Page 4316 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 November 2005
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environment. The fire-damaged roads throughout the reserve have been resealed and made safe. Considerable tree surgery and removal has been undertaken to make the area safe. This work has taken 18 months to undertake, with teams operating at various locations across the reserve.
Significant work has been undertaken and completed to enhance the recreational areas, with over 50 new barbecue tables, eight new electric barbecues, repairs to the toilet blocks and removal of some of the wood-burning barbecues. This enhancement work has made the picnic areas of Tidbinbilla welcoming and rewarding places that provide a variety of areas where large and small groups can enjoy themselves without disturbing others who prefer a quieter experience. The electric barbecues have allowed the removal of most of the wood-fired barbecues that are a risk to the reserve and therefore to the users.
The very popular wetlands boardwalk and viewing platform have been rebuilt, allowing visitors to gain an up-close experience of the wetlands and the wildlife that lives there. This boardwalk will become a central feature of the new nature discovery zone and will be an entry point to the wetlands exhibit where visitors will gain an understanding, through hands-on experiences, of wetland ecology.
The fire trails within the reserve have been repaired to enhance fire protection and provide walking access for visitors. Stabilisation work on the historic Rock Valley and Nil Desperandum Pise homesteads has been undertaken. These buildings are some of the best examples of Pise construction within the ACT and are a tangible link to our pioneer past. Rock Valley homestead will be structurally secured and have a permanent roof provided that will allow visitors to access the structure. Nil Desperandum will be rebuilt to allow overnight stays.
The endangered species recovery program for the northern corroboree frog has been established and breeding facilities constructed, and a successful program is under way. Currently, over 900 juvenile and sub-adult frogs are housed at Tidbinbilla, with the aim of releasing mature frogs back into the bogs that were devastated by the 2003 fires. Complementing the corroboree frog endangered species program is the brush-tailed rock wallaby program for which breeding facilities have also been established. As an example of the success of this program, two males will be released from Tidbinbilla into a wild population at the end of this month, and that population is without a male.
A proposal to change the management plan to allow camping within the reserve has been sent out for comment from the community. Allowing camping at Tidbinbilla would open new markets and opportunities, as visitors could stay overnight and experience the reserve at night. This could be linked with innovative interpretive tours to experience the nocturnal wildlife living at Tidbinbilla.
The major features of this new Tidbinbilla are the nature discovery centre and the adventure playground. The nature discovery playground is a major facility, costing close to $1 million, which will be completed in time for Australia Day in 2006. Children have been involved in the design of this structure so that what is built is what kids want. Being within Tidbinbilla, the playground will have a nature theme and children can explore and enjoy what it is like to fly like a glider, climb like a possum and bounce like a wallaby. The playground is within the picnic area so parents and guardians can enjoy themselves
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