Habitat development in urban Canberra.

The following residents of the ACT draw the attention of the Assembly to the importance of shrub and understory vegetation for ecosystems in the ACT, noting that: 

• A multi-layered habitat, including grasses, forbs, shrubs and trees (including dead trees and fallen timber) is essential for a wide variety of small native animals including birds, lizards and insects.
•  Healthy understory vegetation helps maintain soil structures and retain water within the landscape.
•  A focus on tree-planting alone will have limited benefits in helping the ACT adapt to climate change, and trees in a mown area do not create an urban forest.
•  There are many areas currently mown which could become complex habitat. In areas under trees when mowing ceases, native grasses and mid-story plants such as wattles often emerge. The funds currently spent on mowing these areas could be spent on weeding and planting understory. 
• With appropriate government support, such as weed identification training, tools and insurance, some of the weeding and other maintenance could be done by local residents, including but not limited to Landcare groups. 
• Some areas, mainly newly developed, incorporate complex habitat, for instance the light rail corridor and some sections of the median strip of Drakeford Drive.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the Assembly to call on the ACT Government to: 

• Cease mowing treed areas except where necessary for fire or visibility and within 2 meters of paths, and repurpose associated funding towards weeding and the planting of understory vegetation;
• Retain dead and fallen timber within the landscape where it does not obstruct public amenity or present a risk to safety;
• Incorporate shrub and understory planting practices into the Government’s tree-planting and maintenance activities; and
• Replace gravel median strips with grass, shrubs and trees where appropriate.