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Parks and wildlife
Re-Greening: New directions for replanting fire-affected
public spaces
Canberra Urban Parks and Places (CUPP) is the agency within
the Department of Urban Services responsible for replanting
of fire-damaged trees and shrubs on publicly managed lands.
These lands include residential verges, urban parks and recreational
facilities, fringe parklands and water bodies, intersections
and roadsides.
To ensure an 'holistic' planning approach is taken to re-planting,
CUPP has engaged a landscape architectural consultant, Harris
Hobbs Landscapes, to prepare a plant refurbishment strategy
which will guide replanting in both the short and long term.
This provides a framework within which detailed shrub and
tree planting designs will be undertaken.
The strategy will analyse the pre-fire suburban plantings
and present a thematic approach to species selection and plant
groupings. This strategy will take the opportunity to suggest
changes which will improve the urban environment with regard
to:
- Aesthetic character and visual amenity;
- Fire retardance and public safety;
- Urban ecology including faunal migration and habitat;
- Management including disease, pests and life expectancy;
- Relevance to potentially re-classified land-uses in burnt
areas
The guidelines will respond to community opinion on the pre-fire
urban vegetation, as well as reflect aspirations for a new
neighbourhood character. The project will involve community
consultation at various levels, including meetings and liaison
with community interest groups such as the Weston Creek Community
Council and Mount Taylor Estate Residents Association.
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Parks and Reserves
All Parks and Reserves are open, although some areas in Tidbinbilla
remain closed following the January 2003 firestorm.
Visitors to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National
Park can once again enjoy walking trails and ranger guided
activities, encounter Australian animals in their natural
habitat and experience delightful wildflowers during spring.
At Tidbinbilla learn about the captive breeding programs
that are improving the prospects of the endangered Brush-tailed
Rock Wallaby and the Corroborree Frog. Meet Lucky the koala,
the amazing firestorm survivor-the only survivor of the Tidbinbilla
koala colony.
Barbeques are available at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Namadgi
National Park, Cotter campground, Orroral Valley tracking
station, Corin Dam and Pine Island.
The bridge at the Cotter Reserve has been reopened and an
exciting new playground has been rebuilt on Cotter Avenue.
Please phone the Environment
ACT Helpline: Ph 6207 9777 for Nature Park opening details.
ACT Forests
ACT Forests advises that Woods Reserve, Molongo Gorge, and
Old Kowen Homestead recreational areas are open.
Other areas are still being rehabilitated after the fires
and will be open later in 2004.
Wildlife
If you see injured wildlife please contact Canberra Connect
on 13 22 81.
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