Page 2241 - Week 07 - Thursday, 27 August 2020
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our government, such as in Throsby, where we have prioritised creating a new nature reserve ahead of urban sprawl. I thank the staff of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate for their tireless work in this area.
The government has also protected the environment through strategies supporting the living infrastructure in our region, particularly through the healthy waterways project, national resource management and the Parks and Conservation Service. This government has remained committed to protecting our environment and doing so through responsible long-term strategies and funding.
MS CODY: Minister, how is this reflected in the recovery of Namadgi National Park after this year’s bushfires?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Cody for the supplementary. The devastating bushfires earlier this year burnt about 80 per cent of Namadgi National Park and 22 per cent of Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, significantly impacting our local environment. Namadgi is one of our most iconic and botanically diverse parks and the road to recovery there will be a long one. We know that many Canberrans cherish visiting the park and we remain committed to supporting the recovery work in the years ahead.
We have effectively responded to the most immediate threats to our natural and cultural landscape caused by the bushfires. Our rapid response assessment team, which included fauna ecologists, hydrologists, archaeologists and infrastructure experts, released their report early in the year, outlining their recommendations for immediate and future recovery action in response to bushfires and flooding in Namadgi and Tidbinbilla Natural Reserve.
The bushfire recovery plan being developed by the government addresses the immediate fire-impacted areas as well as the broader impacts, including ecosystem trends and issues such as climate change and adaption, continuing dry conditions and the safeguarding of Canberra’s water supply.
Across government, our teams have worked tirelessly to assess and address significant impacts to wildlife and ecosystems, heritage, hill slope erosion, ACT water catchments and community safety. The COVID-19 public health emergency has provided challenges to progressing some of this work. However, I am immensely proud of the work that has been done so far.
MR GUPTA: Minister, how has the government added to our parks and reserves?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Mr Gupta for his interest too. Our city is blessed, of course, with parks and reserves. According to the most recent State of the Environment report, we have the most green space per capita of any capital city, with 98 per cent of Canberrans living within 400 metres of a green space.
I am proud that we have added to this since that report came out. In the past few years we have created the Franklin grassland nature reserve and the Molonglo River nature reserve. Our reserves contribute to health and wellbeing in the ACT by providing a
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