The ACT government has welcomed the Auditor-General's recommendations to protect the lower Cotter catchment after a report warned of a potential "catastrophic failure".
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In May, ACT Auditor-General Dr Maxine Cooper raised concerns about fire risk from recreational users of the catchment and the unmanaged growth of pine wildlings and pine forest in the area.
"The [catchment] is exposed to significant risks, which are interrelated and which, under adverse conditions, could accumulate and lead to a catastrophic failure of the water catchment," she said in an audit report.
On Tuesday, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Shane Rattenbury said the government had already announced measures to respond to its recommendations.
"The ACT Government supports this recommendation and in the 2015-16 budget announced a $7.8 million investment over four years for works in the lower Cotter catchment," he said.
"This work includes repairs to erosion control structures to better protect water quality, fuel management activities such as the removal of pine tree regrowth to reduce fire hazards, fire trail repairs, and ongoing controls on pest plants and animals."
Mr Rattenbury said the government hoped to increase staff in the area to minimise illegal activity.
Dr Cooper said that since the 2003 bushfires, major restoration had been done in the catchment, which now contained one-quarter of the territory's drinking water supply.
While the report mentioned significant improvements in drinking water catchment, it also criticised a lack of co-ordination of the catchment since 2009.
Among Dr Cooper's three high-priority recommendations were calls for new catchment management co-ordination and decision-making arrangements, a cross‐agency risk-management process; and for sediment control structures to be assessed.
"The government recognises the importance of having an effective management structure and plan for the ongoing oversight of the lower Cotter catchment as the area plays an important role in providing Canberra with clean drinking water," Mr Rattenbury said.
He said the 2003 bushfires completely destroyed the plantations of the lower Cotter Catchment and the government had invested in rehabilitation the area and improving water quality.
"The decision to reactivate and enlarge the Cotter Dam after the fires further increased the need to stabilise the soils, establish vegetation cover and minimise human impacts on the area," he said.
"This report will serve as a vital guide to ensure the ongoing protection of the lower Cotter catchment."
- with Kirsten Lawson
