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COMMUNITY
AWARENESS
Molonglo River downstream of Coppins Crossing (photo D. Mur, T. Kabadanis, K. Garcia, C. Buckley)
 Inspired and
developed by community volunteers from the West Belconnen and Lower Molonglo
districts. the Mapping Lower Molonglo project aims to preserve and continually
update knowledge of the valley, encouraging local students, community members,
present and future residents, educational institutions, planning agencies and
businesses to participate while making that knowledge available to the broader
community. The grassy woodlands of the Molonglo Valley provide important habitat
for birds listed as endangered or vulnerable in the ACT.
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
An interactive, multi-layered Geographic Information Systems
database will be established for local students and the wider community to
access and modify, using free public domain software. Key features of the
database will include gazetted nature reserves, natural watercourses, walking
trails, sites of Aboriginal, pioneering and geological significance, native
flora and fauna, and urban infrastructure. The ancient Lower Molonglo River
Valley in the Australian Capital Territory contains significant topographic,
ecological, archaeological and historic features. Previously occupied by the
Ngunnawal people, then farmed and mined by European settlers, the valley is
undergoing further dramatic change as the ACT’s urban infrastructure expands.
GETTING INVOLVED
One objective is to engage young people in data research and
collection for aspects of the valley where data do not already exist, and to
engage them in Geographic Information Systems coursework using the data they
collect. Another is to provide a new resource for the Canberra people, visitors
and government authorities.
Download
brochure (
2,244KB)
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WEDGE-TAILED
EAGLE
The Molonglo Valley has long been known as a “hotspot” for birds of prey, and other unique
species so close to a major city, unrivalled by any other major urban centre in
the world in its diversity and abundance of birds of prey. The Wedge-tailed
Eagle is the largest Australian raptor with a wing span of over two metres. They
require a large hunting territory and secluded nesting sites and are very
susceptible to disturbance. There are several pairs in the Molonglo Valley. ( CCSERAC)
PINK-TAILED WORM LIZARD
Aprasia
parapulchella - pink-tailed worm lizard
(Photo courtesy Queanbeyan Landcare)
 Stony
hillsides close to the river contain key habitat for the threatened
Pink-tailed Worm-lizard, which grows to around 14cm. It is listed as
nationally vulnerable and has special protection status in the ACT. Most
of the known population of this lizard occurs in the ACT, and much of
the known habitat is within the Murrumbidgee and Molonglo river
corridors. (CCSERAC)
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