Southern ACT Catchment Group - Bushfire Restoration in the ACT Alpine Region

Southern ACT Catchment Group will work with local Landcare groups, Landcare ACT, ACT Government Parks and Conservation Service, rural lessees and the ACT NRM to assist the recovery of native ecosystems in the burnt areas of the ACT.

Southern ACT Catchment Group - Bushfire Restoration in the ACT Alpine Region

Southern ACT Catchment Group will work with local Landcare groups, Landcare ACT, ACT Government Parks and Conservation Service, rural lessees and the ACT NRM to assist the recovery of native ecosystems in the burnt areas of the ACT.

Bushfire Restoration

Southern ACT Catchment Group will work with local Landcare groups, Landcare ACT, ACT Government Parks and Conservation Service, rural lessees and the ACT NRM to assist the recovery of native ecosystems in the burnt areas of the ACT. This includes Namadgi National Park, and in rural lands adjacent to the reserve and will work in Montane sphagnum bogs and highland grasslands and woodlands.

Bushfire Recovery Project

This project is required to boost the pest plant control work undertaken by long serving volunteers, the Gudgenby Bush Regenerators and the Friends of Tidbinbilla, the Parks and Conservation Service and rural lessees affected by the Orroral Valley Fire in 2020.

Incursions of high priority emergent weed species now occur in the recovering burnt areas following significant rain events post-fire. These new incursions and other priority weeds (e.g blackberry) are rapidly taking hold and require treatment before they smother native vegetation.

Montane bogs in the project area are currently being impacted by grazing cattle and weed incursions. Fire has heavily damaged the bog areas of erosion where vegetation is yet to re-establish. This project will assist a more rapid recovery by using shade cloth to speed repair, undertake weed control to reduce competition to the sphagnum, and install fences to restrict grazing animals.

Project Aims

An improved cross tenure approach and partnership arrangements are urgently needed in the ACT to facilitate better community engagement and recovery outcomes in burnt areas. A Landcare employed project officer positioned in ACT Parks will streamline current projects with both organisations and build working relationships to improve current and future community participation in on-ground works.

This project aims to enhance the recovery and maximise the resilience of fire-affected native plant and animal species, ecological communities, and natural assets within the seven regions identified as most impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires, to build capacity for better delivery of environmental bushfire recovery projects, to increase engagement and participation of local Landcare groups, landholders and others in bushfire recovery activities.

Activities will complement current projects in restoration and build community understanding and participation in bushfire recovery. The strong partnership model in this project will build stronger relationships between the local Landcare Network, community and the Parks service.

More information

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Contacting Us

We acknowledge the Ngunawal people, who are the Traditional Custodians of this country, and all First Nations people and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.

We pay respect to elders past, present and emerging.