Molonglo Valley

Late last year the Conservation Council held a Member Forum to discuss some of the many issues surrounding the planning of Coombs and Wright.

Speakers included:

Kelvin Walsh, Director Planning Services
ACT Planning and Land Authority
Kelvin Walsh trained as an Architect and Town Planner and maintains a keen interest in the development of sustainable cities and the way in which people inhabit them. He joined the ACT Planning and Land Authority in April 2009 where he currently holds the position of Director Planning Services. In this role Kelvin draws on his broad national and international experience and is responsible for Design and Development Policy including the strategic planning framework for the ACT and the Territory Plan. He also oversees the planning of greenfield and infill development through the Land and Infrastructure Policy teams.

Geoff Robertson, Friends of Grasslands
Geoff Robertson is an economic and social statistician, who has worked both in Australia and abroad, and an enthusiastic amateur ecologist (familiar with the flora and fauna in the region) and an active advocate for the environment.

He and his partner, Margaret Ning, own a delightful property called Garuwanga, which they manage for conservation. With the help of many others they have identified 330 native plant species, 110 birds, 30 frogs and reptile species, and 13 native mammals.

Geoff has held a number of committee positions with many conservation organisations in Canberra including the Australian Native Plant Society and ACT Herpetological Association, and is a former president of the Conservation Council. Currently he is President of Friends of Grasslands, vice President of Kosciuszko to Coast and Secretary of the Southern Tablelands Ecosystems Park. He has been awarded the title of Honorary Ambassador for Canberra for his services to Friends of Grasslands.

Ian Falconer, Friends of Aranda Bushland and Conservation Council Vice President
Ian is an Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry. His research for thirty years has been into water quality, after sampling Armidale’s drinking water, which at the time contained toxic blue-green algae! Ian is a member of the scientific advisory committee for Water Quality Research Australia, the water industry research body. He is also a member of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging advisory group on chemical safety and the recently appointed Basin Community Committee, which advises the Murray-Darling Basin Authority and the Ministerial Council on water resource issues in the Basin.

Ian is a committee member of Friends of the Aranda Bushland, and edited the Second Edition of ‘Our Patch’, the flora of the ACT photographed in Aranda Bushland. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for science in 2006.

Ian came to Canberra with his wife Mary in 1997, after retiring as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at the University of Adelaide. Prior to Adelaide, Ian was Executive Dean of Sciences at the University of New England, Armidale, a faculty comprising science, rural science and natural resources, and part-time Pro-Vice Chancellor.


 

Downloads: