Reserve Management Plans

View the Canberra Nature Park Reserve Management Plan (13.1 MB) (the Plan).

Canberra Nature Park's 39 nature reserves in and around Canberra protect significant areas of Yellow Box–Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Natural Temperate Grassland critically endangered ecological communities.

A number of threatened animal species which rely on these ecosystems, such as the Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana), Striped Legless Lizard (Delma impar), Grassland Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis lineata) and Pink-tailed Worm-lizard (Aprasia parapulchella) are found in Canberra Nature Park. Many of the reserves are also valuable for the movement of wildlife through the wider landscape.

Canberra Nature Park is located on the lands of the Ngunnawal people and provides the Ngunnawal Traditional Custodians with important opportunities to connect with Country and, in partnership with the Parks and Conservation Service, manage Country together for the benefit of future generations.

The reserves contain extensive evidence of the long history of Aboriginal occupation, and also of early European pastoral activity.

The hills, ridges and grasslands of Canberra Nature Park give our city its distinctive character as the nation’s ‘city in the landscape’ and contribute significantly to the liveability of our city and the health and wellbeing of the community.

As many of the reserves are located close to Canberra suburbs, the reserves are heavily used for nature-based recreational activities such as walking, running, mountain bike riding and walking dogs. Some are often used for group activities such as orienteering and rogaining.

The Plan provides guidance on appropriate use of the reserves for these activities and sets out goals, objectives, policies and actions for management of Canberra Nature Park over the next 10 years.

See also the Canberra Nature Park Plan of Management 1999 (DI1999-163).

Located approximately four kilometres east of Canberra Civic Centre, Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve is a largely artificial habitat created by the filling of the Lake Burley Griffin. It is one of the most valuable freshwater wetland habitat areas in the ACT and adjacent region of NSW, with the presence of permanent shallow water bodies giving the wetlands regional importance as a drought refuge. 170 bird species have been sighted in the reserve and the area also supports other terrestrial and aquatic fauna.

Jerrabomberra Wetlands is one of 13 ACT wetlands included in A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia. Internationally, the wetlands are important because they provide reliable habitat for a number of migratory bird species protected under international agreements.

The Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve provides linking habitat between the woodland and open forest of Mount Pleasant and Mount Ainslie to the north and Jerrabomberra Creek catchment to the south. The location of the reserve close to Canberra City provides an opportunity for education and research activities related to wetland ecosystems and recreational activities related to the area’s natural and cultural values.

The Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve Plan of Management 2010 (DI2010-280) is a disallowable instrument and available on the ACT legislation register.

Jerrabomberra Wetlands Management Committee

A community-based Jerrabomberra Wetlands Management Committee has been established under the Capital Woodland and Wetlands Conservation Trust to help manage and develop the Reserve. Visit the Jerrabomberra Wetlands website to find out more.

The Lower Cotter Catchment provides water for the Cotter Reservoir. After the catchment was severely burnt in the 2003 firestorm, the ACT Government committed to return the area to a stable and healthy catchment. As part of the catchment’s rehabilitation, nearly 15,000 community volunteers have planted over 306,000 trees and shrubs. Recreation activities have been restricted to limit erosion and environmental damage.

The ACT Government has prepared the Lower Cotter Catchment Reserve Management Plan 2018 (12.3 MB) to guide management of the catchment over the next 10 years. The plan sets out how the reserve will be managed and restored over time to a fully-functioning landscape of native vegetation, producing clean water, conserving natural and cultural values, and providing low-impact recreational opportunities for ACT residents and visitors.

The Lower Cotter Catchment Reserve Management Plan 2018 (DI2018-20) is a disallowable instrument under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 and is available on the Legislation Register.

The Molonglo River Reserve - Reserve Management Plan (DI2019-192) sets out how the reserve will be managed and restored over time to protect flora and fauna, provide recreational opportunities and minimise the risk of bushfire. It sets out a clear and agreed set of long-term objectives for the reserve and outlines the policy approaches for achieving the objectives.

The plan also gives clear guidance on how the land and waters of the reserve will be managed and used. Extensive consultation with a wide range of groups and individuals was undertaken during various stages of development of the Reserve Management Plan.

The Molonglo River Reserve Management Plan 2019 is a disallowable instrument under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 and is available on the Legislation Register.

The Murrumbidgee River Corridor Plan of Management applies to a strip of land and water up to 4 kilometres wide along the full length (66 kilometres) of the ACT section of the Murrumbidgee River. Covering approximately 9800 hectares, the Corridor includes five nature reserves, eight recreation reserves and a European heritage conservation zone (Lanyon). The area is rich in Aboriginal and European sites and artefacts.

Significant natural and cultural values include:

• fossil sites, and important geomorphological features such as Gigerline Gorge, the Gudgenby confluence, the Pine Island-Red Rocks Gorge-Kambah Pool area and the lower Paddys River-Uriarra area
• regionally significant stands of the River She-oak (Casuarina cunninghamiana) in the northern part of the corridor, and remnant stands of riparian Manna Gum Eucalyptus (viminalis) in the south
• Paddys River caves and mine precinct which provides a roosting site for the Bent Wing Bat (Miniopterus shreibersii)
• habitat for the threatened Pink-tailed Worm Lizard (Aprasia parapuchella)
• habitat for the threatened Murray Cray (Euastacus armatus) and Trout Cod (Maccullochella macquariensis).

There is extensive low key recreational use of the Murrumbidgee River Corridor and land uses include rural activities, community centres and a museum.

The Murrumbidgee River Corridor Plan of Management (DI1997-268) is a disallowable instrument and available on the ACT legislation register.

Namadgi National Park is the largest conservation reserve in the ACT covering approximately 46% (106,094 hectares) of the Territory. The park includes the rugged mountain ranges and broad grassy valleys in the western and southern parts of the ACT.

Namadgi National Park protects the upper parts of the Cotter River Catchment, Canberra’s main supply of water, and is important for conserving snow gum woodlands, subalpine fens and bogs, grasslands and montane forest communities providing habitat for a diverse range of species. The park also includes much evidence of past Aboriginal use of the land and remnants of early European pastoral activity. It is popular for low key recreational activities such as bushwalking, camping, cycling and rock climbing.

Namadgi is one of eleven national parks and reserves in the Australian Alps that are collectively known as the Australian Alps National Parks. These parks are managed cooperatively to provide protection for much of the alpine, subalpine and montane environments of mainland Australia.

See the Namadgi National Park Plan of Management [5.9 MB]. It is a disallowable instrument (DI2010-192) and available on the ACT legislation register.

See the Namadgi National Park Management Zoning Map [2.0 MB] .

See the Namadgi National Park Summary [4.2 MB] for more information.

Tidbinbilla (6466 hectares) is located in the foothills of the mountain ranges that dominate the western half of the ACT. It is about 40 kilometres south-west of the Canberra city centre and is adjacent to Namadgi National Park.

Tidbinbilla is largely known as a great place to view native Australian wildlife in a natural setting and to enjoy outdoor activities such as walking and picnicking with family and friends. Tidbinbilla has been a popular part of the ACT reserve system for more than 40 years and is valued by both Canberra residents and visitors from interstate and overseas.

Tidbinbilla has mountain ranges, foothill valleys, spectacular exposed granite tors and sheltered streams. Vegetation communities range from subalpine snow gum on exposed windswept ridges to woodlands, grassland and shrublands in the valley. Tall wet forests thrive in the moist sheltered gullies, grass trees add character to open slopes above the valley floor. These vegetation communities provide habitat for a wide range of native species.

There is abundant evidence of traditional Aboriginal occupation dating back to approximately 21,000 years ago, and European settlement from the late 1830's. The valley holds a great deal of significance for local Aboriginal people and for some former residents and descendants of the early pastoralists.

Tidbinbilla is also part of the Australian Alps National Parks system protecting much of the alpine, subalpine and montane environments of mainland Australia.

The Tidbinbilla Plan of Management (DI2012-193) is a disallowable instrument and available on the ACT legislation register.

See the Tidbinbilla Plan of Management 2012 (1.5 MB) summary for more information.