Reserve management plans
The Nature Conservation Act 2014 requires a Reserve Management Plan (RMP) for every reserve. The ACT Parks and Conservation Service (ACT PCS) manages these reserves, which can be:
- wilderness areas
- national parks
- nature reserves
- catchment areas
- other designated public lands.
RMPs provides guidance for land custodians, visitors, neighbours, volunteers, and others interested in the area. They are shaped by input from stakeholders and public engagement. They identify:
- the area’s key values
- objectives for managing the area
- policies and actions to achieve these objectives.
It guides everyone involved - from land managers to visitors, neighbours, and volunteers. Creating an RMP involves consulting with key stakeholders and the public.
Canberra Nature Park includes 39 nature reserves in and around Canberra. These reserves protect critically endangered ecosystems. They also protect several threatened animal species such as the:
- Golden Sun Moth
- Striped Legless Lizard
- Grassland Earless Dragon
- Pink-tailed Worm-lizard.
The park also holds significant Aboriginal heritage and early European history. It's an important home to many animals and contributes to our community's health and wellbeing. It also offers many nature-based recreational activities such as walking and cycling. The Plan outlines how to manage these activities and the park's goals for the next 10 years.
Read the Canberra Nature Park Reserve Management Plan [PDF 13.1 MB].
Jerrabomberra Wetlands is located 4 km east of the Canberra city centre. It's an important freshwater habitat with 170 bird species and many aquatic animals. It also serves as a drought refuge and supports other wildlife.
It's one of 13 ACT wetlands included in the Australian Government's Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.
The Wetlands provide habitat for many international migratory birds and provide educational and recreational opportunities.
Read the Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve Management Plan 2010.
The Lower Cotter Catchment provides water for the Cotter Reservoir. After a severe fire in 2003, the ACT Government and nearly 15,000 volunteers worked towards restoring the area and planted over 306,000 trees.
The reserve's management plan outlines how it will be managed over the next 10 years. It aims to further restore the catchment so it can:
- be a fully functioning landscape of native vegetation
- produce clean water
- conserve natural and cultural values
- provide low-impact recreational opportunities for the community.
Read the Lower Cotter Catchment Reserve Management Plan 2018 [PDF 12.3 MB].
The Molonglo River Reserve Management Plan outlines how it will:
- protect flora and fauna
- providing recreational opportunities
- minimising bushfire risks.
It includes extensive consultation and sets long-term objectives to manage the reserve.
This plan covers a 66 km stretch of the Murrumbidgee River and around 9800 ha. This section includes a European heritage zone, and nature and recreation reserves. The area has significant natural and cultural values, including:
- fossil sites
- caves
- streams
- habitats for threatened species.
It's often used for recreational purposes, including community centres and museums.
Namadgi National Park is the largest conservation reserve in the ACT. It covers around 46% of the Territory and is one of 11 parks that make up the Australian Alps National Parks system.
The park protects water catchments and Canberra's main water supply. It's important for conserving ecosystems, including:
- snow gum woodlands
- subalpine fens and bogs
- grasslands
- montane forest communities.
It also offers:
- habitat for a diverse range of animals
- important Aboriginal and European heritage and history
- recreational activities like bushwalking, camping, cycling and rock climbing.
The park is managed to protect Australia's alpine, subalpine and montane environments.
Read the Namadgi National Park Plan of Management [PDF 5.9 MB] and its Summary [PDF 4.2 MB], or explore the Management Zoning Map [PDF 2.0 MB].
Tidbinbilla is 6,466 ha and is located at the base of the mountain ranges west of the ACT. It's known for its native wildlife and natural setting. It boasts many outdoor activities like walking and picnicking. Tidbinbilla has been a popular part of the ACT reserve system for over 40 years and is a popular tourist site.
It has significant Aboriginal history dating back to 21,000 years ago and European history from the late 1830s.
Tidbinbilla is part of the Australian Alps National Parks system.
Read the Tidbinbilla Plan of Management.
Other management plans
Googong Foreshores is located in NSW and managed by the ACT Government. It's a raw water source for the ACT and Queanbeyan communities.
Googong has significant natural and cultural heritage including:
- threatened and animal species
- critically endangered ecological communities
- a range of Aboriginal sites
- historical features.
The ACT Parks and Conservation Service manages the Googong Foreshores in line with its Management Plan. The Management Plan aims to:
- protect water quality
- conserve and improve heritage values
- provide Traditional Custodians access to their Country
- improve visitor experience with recreational opportunities compatible with the Foreshores key values
- raise awareness of the Foreshore's values and threats
- engage the community to manage the area.
The Commonwealth and NSW governments and Icon Water also support managing Googong Foreshores.
Read the Googong Foreshores Land and Conservation Management Plan 2020 [PDF 9.2 MB] or its Summary [PDF 1.5 MB].
Urban areas like lakes, parks, and sports grounds in Canberra also have management plans under the Planning and Development Act 2007.
| Urban area | Management Plan |
|---|---|
| Woden and Weston Creek urban parks and sports grounds | Urban Services (Plans of Management) Approval 1998 |
| Lake Ginninderra sports grounds | Urban Services (Plans of Management) Approval 1998 |
| Inner Canberra and Tuggeranong urban parks and sports grounds | Land (Planning and Environment) Plans of Management Approval 2000 |
| Canberra’s urban lakes and ponds | Land (Planning and Environment) Plans of Management Approval 2000 |
| Gungahlin region urban open space and public access sports grounds | Land (Planning and Environment) (Plan of Management for Urban Open Space and Public Access Sportsgrounds in the Gungahlin Region) Approval 2007 |