Released 10/07/2020
Work to restore Lower Cotter Catchment and replace rural fencing following the summer bushfires is complete two months after being fast tracked as part of the ACT Government's efforts to create jobs and support local business to recover from COVID-19.
Minister for Environment and Heritage Mick Gentleman thanked the teams for completing works in record time.
"These projects are helping to conserve and restore our natural environment and have supported local jobs and business through these uncertain times," Minister Gentleman said.
"Local contractors and Canberrans who found themselves unemployed due to COVID-19 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. It is critical that we continue to monitor and maintain catchment health to safeguard it for generations to come.
"We've also funded repairs to fences between rural properties and Namadgi National Park that were damaged in the Orroral Valley bushfire. Work has been carried out by local fencing businesses, suppliers and rural landholders.
"Around 19 km of fencing has been repaired or replaced, 14 km of roads have been repaired, 8 km of fencing cleared of overhanging or fallen trees, and 8 floodgates repaired. This work was completed in two months by contractors operating in often remote and difficult terrain.
"Repairing boundary fencing supports rural landholders and is critical to protecting Namadgi National Park from wandering stock and invasive species.
"These two projects have helped to better protect our water catchment, support the Territory's bushfire recovery efforts and keep Canberra working through the COVID-19 health emergency.
"The ACT Government has also supported jobs and the environment via 26 rangers and field officers employed through the Jobs for Canberrans initiative."
The ACT Government invested around $350,000 in Lower Cotter Catchment restoration works and $650,000 to repair and replace rural land fences damaged in the Orroral Valley bushfire.
Lower Cotter Catchment restoration works included:
- Weed management – about 620 ha of invasive species controlled with a focus on pine wildings and blackberry
- hillslope erosion and sediment control works in targeted areas – 3 eroding gullies remediated, with over 300 coir logs and about 20,000 kg of sandbags installed
- revegetation works – over 2,000 native seedlings planted
- procurement of revegetation and erosion control equipment
- remediation of redundant roads and motorbike tracks.
To find out more about the ACT Government's COVID-19 stimulus package, visit www.act.gov.au/fasttrack.
- Statement ends -
Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases