Healthy and resilient natural environment

Enivornment and climate

Healthy and resilient natural environment

Ensuring the health of our natural environment remains one of the most important actions in preserving the wellbeing of both current and future generations.

Ecosystem condition

The average condition of lowland grasslands has declined since 2018, at an average rate of approximately 1.4% per year. The declines were most rapid between 2018-2022 and appear to be driven in part by increasing cover of exotic vegetation and poor herbage mass conditions following a sequence of wetter years.

The average condition of grassy woodland has also declined, but by a lesser amount. The condition of the highest quality remnant woodland areas has been maintained, but that condition of grassy woodlands has declined elsewhere.

Overall, there was a slight increase in the condition scores in both ecosystems in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24. However, the overall condition of both remains at ‘moderate (0.60 - 0.80), as it has been since 2019-2020.

Condition is expressed on a scale of 0-1, with a score of 1 indicating that all components of ecological integrity meet or exceed benchmarks for each ecological community.

More detailed analyses are outlined in the technical report 'Indices of condition for endangered Yellow-Box Blakely's Red Gum woodland and Natural Temperate Grassland in the Australian Capital Territory'. This report is expected to be publicly available by March 2026.

Line graph showing lowland grassy woodlands and lowland grasslands score between 0 and 1, from financial year 2018-19 to financial year 2024-25. In 2025 lowland grassy woodlands scored 0.77 and lowland grasslands scored 0.70. Both are considered indicative of ‘moderate’ condition.

The methods used to develop the condition index are currently in the process of being published in a technical report, due for release in March 2026. This report includes more detailed analyses of the condition index and reasons behind declining condition scores.

Catchment health

This measure shows the overall condition of Canberra's water catchments (water quality, waterbugs and vegetation).

Healthy water and catchment life help reduce pollutants and provide clean air and water.

In the ACT, water samples are collected from multiple sites to get an overall picture of catchment health. Catchments are scored between 1 (excellent) and 5 (degraded).

Changes in waterway conditions can vary due to changes in weather patterns (drought or higher than average rainfall), as well as land use (agriculture, urban development and pollution).

In 2025, water catchment health remained generally stable. Slight declines since 2022 can be detected across all three catchments, as weather conditions have become increasingly dry.

Catchment health results are published in the Waterwatch CHIP report and online data dashboard annually in March, based on results of the previous calendar year.

Line graphs of water catchment health ratings for 3 catchments, where 1 = excellent and 5 = degraded, between 2019 and 2025. In 2025:

  • Ginninderra scored 3.31 (fair) compared to 3.19 (fair) in 2024
  • Molonglo scored 3.1 (fair) compared to 2.97 (good) in 2024
  • Southern ACT scored 2.61 (good) compared to 2.44 (good) in 2024.

The catchment health indicator (CHIP score) is derived from multiple data sources (water quality, macroinvertebrate diversity and riparian condition) which are collected by Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch. CHIP scores are calculated annually and published each year in the Waterwatch CHIP report.

A single composite score is produced for each ‘reach’. A reach is a stretch of waterway that has similar characteristics and multiple sampling sites. Based on the 2024 Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) report, data was collected across 95 reach report cards within the Upper Murrumbidgee Catchment. This chart is only showing 3 of the catchments (Ginninderra, Molonglo and Southern ACT) comprised of 66 reaches as Cooma and Yass catchments are outside of the ACT.

The composite score combines the water quality, macroinvertebrate and riparian condition data to produce a score of overall catchment health. This score is relative to a reference condition based on aquatic systems in the region that reflect minimal impacts of land use or environmental degradation.

Data has been collected consistently with the same methodology since 2015, allowing for direct comparisons to be made through time. Changes in waterway condition through time can be due to both climatic effects (e.g. drought, high rainfall) as well as land use, such as agriculture, urbanisation and pollution.

Detailed methodology is published in the appendices of the Waterwatch CHIP report.

Water quality

This measure shows the quality of water flowing through our rivers, streams, and urban waterways.

Clean water is essential for health and wellbeing.

Water quality is scored between 1 (excellent) and 5 (degraded) every year.

Between 2019 and 2025, water quality conditions have remained stable in all three catchments. The median water quality score across our catchments has been consistently ‘good’ since 2015.

Water quality results are published in the Waterwatch CHIP report and online data dashboard annually in March, based on results of the previous calendar year. Table 1 provides a summary of water quality results by reach.

Line graphs of water quality scores from three catchments. In 2025:

  • Ginninderra scored 2.33 (good) compared to 2.25 (good) in 2024
  • Molonglo scored 2.42 (good) compared to 2.46 (good) in 2024
  • Southern ACT scored 1.83 (excellent) compared to 1.67 (excellent) in 2024.

Annual scores are calculated from 6 measures of water quality following the methods described in Catchment Health Indicator Program (CHIP) Reports - Waterwatch.

Air quality - annual

This measure shows the number of days per year that air pollutants exceeded the national air quality standards.

Air quality is important because the air we breathe affects our health, environment and quality of life.

Canberra’s air quality is good compared to other Australian cities.

In 2025, there were nine days of ‘poor’ and two days of 'extremely poor' air quality. Smoke from wood heater use was the primary cause of eight Poor air quality days in winter. Release of fine plant material in spring was responsible for one day of Poor and one of Extremely Poor air quality, both during spring. A dust storm in May caused a day of Extremely Poor air quality. Air quality was poorest in the summer of 2019-20 due to bushfires.

ACT Government Open Data Portal- air quality monitoring data.

Stacked column chart of the number of Poor, Very Poor and Extremely Poor days by year between 2016 and 2025. In 2025 there were nine Poor days, compared with two Poor days in 2024. There were two Extremely Poor days recorded in 2025.