The Fire, Forests and Roads section of the Parks and Conservation Service (PCS) is undertaking a range of works to protect Canberra's water supply from unplanned fire. These works are primarily focused within and adjacent to the Lower Cotter Catchment Reserve. Numerous fuel reduction activities will reduce the risk of wildfire to the catchment, including:
- prescribed burns
- removal of dense strands of Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata) regrowth within Blue Range
- creation of strategic fire breaks.
Over 200 hectares of Monterey Pine (Pinus radiate) regrowth will be removed between 2016 and 2019 within the Blue Range/Lower Cotter Catchment area. A variety of plant and machinery will be implementing these works and operating in the area. Therefore, for your safety, please keep clear of these areas.
During this process, water quality monitoring is taking place to ensure that our operations have minimal impact to natural systems.
The image to the right is an example of the fuel reduction treatments in the Blue Range testing different treatment method to retain native vegetation: mechanical thinning using specialised equipment, physical removal (hand thinning and edge pruning), and heaping using dozers.
See the below video for an idea of the landscape this fuel reduction work will take place: