry has been planned systemically,
• with a master plan for the whole site
• this enabled both the natural and urban components to be properly dealt with and integrated.
G .. d * 1nn1n erry Ji1!I_ Riverview ··BAJ· Developments
j