Conservation and Heritage Areas

The NCA is in the process of putting together a Conservation Plan for the Lake Burley Griffin area. The purpose of the Conservation Plan is to identify and assess heritage values around the Lake. The on-ground survey for this is due to start in June 2006 and a draft Plan is anticipated for December 2006. This Plan could have implications for willow control activities around the Lake particularly with regard to heritage trees and any works would need to strictly adhere to this Plan.

There are several heritage areas already identified around Lake Burley Griffin. For example Weston Park and Yarralumla Nursery are listed on the Register of the National Estate. Historic plants including willow species are specifically mentioned in relation to the era of Charles Weston’s landscaping of the Territory in the early 1900’s. This highlights that extreme care needs to be taken not to inadvertently ‘control’ any significant willow specimens.

Lake Burley Griffin Management Plan (1995)

The Lake Burley Griffin Management Plan details management of specific areas. This includes recommendations to retain or control willows at certain sites in order to maintain “landscape character”. Figure 2 shows an overview of the Lake characteristics. There are four main types of landscape management for the Lake and these are expanded upon below.

Figure 2 Lake Burley Griffin Foreshore Landscape Characteristics (Modified from Lake Burley Griffin Management Plan 1995, National Capital Planning Authority)

Type A Formal Edge with mown grass and formal or semi-formal plantings

• Grass mown regularly
• Trees planted in accordance with landscape design
• Suckers controlled
• Limited irrigation, fertiliser and pesticides

Type A Formal edge with mown grass and formal plantings	Type B informal edge with mown grass and semi-formal plantings

Type B Informal Edge with mown grass and semi-formal plantings

• Grass mown periodically
• Trees planted in accordance with landscape design
• Some suckering allowed but monitored
• Limited irrigation, fertiliser and pesticides
• Reedbeds monitored and controlled as necessary

Type C Informal Edge, semi natural with exotic foreshore vegetation

• Maintained for semi natural appearance and diverse habitat
• Existing (mainly exotic) vegetation to be maintained in short term but with long term view to increase native vegetation. Natural regeneration is acceptable but thinning undertaken as necessary
• New plantings should be native species where possible
• Reedbeds maintained as habitat where possible

Type C Informal edge, semi-natural with exotic foreshore vegetation	Type D Informal edge with indigenous woodland

Type D Informal Edge with indigenous woodland vegetation

• Natural woodland maintained as close to original vegetation as possible
• Natural regeneration encouraged and plantings only undertaken where insufficient natural stock
• Exotics should be removed progressively and replaced with indigenous vegetation
• Where willows are removed their role in bank stability, amenity and character should be assessed prior to removal
• Groundcover maintained
• No regular mowing
• No fertiliser
• Special management for rare and endangered species.

In relation to Figure 2, and with reference to the Lake Burley Griffin Management Plan (1995), the following areas are worth noting (NCA 1995). Only those areas where willows have been specifically mentioned are listed below. All the Lake areas are covered in the LBG Management Plan and this should be consulted when planning works. It should also be noted that Molonglo Reach, Jerrabomberra Wetlands, Government House foreshore and pine forest foreshore are covered by their own management plans.

The waterski area has a dense infestation of Crack Willow

• Molonglo Reach northern foreshore – growth of dense willows should be controlled in some areas as they are isolating the water visually and functionally from adjacent recreation area and cycle path
• Kingston foreshores – scattered groups of poplars, eucalypts and willows should be maintained (pending development)
• Black Mountain Peninsula eastern foreshore – willows should be controlled to return the area to a more natural woodland. The potential to leave some willows for bank stability warrants investigation
• Lady Denman Drive frontage – willows at the toe of the rocky embankment along Lady Denman Drive adjacent to Black Mountain should be managed to prevent encroachment onto the cycle path without detracting from the role they play in softening the appearance of the embankment
• Blue Gum Point – the possibility of replacing the willows on the lake edge with indigenous species should be investigated. If thinning of trees is required to satisfy recreational requirements, willows should be removed rather than eucalypts
• Stirling Park foreshore – progressive replacement of willows and poplars with indigenous species
• Springbank Island – willows around the edge protects the island from wind and should be managed to ensure they don’t restrict recreational and visual access. Some opening up of fringe vegetation should be undertaken periodically
• Spinnaker Island – dense fringing vegetation makes access difficult and the possibility of changing the long-term landscape character to one that is eucalypt dominated should be investigated. Thinning of shoreline vegetation should be undertaken
• Yarramundi Reach – landscape to be maintained but with thinning of dense shoreline vegetation to ensure visual and physical access
• Nursery Bay – present character dominated by exotic trees (willows, poplars, elms and pines) should be maintained but managed to prevent the area becoming overgrown

Willows around lake islands provide wind protection, but need to be managed so that they don't restrict visual and recreational access

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