The new Franklin Grasslands nature reserve, which sits alongside Canberra’s light rail corridor, is being touted as a win for urban green spaces and the species that call them home.
ACT Environment Minister Mick Gentleman said yesterday (19 May) the new nature reserve provides an environmental offset for the endangered golden sun moth and an environment for other threatened species of plants and animals.
“Franklin Grasslands is also a valuable ecosystem that is home to Ginninderra peppercress, a Yellow Box – Red Gum Grassy woodland, the pergunga grasshopper and habitats for the superb parrot and striped legless lizard,” he said.
Member for Yerrabi Suzanne Orr MLA said the new reserve comes after “extensive consultation” with the Franklin community and advocacy from the Friends of Grasslands.
“This is a big win for the community and something I have advocated strongly for as Member for Yerrabi along with the Friends of Grasslands and residents of the surrounding area,” she said.
“Our temperate grasslands are magical places with lots of unique plants and animals. We are very lucky to have them and with so little remaining in Eastern Australia, it is critical we continue to look after them.
“The Franklin Grasslands Reserve will protect some of our most vulnerable native species, while ensuring we maintain the natural landscape that Canberrans love.”
Environment Minister Mick Gentleman announced the proposal for the reserve in November last year and said its creation would provide an environmental offset site for upgrades to Dudley Street and the new access road for the Brickworks Precinct in Yarralumla.
“The Yarralumla project requires a protected site to counterbalance impacts on the Golden Sun Moth and Natural Temperate Grassland ecological community,” he said at the time.
The ACT Government is now managing the Franklin Grasslands site, at the corner of Flemington Road and Well Station Drive, which will include weed and pest control and a review of grazing and land management.
