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The Pinnacle Offset Area

Associated Development: University of Canberra Public Hospital and the duplication of William Hovell Drive, between John Gorton Drive and Drake Brockman Drive, including construction of associated infrastructure and tie in works, in the districts of Molonglo Valley and Belconnen, ACT

Commonwealth approval: EPBC 2013/6987 and EPBC 2020/8703

Length of EPBC 2013/6987 approval: 30 September 2030. Following this date, the offset area will be incorporated into the Canberra Nature Park.

Length of EPBC 2020/8703 approval: 27 August 2069. Following this date, the offset area will be incorporated into the Canberra Nature Park.

Associated Nature Reserve: The Pinnacle Nature Reserve

Where is The Pinnacle Offset Area?

The Pinnacle Offset Area (19.5 Ha) extends The Pinnacle Nature Reserve. It is located along the William Hovell Drive, north of the Kama Nature Reserve. The nearest suburb is Hawker.

The William Hovell Drive Duplication Offset Area (47 Ha) is located on registered rural block no. 1616, Belconnen. The offset adjoins the existing Pinnacle Offset Area.

Why is it an offset?

The Pinnacle Offset Area (nature reserve extension) has conservation objectives concerning Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Specifically:

Other MNES present on the site includes:

The William Hovell Drive Duplication Offset Area has complementary conservation objectives concerning Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES), protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) . Specifically:

Other MNES present on the sites include:

What else is special about The Pinnacle Offset Area?

Connectivity

The offset area extends The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, which is part of a group of nature reserves that form a connected network of remnant woodland vegetation, extending from Black Mountain and Bruce Ridge in the east, and the Kama Nature Reserve, Molonglo River and Murrumbidgee River Corridor in the west. The Pinnacle Box-Gum Grassy Woodland provides valuable wildlife habitat, permitting movement across the landscape for a variety of species.

The William Hovell Drive Duplication Offset Area is a key link in an extensive landscape of remnant woodland vegetation, enabling wildlife movement across country stretching from The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, O'Connor Ridge and Black Mountain nature reserves to its east, to Molonglo River Reserve immediately to its south, and the reserves along the Murrumbidgee River to its west.

Fauna

  • Brown Songlark (Cincloramphus cruralis)
  • Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus)
  • Diamond Firetail (Stagonopleura guttata)
  • Flame Robin (Petroica phoenicea)
  • Gang Gang (Callocephalon fimbriatum)
  • Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides)
  • Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus)
  • Restless Flycatcher (Myiagra inquieta)
  • Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)
  • Speckled Warbler (Chthonicola sagittata)
  • Spotted Harrier (Circus assimilis)
  • Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
  • Varied Sittella (Daphoenositta chrysoptera)
  • White-winged Triller (Lalage sueurii)

Flora

Three woodland plant species considered rare in the ACT are known to occur in the offset area. These species are:

  • Bristle Rock Fern (Cheilanthes distans)
  • Narrow Plantain (Plantago gaudichaudii)
  • Pale Flax Lily (Dianella longifolia)

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

The Pinnacle Offset Area is 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 reserve is accessible for walking and bird watching. Horse riding is permitted along designated trails. Dogs are permitted on a leash.

Get involved and volunteer with Friends of The Pinnacle.

Management

The long term management aim for the offset area is to conserve and improve the extent and understory condition of the Box-Gum Grassy Woodland community.

Monitoring and research reports

More information