Molonglo Valley Strategic Assessment - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate - Environment

Molonglo Valley Strategic Assessment

Molonglo Valley Strategic Assessment offset areas map
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Associated Development: East Molonglo Development

Commonwealth approval: Strategic assessment of the Molonglo Valley Plan for the Protection of Matters of National Environmental Significance (the NES Plan)

Length of approval: 31 December 2041

Where are the Molonglo Valley offset areas?

The Molonglo Valley offset areas are located in Canberra's west, along the Molonglo River. The offset areas were determined within the strategic assessment of the Molonglo Valley Plan (the NES Plan) for the Protection of Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES):

Why is it an offset?

The Molonglo Valley Strategic Assessment has conservation objectives concerning Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Specifically:

Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) with Common everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum)
Bluebell (Wahlenbergia sp.) with
Common everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum)

What else is special about the Molonglo Valley offset areas?

Barrer Hill Restoration Project

Within the strategic assessment, the Barrer Hill restoration project uses innovative techniques to provide habitat for native animals, including the relocation and resurrection of large mature trees up to 160 years old.

Connectivity

The Molonglo River is a tributary of the Murrumbidgee River, a major river in the Murray-Darling Basin. The Molonglo River catchment, largely in NSW, covers 200,000 Ha. The 115km long river originates in Tallaganda State Forest in the Great Dividing Range above Captains Flat.

The largest tributary of the Molonglo is the Queanbeyan River, which is dammed at Googong Dam upstream of Queanbeyan. It contributes to water supplies for Canberra as well as Queanbeyan.

The Molonglo is dammed by Scrivener Dam to form Lake Burley Griffin, a central feature of the design for Canberra. Water flows in the Lower Molonglo River are highly dependent on releases of water from Scrivener Dam as most of the catchment area is above the dam. The tributaries below the dam contribute only a small proportion of total flows.

For wildlife, connections into the wider region are also important, especially for birds. Kama forms an important link between the Murrumbidgee River Corridor Reserve and the reserves of Canberra Nature Park in the north of Canberra including Mt Majura, Black Mountain, Aranda Bushland, Mt Painter and The Pinnacle. The vegetation along the river also features in wildlife linkages to the west and south and into NSW.

Threatened fauna

Threatened flora

Find out about threatened flora and fauna in our action plans and fact sheets. You can also find useful information through the NSW Government threatened biodiversity profile search and PlantNET.

Ngunnawal Country and People

The Molonglo Valley offset areas are located on Ngunnawal Country, an ancient and diverse landscape managed by Ngunnawal people for tens of thousands of years. For time immemorial Ngunnawal people have maintained a tangible and intangible cultural, social, environmental, spiritual, and economic connection to these lands and waters.

The Heritage Act 2004 makes particular provision for recognising, registering and conserving Aboriginal places and objects. Under the Act it is an offence to damage, disturb or destroy any Aboriginal place or object. Find out more about registration and protection of Aboriginal places and objects at:

Learn more about heritage.

Management

More information