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

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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".

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Australian Government Department of Environment and Energy, April 2019

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,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.

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Rural land

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Kippax

Golf course

Rural and viticulture

North LMWQCC

~Riverview ~ Developments

Natural Environment Reports commissioned to date:

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• 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.

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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

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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

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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

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Ginninderry Co11servation Corridor

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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)

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r Jill._ Riverview -BAJ-Developments

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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

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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

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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

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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

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