Our Programs & Projects
Our Key Priorities ...​
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Protect & Conserve
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Unite & Strengthen
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Educate & Inform
We organise around three core programs
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Knowledge
We improve the understanding and awareness of our landscapes and community capabilitities
Capability
We identify, harness and facilitate best practice skills and knowledge to enhance the care and management of landscapes
Landscapes
We design, manage and facilitate programs to improve the health, resilience and productivity of natural and managed landscapes
We use an Interconnected Landscape Management (ILM) Framework
Landscape Scale Collaborative Management
In seeking sustainable, long-term outcomes Molonglo Conservation Group (MCG) brokers cooperative management partnerships beyond the Molonglo catchment boundaries so that member groups and other key stakeholders benefit from connections made through collaborative regional projects in support of MCG program delivery. As Traditional Custodians, the Buru Ngunawal Aboriginal Corporation (BNAC) is a key stakeholder.
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Since 2013, BNAC has guided the stewardship efforts of MCG and the broader local Landcare community on the ground; to foster better understanding of the present-day urban, peri-urban and rural landscapes of the southern tablelands of SE Australia, in the context of past and continuing Ngunawal social and environmental practices (Caring for Country). This guidance is underpinned by traditional knowledge of the culturally defining ancient Murrumbidgee River system, the headwaters of which the Molonglo and Queanbeyan rivers are a part, and on which the ACT and parts of NSW stand.
An Interconnected Approach
The holistic understanding of ILM’s interconnected approach accepts that natural resource management involves consideration of ecological and social aspects that are interrelated, as an interconnected system. An interconnected approach analyses the factors influencing the whole socio-ecological system at different scales in space and time and assumes continuous change. It also acknowledges the level of uncertainty in our knowledge, understanding of future conditions, and is consistent with Buru Ngunawal Aboriginal Corporation (BNAC)’s aim to protect and conserve the living cultural heritage of the Ngunawal people.
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In summary, MCG’s natural resource programs connect ecosystems and communities and integrate science with Aboriginal biocultural knowledge.
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The ILM Framework is transferable, adaptable to different regional situations and Aboriginal cultural groups, to achieve long-term collaborative, landscape scale connectivity.
View more about ILM Framework's:
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innovative method for assessing and managing landscapes
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exchange of knowledge and practice
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inclusive program focus
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Landscape Program Outcome - Interconnection of people and environment​
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Capability Program Outcome - Sustaining Resources
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Knowledge Program Outcome - Landscape Planning
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initiatives since 2013​
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Our Programs
We restore landscapes, enhance knowledge, and build community capabilities.
Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch - Molonglo Catchment
Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch - Molonglo Catchment
Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch engages the community in the environment through monitoring and caring for our catchments. We educate and raise awareness in schools and the community on issues concerning catchment health and we use data collected by volunteers to inform policy and on ground catchment management.
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Want to get involved in helping our waterways?
Once a month you can monitor a Waterwatch site.
Once every 6 months you can help us survey for water bugs.
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Once a year you can participate in the Frogwatch or Platypus Month surveys.
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With assistance from the ACT Government
Reports and Updates
Welcoming Dylan as MCG's New Waterwatch Coordinator and Celebrating Jed's Achievements
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MCG is very pleased to welcome our new Waterwatch Coordinator, Dylan! This marks a new chapter for our Waterwatch program, and we are delighted to have Dylan join the MCG team. At the same time, we want to recognize the incredible contributions of our previous coordinator, Jed, who set high standards during his time with us.
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Read more about Dylan and Jed on our Waterwatch Blog post here.
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Here’s to new beginnings and the ongoing journey of making a difference in our community!
Community Environmental Education & Stewardship
Community Environmental Education & Stewardship Program
This program delivers two key components of community participation in caring for urban open space, local waterways and reserve lands and improving environmental literacy in their catchment areas.
Program outcomes:
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Actively supported member & community groups undertaking local activities that improve the health and number of community stewarded sites.
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Improved adoption of new behaviours and environmental literacy in the community and information dissemination to reduce pollution of local waterways.
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Member groups and community groups working across Project development and management, Funding support, Coordination of on-ground and capacity building events and activities, Administration support and financial management, Communication services and IT support, Resource provision, consultation on ACT Government policies and strategies.
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Promotion of H2OK messaging and stormwater education within the community; On-ground event organisation; Promote Landcare and NRM to grow the resource and volunteer base; Targeted information dissemination; Network connections and skill-sharing; Developing partnerships with regional catchment and NRM organisations.
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With assistance from the ACT Government
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Reports
Our Projects
Local Projects, Local Impact
Current Multi-Year Projects
Urban Rivers ACT Community Urban Waterway Restoration project
In 2023 2.7 million has been invested in ACT community landcare through the Australian Government Urban Rivers and Catchments program. Led by Landcare ACT, in partnership with the three ACT Catchment Groups, this program will support ACT wide community action to restore habitat and improve water quality in priority areas of the Ginninderra, Molonglo and Southern ACT Catchments.
This funding will allow us collectively to remove threatening weed species and gross
pollutants, restore riparian vegetation, and enhance connectivity. We will also work to protect and maintain a number of ecological refuges, which plants and animals use during times of environmental stress, which are becoming increasingly critical in a changing climate.
The aquatic and riparian ecosystems of the ACT provide critical habitat for seven species of threatened plants and animals declared as threatened in the ACT, and supportive habitat for 22 other threatened species.
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MCG is contracted to deliver on-ground weed control, erosion control, revegetation and community engagement activities in the confluence of the Jerrabomberra Creek and Molonglo River (immediately up and down stream of Jerrabomberra Wetlands) and along the Molonglo River at Beard, in the ACT part of the Molonglo catchment, over 3 years.
Neoen
Capital Battery
Environmental above and beyond initiative
Urban Rivers Project by the Molonglo Conservation Group Supporting catchment management and conservation along the banks of the Molonglo River in a 10km radius around Neoen’s Capital Battery site.
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Project Grant ($10,000) start date 1 January 2024 and completion date 31 December 2025. A further $10,000 funding has extended the project another 12 months to 31 December 2026.
The Grant supports work closest (<10kms) to the Capital Battery Project site. The following two areas are suitable for this purpose:
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Molonglo River from Oaks Estate to south of Beard, ACT
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Molonglo River at Molonglo Reach Fyshwick towards Lake Burley Griffin, ACT
Priority is being given to works aimed at supporting area no. 1.
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The Grant prioritizes “on ground restoration works” and key activities that concern the following:
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Weed Control
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Erosion control
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Riparian revegetation
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Gross pollutant management
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Improving Connectivity
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Maintaining ecological refuges
Novel Riparian restoration trial
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Outcomes:
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Woody weed growth under control
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Improvement of soil and river health
Increased extent, connectivity and condition of native vegetation.
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This project is supported by Capital Battery Pty Ltd.
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Current Single Year Projects
If you want to find out more about any of these projects or would like to get involved, please contact us or you may directly contact the group connected with the project you are interested in. Click here to find a link to each group on our Members page.
Reprinting Interpretive signs at Black Mountain Forest Loop Walk $5,192
Many visitors to Black Mountain stop at the Forest Loop car park, to appreciate the views or to do the Forest Loop Walk. There is likely to be a significant increase in patronage in the near future once the Telstra Tower redevelopment is completed and tourists respond accordingly. The interpretive signs on the Forest Loop walk are in very poor condition and need to be re-printed.
The project will include the following:
1. Upgrade of the interpretive signs about the nature reserve's biodiversity which help educate local, national and international visitors, so that it becomes an 'educative walk' and an effective gateway to more of Black Mountain.
2. If possible, Ngunnawal use of plants in the area will be highlighted on the signs about plants.
3. Friends of Black Mountain and a Ngunnawal elder will lead guided walks about the flora, fauna and stories of Ngunnawal culture relevant to that area. This has been successful on other guided walks in Black Mountain Re-serve and this project would enhance that experience, attract new local, national and international visitors and enhance their awareness of the biodiversity.
4. The current leaflet about the Forest Loop walk will be available for visitors electronically and in print.
5. ACT Government Minister for Environment will be invited to launch the new interpretive signs.
6. Provide a report of its effectiveness at the end of the project.
Suburban Land Agency - Whitlam environmental education workshops $18,577
Molonglo Conservation Group will run a series of enviornmental community educational workshops in Whitlam. This will consist of 5 Workshops.
Bragg St, Hackett - Weed control and planting $2,750
This park is less than 100m from Mt Majura Nature Reserve. Around 142 species of plants have been recorded which includes 43 weed species. This project will involve continuing the Group's work in removing weed species from all areas of the park. The 7 swales built in 2021 have been effective in reducing water run-off and provided small patches where native plants are growing very well. Given the area outside of the swales is mown by TCCS (excluding the two "no-mow zones"), it would be pointless in planting native grasses in these areas (however some wattle species and kurrajongs would be desirable to increase shade in some of the more open areas). Therefore, we propose to plant native species in areas of the swales where previous plants have died or where no plants have been planted, in the two no-mow zones and a proposed new no-mow zone between swale 5 and the water tank. Priority will be to plant kangaroo grass (Themeda australis), herbaceous species and shrubs. There are also two mature Cootamundra wattles (seedlings from these are removed by volunteers) we would like also remove and replace with Acacia pycnanthas (golden wattles).
Ainslie Volcanics Woody Weed Control $40,000
The Friends of Ainslie Volcanics Grasslands have been dedicated to restoring this site for over two years. Previous funding has facilitated pest management, rabbit eradication, native shrub and forb planting, and extensive weed removal by volunteers.
Currently, there are several priority weeds on the site that they aim to address with the assistance of this grant. These weeds include Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma), Chilean Needle Grass (Nassella neesiana), African Love Grass (Eragrostis curvula), St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana), Oak trees (Quercus sp.), Firethorn (Pyracantha sp.), Plum trees (Prunus sp.), and Sweet Briar (Rosa rubiginosa).
The primary targets for this grant are the woody weeds: Briar, Firethorn, Plum Trees, Oak trees, and Cootamundra Wattle. These weeds impact the conservation value of the site and threaten expansion onto neighbouring reserves including Mount Ainslie and foothills.
Tangle/Fishing Tackle Bins $19,935
This project aims to help continue the work that OzFish has done in other parts of Australia
by partnering to install 12 Tangle Bins around the urban lakes and rivers of the ACT along with
informative Fishing Information signs that include; species found in the area, season times, bag
limits and size limits. The project will act as a pilot to gauge the reception and usage by local
fishers to determine the feasibility of installing more Tangle Bins throughout the greater ACT
region
Narrabundah Wetlands Woody Weed Control $40,000
The Friends of Narrabundah Wetlands volunteer community group have been actively engaging on this site for many years and have overseen pest plant control and active weed management consistently during this time. The objective of this project is to continue these efforts where it pertains to larger woody weeds in high density vegetation areas that are not accessible to volunteers. Many of the occupying weeds are of a significant size and pose direct threat to the ongoing health of the wetlands and waterway, especially with suckering growth that restricts the succession of native species. These weeds impact the conservation value of the site and threaten expansion into downstream waterways including Jerrabomberra Wetlands.
Friends of Mount Majura - Supporting the Fair, Watson - Weed Management Plan $27,350
The proposed project supports a Weed Management Plan 2024-2029 for The Fair at the
Mount Majura Nature Reserve (the Management Plan) by the Office of Nature Conservation
(ONC) to control St John’s Wort and the invasive grasses African Lovegrass, Chilean
Needlegrass, Sweet Vernal Grass and Serrated Tussock in an area of critically endangered
Grassy Woodlands on Mt Majura’s northwest slopes. We seek funding to continue the
implementation of weed control actions guided by the Management Plan.
Friends of St Marks Grassland Volunteer Restoration $35,000
This project will deliver high-priority, community-led restoration of St Mark’s Grassland, a 3 ha remnant of Natural Temperate Grassland (NTG) in Barton ACT. NTG is an Endangered Ecological Community under ACT and Commonwealth legislation. The site includes the endangered Button Wrinklewort (Rutidosis leptorrhynchoides) and has recorded habitat use by the Golden Sun Moth and the Striped Legless Lizard (Delma impar).
The project directly aligns with funding priorities by enhancing the ecological condition and connectivity of grassland ecosystems through targeted weed control, indigenous-led cool mosaic burns, fencing to manage exotic leaf debris, and revegetation with local-provenance seed.
Friends of Dryandra - Big Creek line Restoration $23,674
The funding will be used to purchase 2,500 tubestock to revegetate the understory of this previously weed dominated creek line, crowding out weed reinvasion and re-establishing habitat.
Campbell Communty Association - Campbell Park $19,688
To date CPC volunteers have managed to plant out 6 sectors comprising approximately
3500 square metres of the park. We have interspersed the planting with rocks and logs to create increased habitat.
The project to date has been so successful that WIRES recently released some injured blue tongue lizards into our regenerated sectors. We are seeing a noticeable increase in insects, beetles, native bees and wasps, butterflies and we even had a flock of approximately 12 Swift Parrots inhabit the park for 3 weeks in 2022.
The native grasses we planted have largely out competed the exotic weeds and the CPC volunteers carry out regular weeding and maintenance of the regenerated areas. The CPC currently holds working bees on the second Saturday of each month.
However, the grants we previously received to enable work to progress have now been spent and we are seeking a further grant of funds to enable the CPC to plant out a further 4 sectors which will comprise approximately 500 square metres.
The funding requested will provide for approximately 2400 plants, 1 tonne of rocks and 4 logs.
Mount Ainslie Weeders - Regeneration of Old Ainslie Tip $19,250
Our aim is that over time, despite the location being a former tip, that MAW, by planting, weeding, watering and maintaining the area, and with advice and support from Park Care and the Molonglo Conservation Group, will enable the area to become relatively self-supporting. In the area around the Lower Tip, the work of MAW has reduced both the weed bank and spread of weeds. MAW have planted many native species and MAW continues to weed, maintain and water the younger plants. MAW have also noticed an increase in the birdlife in the area and attribute this to the fact that they now have shelter, food and water.
It is MAW's intention that once the areas in the Middle and Upper Tip areas are relatively weed free, by way of assistance from this grant, that it can then revegetate these areas with the same success it has had around the Lower Tip and surrounds, such that it begins to resemble its original vistas and gives pleasure to those who visit the area.