Canberra Liberals MLA James Milligan, Shadow Minister for Emergency Services, is concerned the ACT is not prepared for the 2023-24 bushfire season, and has called on the ACT Government to reinstate the Namadgi National Park fire trail network.

Mr Milligan said Mick Gentleman, Minister for Emergency Services, had overstated the preparedness of the ACT for the upcoming bushfire season, when he knew the fire trails were not up to the standard they were before the 2020 Orroral fires.

“The Minister stood up in the Assembly in September and reported that Canberra was well prepared for the upcoming fire season, ‘better than ever before’, yet his responses during question time last week were contrary to that,” Mr Milligan said.

“The Minister also admitted that the top end of Namadgi National Park was still not accessible to fire fighters, and that they would not be able to get large flow trucks, [which] deliver other firefighting equipment, such as bulldozers, up to the Cotter Hut.

“The inability to get to the Cotter Hut impacts on the water resource preparedness, in response to the fires. Especially important when he also admitted that the Corin Dam is also not yet accessible for water supplies.”

Mr Milligan said it was insulting to all Canberrans, for the Minister to assure that Canberra was more prepared than ever before, when he knew that was certainly not the case.

“It seems this government has not learned the lessons of the fires in either 2003 or the more recent ones of 2019-2020.

“I am calling on the Minister to come clean to Canberrans and report back to the Assembly on the final sitting date this year on the true state of all the fire trails and how prepared we really are.

“The 2003 McLeod Fire Inquiry, after the devastating 2003 fires, made a key recommendation about roading standards and fire trails to ensure that all of Namadgi National Park was fully accessible. It would appear the government has failed the community to ensure this has been done.

“Canberrans love living in a bush capital, but they expect a government to provide a safe environment, especially with all Canberrans paying each year for the Police and Emergency Services Levy. It is also incumbent on this government to ensure the devastation of 2003 and 2019-20 does not happen again.”

ACT Government response

In the Legislative Assembly today, Mr Gentleman emphasised the government’s commitment to preparing and responding to bushfire incidents, and acknowledged the community’s concern about bushfire risks, especially after the devastating events of 2003 and 2020. He said he was confident in the ACT Parks and Conservation Service’s approach.

The ACT’s management trail network spans more than 2,500 km. The ACT Parks and Conservation Service is reviewing it to ensure it aligns with current needs and environmental constraints, given the changing climate.

Although rainfall and flooding has damaged management trails, affecting access in some areas, rapid repairs were possible for emergency situations, and the network is now being restored as the landscape dries up.

Mr Gentleman highlighted a program of prioritized management trail repair works for 2023-24, focusing on protecting the urban fringe and water supply catchments, and allowing mobilisation of heavy plant across the landscape in the event of a bushfire. This year, 270 km of trail works have been completed.

All the damaged sections of the Upper Cotter area will be completed by the end of the year, to install permanent, resilient creek crossings that can withstand flood events far more effectively than what was in place before the 2020 fires, Mr Gentleman said.

Liberal motion passes

All members of Labor and the Greens agreed to Mr Milligan’s motion that called on the ACT Government to fully commit to reinstating the Namadgi National Park fire trail network, returning the network to its pre-Orroral Valley Fire 2020 accessibility status.

Mr Milligan welcomed support for his motion, and said Canberra would be better prepared for the upcoming bushfire season.

“It is disappointing that the Emergency Services Minister has continually overstated the preparedness of the ACT for the upcoming bushfire season when that is not the case, but I am pleased to see all members of the Assembly agree to my motion today,” Mr Milligan said.

“The Canberra Liberals will continue to ensure the ACT is well prepared for the threat of bushfires and that the concerns of the community and those within the emergency services are addressed.”