Areas of some ACT parks and reserves will be closed for the safety of visitors during vertebrate pest species control operations during May and June.
Following two successful aerial control operations in 2021, the ACT Parks and Conservation Service will undertake another aerial control program to help manage the harmful impacts of feral animals such as pigs and deer on the environment.
The program will be effective from 12:01am on Monday 9 May until 11.59pm on Friday 3 June 2022.
"This aerial control operation is one of many programs that focuses on reducing the impact of invasive species on our environment," said Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman.
"Across our parks and reserves, feral pest animals like pigs and deer damage our threatened plant and animal species through grazing, antler rubbing, trampling, trail creation, ground disturbance and wallowing. This includes areas that are crucial to the ACT's water supply, such as the Upper Cotter Catchment of Namadgi National Park.
"Namadgi is still recovering from the 2019/2020 bushfire season, and we know this recovery will continue for many years. Our approach to bushfire recovery is to facilitate natural regeneration. To give our threatened plants and animals the best chance of persisting throughout this ongoing recovery period, we need to control feral animal populations.
"As always, community safety is our priority. The ACT Parks and Conservation Service team will implement extensive safety precautions during the program, such as buffer zones, clear signage and sweeps before every shoot. Community members should not be alarmed by aircraft operating at the impacted areas," Minister Gentleman said.
"Animal welfare is also a priority, with control activities undertaken in accordance with best practice for humane control of feral animals.
"We understand these closures might affect some visitors' travel plans. However, this program will help our environment and allow Namadgi to continue to recover. Park and reserve closures are staged, so there are still many areas of Namadgi, Canberra Nature Park and the river reserves open during this time."
Specific closures are:
- Namadgi South: 9 May – 20 May
- Namadgi North: 16 May – 25 May
- Lower Cotter Catchment: 16 May – 25 May
- Murrumbidgee River Corridor: 23 May – 29 May
- Molonglo: 23 May – 29 May
- Googong: 23 May – 03 June (open weekends)
