Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary will continue protecting native species and providing opportunities to interact with nature under a new draft strategy released for consultation today.
Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman said Mulligans Flat was home to iconic and endangered species such as bettongs and quolls, along with threatened Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands.
"The new Strategy sets the direction for the Sanctuary for the next 25 years," Minister Gentleman said.
"The Sanctuary's long-term research partnership with the ANU has delivered significant achievements over the last 15 years.
"Together we've reintroduction of the Eastern Bettong, the Eastern Quoll and the Bush Stone-curlew, enabling the Sanctuary to organise and run educational programs to help connect the Canberra community to the environment.
"This success means these animals can be shared with other sanctuaries around Australia to help build populations in other locations and safeguard species from extinction.
"Construction has also stated on the new Woodland Learning Centre in Throsby, which will be a gateway to the Sanctuary and is scheduled for completion in 2021."
Minister for the Environment Rebecca Vassarotti said the draft strategy will provide for more ways for Canberrans to learn about the Sanctuary and its rich history, while delivering critical biodiversity conservation actions and supporting important conservation research on the site.
"We're excited about the input from the Dhawura Ngunnawal Caring for Country Committee into the Strategy and the ongoing success of the Sanctuary, including finding ways to showcase and support the practice of Ngunnawal culture within the Sanctuary," Minister Vassarotti said.
"The draft strategy represents the valuable partnership the ACT Government has with the Ngunnawal Traditional Custodians, the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust (the Trust) and The Australian National University (ANU).
"The Sanctuary is special to many Canberrans because it allows people to learn about and experience the region's unique ecosystem right in their backyard.
"Mulligans Flat has seen so much ground-breaking conservation research and is recognised internationally for its operational model. The Strategy sets the path for the Ngunnawal Traditional Custodians, Government, the Trust and ANU to continue working together to be a leader in conservation research and management in the region."
You can view the strategy and have your say on the ACT Government YourSay website: https://yoursay.act.gov.au/mulligans-flat-woodland-sanctuary-draft-strategy
As stated by Professor Saul Cunningham, Director of the Fenner School of Environment and Society at The Australian National University:
"The partnership has helped us achieve outstanding practical outcomes for conservation in an area of science that is inherently challenging. Our researchers help to realise the aspirations of the broader ACT community. The new strategy builds on 15 years of long-term ecological research and will help to ensure that the ACT can lead the nation in practical conservation and building a more resilient ecosystem."
As stated by Ms Alison Russell-French, President of the Woodlands and Wetlands Trust:
"While it is fun to reflect on our achievements - we only need look across the Tasman to our colleagues at Zealandia Sanctuary to know we have much more to do. The Strategy charts an exciting future for Canberra with stronger engagement with the Ngunnawal community and a pathway for putting biodiversity back into the Capital's Bushland - making us a real Bush capital. We are very grateful for the contributions of our volunteers and community members in developing the Strategy, and we are really keen to now hear from all Canberrans."
