Mulanggari and Gungaderra Offset Areas
Associated Development: EPIC Block 799, Gungahlin (Development of cabin, camping and possible hotel accommodation)
Commonwealth approval: EPBC 2010/5750
Length of approval: 31 December 2021. Following this date, the offset area will be incorporated into the Canberra Nature Park.
Associate Nature Reserves: Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve and Gungaderra Grasslands Nature Reserve
Where are the Mulanggari and Gungaderra Offset Areas?
The Gungaderra Offset Area (32.7 Ha) extends the northern end of Gungaderra Grasslands Nature Reserve, south of Nudurr Drive. The Mulanggari Offset Area (22.8 Ha) extends the western end of Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve, between Gungahlin Drive and The Valley Avenue.
Why is it an offset?
Mulanggari and Gungaderra Offset Areas (nature reserve extensions) have complementary conservation objectives concerning Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Specifically:
Additional MNES present on the sites include:
- Box-Gum Grassy Woodland (White box - Yellow box- Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and derived native grassland)
- Natural Temperate Grassland (of the South Eastern Highlands)
- Superb Parrot (Polytelis swainsonii)
What else is special about the Mulanggari and Gungaderra Offset Areas?
Connectivity
Mulanggari and Gungaderra Offset Areas form part of a network of remnant patches of lowland native grassland. The offset areas improve connectivity and acts as buffers for high conservation value grasslands protected within the Mulanggari Grassland Nature Reserve and Gungaderra Grassland Nature Reserve.
Threatened flora and fauna
Find out about threatened flora and fauna. You can also find useful information through the NSW Government threatened biodiversity profile search and PlantNET.
Ngunnawal Country and People
Mulanggari and Gungaderra 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 the protection of Aboriginal places and objects.
What can I do in this reserve?
The reserves contain numerous walking trails. It is a popular bird watching area. Dogs and other pets are not allowed in the reserves.
Get involved and find out more about grasslands with Friends of Grasslands.
Management
The long term management aim is to conserve and increase the ecological condition and connectivity of Striped Legless Lizard and Golden Sun Moth and declining woodland bird habitat.
Monitoring and research reports
- Environmental Offsets Ecological Monitoring Program Report 2018-19 [PDF 8.0 MB]
- Environmental Offsets Ecological Monitoring Program Report 2019-20 [PDF 10.8 MB]
- Grassland Mapping Report 2016 [PDF 10.2 MB]
- Striped Legless Lizard Monitoring Report 2015 [PDF 714.3 KB]
- Suitability of proposed offset areas from the University of Canberra [PDF 1.5 MB]
More information
- Find associated publications on the Offsets Register.