Download Submission - Budget Consultation

Griffith/Narrabundah Community Association Inc.
PO Box 4127, Manuka ACT 2603
Website: www.gnca.org.au
Email: [email protected]
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Aim
Increase investment in Canberra’s urban forest, particularly in Blaxland Park to improve the
landscape character, sequester carbon to mitigate global warming and improve biodiversity.
The Setting
In their agreement to form government in the ACT “Labor and the ACT Greens reconfirm their
genuine commitment to protecting the local environment, and doing everything we can as a
community and city to combat human-induced climate change.” The Griffith Narrabundah
Community Association (GNCA) fully endorses this commitment, because in the last 10 years in
the Griffith/Narrabundah area we estimate we have lost at least 25,000 m2 of land that used to
grow trees and is now unavailable for this purpose due to redevelopments. Furthermore, many of
the trees in both Blaxland Park and other open spaces are dying and need replacing.
We have been discussing future plantings in Blaxland Park with your government for several
years. In 2015 some twenty trees were planted at the southern end of the park and we understand
that in Autumn 2017 three dying trees will be replaced and six new trees (both eucalyptus and
exotics) will be planted in other parts of the park. These new plantings are very welcome, but in
terms of mitigating global warming and improving landscape character and biodiversity we
believe there needs to be a bigger planting program.
Recommendations
We are recommending that the 2017 planting be increased by at least another 20 trees (of both
native and exotic varieties) and the GNCA would be able to contribute funds to plant ten (10) of
the new trees. We understand that this would amount to approximately $3,000 for the first two years
and would be an excellent investment for the future. In terms of value for taxpayers’ money we
believe that this modest investment now, which will benefit future generations for many years,
will provide good value for money.
Funding requested
$3,000. If Government funding is approved the GNCA will contribute a matching $3,000
bringing the total funds available to $6,000.