The Conservation Council is very support of the Draft Lower Cotter Catchment Management Plan. The plan takes management of the Cotter in a new direction, from one previously dominated by pine plantations to one prioritising water production and conservation.

Read our submission (PDF)

The final Management Plan has not yet been released.

The Conservation Council wants the ACT government to implement water reduction and reuse options prior to pursuing a supply option.

The Conservation Council is particularly concerned with the proposal to build a large or small Tennent dam on the Naas and Gudgenby rivers south of Tharwa.

The construction of either dam would lead to the destruction of endangered Yellow Box / Red Gum woodland and vital habitat for threatened bird species.

The Gudgenby and the Naas rivers are currently unregulated, building a dam would stop these free flowing rivers.

The ACT Government is looking at a new water source for Canberra, prompted by both the continuing drought and the possibility of Canberra's population growing to 500,000 by 2032. A number of reports have been developed looking at this issue, including "Think Water Act Water".

Environmental flows are vital to maintain the health of our rivers and streams; without them they would die.

The recent drought has seen calls to use Canberra's environmental flows to supplement Canberra's water supply.

The ACT government has released new draft environmental flow guidelines.

Submissions closed on the 14th of July 2005. Copies of the draft guidelines are available from ACT Government Shop Fronts or on the web at http://www.environment.act.gov.au/ .