Staff at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve have received new electric tools and e-bikes to carry out their work more easily, while reducing carbon emissions.
Director of the ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Daniel Iglesias said staff in the ACT Parks and Conservation Service immediately took a shine to the new tools.
“As you can imagine, we’re very passionate about the environment and the work we do and it’s important that we can balance that passion with tools that can do the job,” Mr Iglesias said.
“What we’ve seen so far are battery-powered tools are fit for purpose and are actually better than their petrol-powered alternatives in many cases,” he said.
Minister for Land Management, Mick Gentleman said the new electric equipment was quieter and lighter than petrol-driven counterparts and was powered by 100 per cent renewable electricity.
“New electric chainsaws, line trimmers, pole-saws and leaf blowers have been purchased for ACT Parks and Conservation Service staff at Tidbinbilla,” Mr Gentleman said.
“Earlier this year, Tidbinbilla rangers swapped over to a range of battery -powered tools as part of a four-week trial,” he said.
“The trial was a major success with most tools proving they could do the job just as well or even better.”
The Minister said Tidbinbilla rangers were “overwhelmingly supportive” of the change and a new 12-month trial was now underway to investigate how the tools could be rolled out across the Service.
Mr Gentleman said two all-terrain mountain e-bikes would also be added to the fleet to provide rangers with a zero-emission alternative to diesel vehicles for short-range trips.
