New reference group to focus on national park proposal


Released 25/07/2017

A panel of community interest, conservation and recreational user groups will look at the possibility of another national park for ACT Government consideration, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mick Gentleman announced today.  

“The ACT Government committed to undertaking a feasibility study into a new national park in Canberra, and is now undertaking the crucial first steps in fulfilling this commitment,” Minister Gentleman said.

The National Park Feasibility Reference Group will be established in coming weeks to focus on the merits of a new national park for the ACT. Undertaking a feasibility study into a new northern national park, with a focus around Mount Ainslie, Mount Majura and Mulligans Flat, is one of the Parliamentary Agreement items between Labor and the Greens.

“Canberra is renowned as the bush capital with more than half of the territory dedicated to nature reserves, including the 106,095 hectare Namadgi National Park in the south which is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, as well as Aboriginal and European cultural heritage sites and our critical water catchment area,” Minister Gentleman said.

“To help investigate the proposal for a new national park, the ACT Government will shortly be appointing a reference group who will look into all available options. I am pleased the ACT Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Kate Auty, has agreed to chair the reference group.

“We will be approaching specialists in conservation, the environment, recreation, heritage, and indigenous and community sectors to form the reference group to evaluate the proposal and make recommendations to government.

“Potential reference group members will start being contacted this week with the aim of starting work in March.

“I look forward to working with and hearing more from the National Park Feasibility Reference Group,” Minister Gentleman concluded.

The reference group will be asked to report back by mid-2017.

- Statement ends -

Mick Gentleman, MLA | Media Releases


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