Land and biodiversity

We operate under a site management agreement with the Conservator of Flora and Fauna, in accordance with the Nature Conservation Act 2014 (ACT).

This agreement guides our activities in parks and reserves, ensuring we respect and maintain their ecological values while delivering essential water and wastewater services to the Canberra community.

We work closely with ACT Urban Treescapes and the ACT Tree Protection Unit to manage the relationship between Canberra’s 'urban forest' and our essential infrastructure. This includes maintaining safe clearances around assets and supporting tree protection during maintenance activities. 

While we aim to work around trees wherever possible, trimming (or in some cases, removal) may be necessary to ensure safe access for our staff. We only remove trees when necessary for the continued delivery of vital water and wastewater services to our community.

Managing bushfire risk around our water and wastewater infrastructure is a vital part of protecting our community and the environment.

We develop and implement a bushfire operational plan each year for the ACT Emergency Services Commissioner. This plan focuses on reducing bushfire fuel loads and minimising the impact of extreme weather events around our assets. This helps protect lives, property and natural ecosystems.

We manage our Murrumbidgee to Googong Offset Property to protect and preserve long-term biodiversity.

This 110-hectare conservation area is managed in perpetuity. It was established to offset vegetation cleared during the construction of the 12 km bulk water transfer pipeline in 2012. It supports high-biodiversity values, including Box-Gum woodland and habitat for threatened flora and fauna species.

Read our Murrumbidgee to Googong Operational Environmental Management Plan to find out more.

We also meet our land management responsibilities by working with neighbouring landholders to control weeds and pests across our sites.