Sixteen nature reserves across the ACT will be closed from 10 June until 31 July during operations for the ACT's annual Kangaroo Management Program.
ACT Conservator of Flora and Fauna, Bren Burkevics said these closures are for the public's safety while the ACT Government conducts the annual program to manage and protect the ACT's threatened grasslands and grassy woodlands from overgrazing by kangaroos.
"The Kangaroo Management Program is part of a suite of land management activities including prescribed burning, invasive pests and animal control, invasive plant control, and restoration activities that work together to protect, conserve and enhance the ACT's native grasslands," Mr Burkevics said.
"Managing kangaroo grazing is important to ensure the ACT's native grassy ecosystems can provide suitable habitat conditions for a wide range of native plant and animal species including threatened species.
"The ACT is home to some of the best quality Natural Temperate Grassland in Australia, and we need to make sure it is appropriately protected and managed so it can continue providing optimum habitat conditions."
Mr Burkevics said rainfall over the previous 12 months has been lower than the last 3 years, and below the long-term average. Recent Bureau of Meteorology predictions show that this pattern will continue over the winter months.
"Less rain means less grass growth, which our monitoring in late 2024 has shown. If it is not managed now, over grazing by kangaroos can seriously damage the ACT's sensitive native grassland areas,"
"The GonaCon Immunocontraceptive Vaccine will also continue for the fourth year as part of the Kangaroo Management Program. This method of kangaroo management is showing positive early results and we expect it will over time reduce the need for kangaroos to be humanely culled in the future.
"The government appreciates the community for their patience and cooperation during these reserve closures," Mr Burkevics said.
Leading scientists and land managers with decades of experience in ecology, land management, and kangaroo management have calculated an operational target of 2,981 kangaroos to be removed across 16 priority ACT reserves in 2025.
The following reserves will be formally closed under the Nature Conservation Act 2014 from Tuesday 10 June to Thursday 31 July 2025each week from 6pm to 6am from Monday to Thursday, and will remain open over the weekends from Friday morning to Monday evening.
- Aranda Bushland Nature Reserve
- Callum Brae Nature Reserve
- Crace Grasslands Nature Reserve - including public rural land
- Farrer Ridge Nature Reserve
- Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve
- Gungaderra Grasslands Nature Reserve
- Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve
- Jerrabomberra East Grasslands Nature Reserve (and areas of adjacent public land)
- Jerrabomberra West Grasslands Nature Reserve
- Kama Nature Reserve
- Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve- excluding Mt Ainslie Drive and lookout
- Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve
- Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary
- Mount Majura Nature Reserve
- Mount Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve
- Red Hill Nature Reserve
All closures will be clearly signposted. Entering a closed reserve is an offence under the Nature Conservation Act 2014. The public are requested to follow any guidance or direction given by Conservation Officers working on the reserves.
Reserve closures and comprehensive information about kangaroo management is available on the Eastern Grey Kangaroo webpage of the ACT Government website.
