An initial assessment report detailing the impact of the Orroral Valley fire on Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve has been released by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mick Gentleman said the report Orroral Valley Fire Rapid Risk Assessment Namadgi National Park was compiled by a Rapid Risk Assessment Team (RRAT) of flora, fauna and fire ecologists, hydrologists, archaeologists and infrastructure experts.
Mr Gentleman said it identified key priorities and risks in the recovery process after the blaze burnt through 80 per cent of the Namadgi National Park and 22 per cent of the Tidbinbilla reserve.
“This initial report will inform a full recovery plan to address the immediate impacts of the fire as well as a long-term recovery program,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The recovery program will look beyond the immediate fire-impacted areas and consider broader ecosystem trends, and issues such as climate change and adaptation, continuing dry conditions and safeguarding Canberra’s water supply.”
Mr Gentleman said the RRAT identified 27 risks centred around impacts on cultural heritage; risks to public safety from damage to roads, trees and walking tracks; impacts on threatened ecological communities; threats to biodiversity from feral animals; impacts on water quality; hillslope erosion; and damage to park and rural landholder assets such as fences.
He said the Directorate would work closely with Ngunnawal people and Representative Aboriginal Organisations to support them in the healing of country and the conservation of cultural sites within the damaged areas.
“Traditional Custodians have a deep connection to country and the fire has deeply affected them,” Mr Gentleman said.
“We understand that Canberrans are eager to get back out into Namadgi National Park, Bimberi Wilderness Area and the parts of Tidbinbilla that remain closed,” he said.
“We are working to ensure that these areas are safe for public access by fixing key infrastructure and removing dangerous trees.”
The Team’s 48-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
