Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Management Plan
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Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Plan 2017 YOUR SAY The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate welcomes comments on this draft Reserve Management Plan for the Lower Cotter Catchment. Information is available at: https://www.yoursay.act.gov.au/ You can make comments by: Visiting: www.yoursay.act.gov.au Email: [email protected] Post: Manager, Conservation Planning Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate PO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601 Comments can made until COB 10 March 2017 Privacy Before making a submission, please review the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate’s privacy policy and annex at www.environment.act.gov.au/about/privacy. Any personal information received in the course of your submission will be used only for the purposes of this community engagement process. Names of organisations may be included in any subsequent consultation report, but all individuals will be de-identified unless prior approval is gained. Accessibility The ACT Government is committed to making its information, services, events and venues as accessible as possible. If you have difficulty reading a standard printed document and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, such as large print, please phone Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 or email the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate at [email protected] If English is not your first language and you require a translating and interpreting service, please phone 13 14 50. If you are deaf, or have a speech or hearing impairment and need the teletypewriter service, please phone 13 36 77 and ask for Access Canberra on 13 22 81. For speak and listen users, please phone 1300 555 727 and ask for Access Canberra on 13 22 81. For more information on these services, visit http://www.relayservice.com.au. Enquiries: Phone Access Canberra on 13 22 81. Website: https://www.yoursay.act.gov.au/ Cover photos: Top: Cotter Reservoir from new Cotter Dam (M. Jekabsons) Bottom left: Platypus at Vanitys Crossing (M. Jekabsons) Bottom Right: Cotter River at Bracks Hole (now flooded) prior to 2003 fires (M. Jekabsons) ii Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Plan 2017 LOWER COTTER CATCHMENT DRAFT RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN 2017 iii Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Plan 2017 Acknowledgements The ACT Government acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the ACT, the Ngunnawal people. We respect their continuing culture and the unique contribution they make to the life of this area. This Draft Reserve Management Plan for the Lower Cotter Catchment has been developed by Conservation Planning, ACT Parks and Conservation Service, in the ACT Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD). EPSDD acknowledges the many people who provided advice and assistance in the preparation of this draft Reserve Management Plan. Published by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate. Australian Capital Territory 2017 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced without the written permission of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, PO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601. Disclaimer: Any representation, statement, opinion, advice, information or data expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith but on the basis that the ACT Government, its agents and employees are not liable (whether by reason of negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any representation, statement, advice, information or data referred to above. Maps: ACT Government does not warrant that the data is free from errors. Design: DesignEdge Printed on: 100% recycled paper. iv Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Plan 2017 A Vision for the Lower Cotter Catchment Sunrise over Cotter River (EPSDD photo library) v Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Plan 2017 Contents YOUR SAY ............................................................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................... iv A Vision for the Lower Cotter Catchment .......................................................................................................... v Contents ............................................................................................................................................................ 1 Management Plan Aim ...................................................................................................................................... 6 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Management plan purpose and scope ................................................................................................. 9 1.2 Statement of significance ................................................................................................................... 10 1.3 Regional Setting .................................................................................................................................. 11 1.4 Geography of the Lower Cotter Catchment ....................................................................................... 11 1.5 Climate ................................................................................................................................................ 13 1.6 Cotter Dam and reservoir ................................................................................................................... 13 1.7 ACT Auditor General’s performance audit report .............................................................................. 14 1.8 Implementation .................................................................................................................................. 14 2 SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES IN THE LOWER COTTER CATCHMENT ..................................................... 17 2.1 A new approach to managing the Lower Cotter Catchment .............................................................. 17 2.2 Protecting water quality ..................................................................................................................... 17 2.3 Conserving the natural environment.................................................................................................. 18 2.4 Adapting to climate change ................................................................................................................ 19 2.5 Caring for cultural heritage ................................................................................................................. 19 2.6 Providing opportunities for low-impact recreation ............................................................................ 19 2.7 Managing fire ...................................................................................................................................... 20 2.8 Engaging the community .................................................................................................................... 21 3 MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................ 23 3.1 ACT Legislation .................................................................................................................................... 23 3.2 Commonwealth legislation ................................................................................................................. 24 3.3 International and national agreements .............................................................................................. 24 3.4 Land planning in the ACT .................................................................................................................... 25 3.5 Responsibilities for management of the LCC ...................................................................................... 25 3.6 Key desired outcomes for the management plan .............................................................................. 26 4 ZONING AND ACCESS .......................................................................................................................... 29 4.1 Reserve zoning .................................................................................................................................... 29 4.2 Access ................................................................................................................................................. 31 4.3 Boundary rationalisation .................................................................................................................... 33 5 WATER RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................ 35 5.1 Primary management objective ......................................................................................................... 35 1 Lower Cotter Catchment Draft Reserve Management Plan 2017 5.2 Background ........................................................................................................................................