An initial $1.37 million will be invested by the ACT Government as part of a long-term bushfire recovery plan for Namadgi National Park and Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve.

The money, alongside expected insurance funding, will help with recovery efforts and is in addition to $600,000 already provided to replace fencing and employ 26 rangers.

The plan aims to work alongside the natural regeneration of the areas and, amongst other measures, will look to restore infrastructure, manage impacts and threats to heritage sites and consider climate change adaptation and mitigation.

While the long-term plan encompasses Tidbinbilla and Beard, most of the actions occur in Namadgi, where 80% of the Park was burnt. Nearly 90,000 hectares was burnt as a result of the Beard and Orroral Valley bushfires.

“Our teams have done a tremendous amount of recovery work so far, however there is much more to do. As the snow melts, our teams can accelerate efforts to implement the long-term recovery plan,” said Environment and Land Management Minister, Mick Gentleman.

“The 2020 bushfires and floods have changed the landscape, threatening native animals and plants, impacting European and Aboriginal cultural heritage, damaging Park infrastructure and placing the ACT’s primary water supply at risk.”

Mr Gentleman also said the Namadgi Visitor Information Centre, which had been closed since the Orroral Valley bushfire in January, has reopened with new paint, flooring and infrastructure.

“The Namadgi Visitor Information Centre is a great place for visitors to find out more about the Park and efforts to restore it. As we move into spring, it’s a great time for visitors to return to the reopened areas of Namadgi and see the green shoots of recovery with their own eyes,” he said.

The release of the plan comes as Canberrans are urged to be prepared for the upcoming bushfire season.

The full recovery plan can be found via the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate website.