Work to restore the Lower Cotter Catchment following last summer’s bushfires has been completed in record time, after being fast-tracked as part of the Territory’s COVID-19 recovery strategy.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mick Gentleman said local contractors and Canberrans helped undertake critical catchment restoration works to better protect Canberra’s water supply.
“Sediment and debris in parks and reserves can make its way into our waterways impacting our water quality,” Mr Gentleman said.
“It is critical that we continue to monitor and maintain catchment health to safeguard it for generations to come,” he said.
“We’ve also funded repairs to fences between rural properties and Namadgi National Park that were damaged in the Orroral Valley bushfire.”
Mr Gentleman said around 19km of fencing was repaired or replaced; 14km of roads were repaired; eight kilometres of fencing cleared of overhanging or fallen trees; and eight floodgates repaired.
“This work was completed in two months by contractors operating in often remote and difficult terrain,” he said.
“Repairing boundary fencing supports rural landholders and is critical to protecting Namadgi National Park from wandering stock and invasive species.”
The Minister said Lower Cotter Catchment restoration works included weed management; hillslope erosion and sediment control works; as well as revegetation works, with over 2,000 native seedlings planted.
