Plans to return Sullivans Creek to its natural state have been axed. Photo: Supplied.
A $300 million price tag has been cited as the reason why large-scale re-naturalisation plans for the concrete-lined Sullivans Creek have been shelved.
But the ACT Greens have accused the government of systematically pulling the plug on initiatives the party had implemented when it had been in partnership with ACT Labor.
The 13 km creek meanders from Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve in Canberra’s north and empties into Lake Burley Griffin near the ANU. A Sullivans Creek re-naturalisation plan had been released for public consultation in 2023 and the final report published in August 2024.
Environment and Water Minister Suzanne Orr had been asked by Kurrajong independent MLA Thomas Emerson during budget estimates about why the project had not been funded in the 2025-26 papers.
The question was taken on notice, with the newly released response highlighting cost as the major barrier.
“Large scale re-naturalisation efforts of Sullivans Creek would require significant investment by the government. Rough estimates that were provided separate to the report was that the cost of re-naturalising three areas within Sullivans Creek was around $300 million,” Ms Orr’s response noted.
“These estimates included costs to undertake required works to relocate existing services within the Sullivans Creek corridor, which would be necessary to enable restoration activities.
“Due to the magnitude of this estimate and other pressing environmental and infrastructure priorities, the government is not actively planning large scale re-naturalisation opportunities at this time.”
The report, which cost $121,000 to produce, had focused on the potential to re-naturalise the creek from Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve to Barry Drive at Turner.
Ms Orr described the report as providing an “aspirational vision” for the Sullivans Creek catchment and said the report would be used as a “signpost to influence further efforts along the catchment” by both government and community projects.
The decision has been slammed by ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury.
“Labor has sought to undermine the Greens’ plan to re-naturalise Sullivans Creek – the latest in a pattern of decisions that define this government not by new ideas, but by indiscriminately abandoning measures implemented by Greens Ministers during the last term of parliament,” he said.
Mr Rattenbury pointed to the government scrapping plans for a new Safe Haven, cutting the Rent Relief Fund and abandoning the Law Reform and Sentencing Advisory Council as other examples of where Greens’ projects had been discontinued by the current government.
“[We’re seeing] the same stale mindset that has long defined the Federal Labor Party – dismissing Greens’ solutions not on merit, but simply because the Greens proposed them,” he said.
“This shouldn’t be about Greens initiatives versus Labor initiatives, it should be about good initiatives and giving them the support they need to be delivered in the future.”
The report had found many respondents supported returning Sullivans Creek to its natural form.
“People disliked the concrete drains, litter and graffiti, stagnant pools and associated algae outbreaks and the odour in some sections of Sullivans Creek,” it noted.
“Many respondents felt the creek looks neglected, is disconnected from the rest of the landscape and lacked the biodiversity and landscape diversity to attract wildlife.”
Mr Rattenbury admitted re-naturalising all of Sullivans Creek would be a lengthy project, but said it could be funded over time just like all major infrastructure.
“There are ways forward and all that’s missing is political will,” he said.
“Already we’ve seen the re-naturalisation of Sullivans Creek does not have to come at the expense of the public pocket … with organisations like the Dickson Tradies Club proposing to re-naturalise the creek as part of their new development plans.”
Ms Orr told Region that despite the decision, the government was still committed to protecting and enhancing the creek and its surrounding environment.
“The final version of the report acts as a signpost to influence further efforts along the catchment by government and community. While the government is not actively planning major re-naturalisation works at this time, this does not preclude the re-naturalisation content from the opportunities report being considered in future,” she said.
“Like the healthy waterways program, we will continue to prioritise projects with balance to our environmental priorities and infrastructure needs.”
A flood study of Sullivans Creek has been contracted this year to update information about the catchment and is expected to be completed in early 2026.
ACT Healthy Waterways is also currently studying the Lake Burley Griffin catchment, which includes Sullivans Creek, and the government is working with the Ngunnawal Community to see how cultural connections can be strengthened with the creek.
