Namadgi closure - Bimberi Wilderness & AAWT

[Zapruda]

FYI Everyone.

Early notice - imminent closure of Namadgi National Park for an extended period. Please note that this is a 'head's-up' notice. The official alerts from ACT Parks, Emergency Services etc will be posted shortly on the relevant websites. This is to give you all some early warning in case you need to reconsider your plans.

NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK

Because of high fire risk and the current stretching of ACT resources assisting with bush fires in NSW, Namadgi National Park is likely to be closed to the public and for non-essential management activities as follows:

From, and including, Weds 11 Dec 19 - The Bimberi Wilderness.

From, and including, Mon 23 Dec 19 - The whole of Namadgi National Park.

The park looks like it will remain closed until substantial rainfall is received. This is estimated to be no earlier than 01 Mar 20 with a likely extension beyond this date if rain is not received.


Discussion can be had here - viewtopic.php?f=36&t=27974

[Zapruda]

Its official now

https://www.environment.act.gov.au/home ... Kp-y8d7G0k

ACT Conservator of Flora and Fauna Ian Walker has closed the Bimberi Wilderness due to significant fire danger in remote regions of Namadgi National Park.
The closure will remain in place until the end of March 2020.

Summer conditions and soil dryness means there is an increased fire threat to people accessing the Bimberi Wilderness. The remoteness of the area significantly limits ability to control fires.

Bimberi Wilderness is a 28,900-hectare area and makes up 27% of Namadgi National Park. It is also a popular destination for many back-country bushwalkers and users of the Australian Alps Walking Track, which is why we must ensure the safety of visitors to the park.

Specific locations impacted:
The ACT section of the Australian Alps walking track
Pryors Hut
Mt Gingera
Mt Bimberi
Cotter Hut
Upper Cotter, Namadgi National Park

Public access to the Bimberi Wilderness area will be closed at:
Ginini Carpark, Mt Franklin Road
Stockyard Spur, via Corin Dam Road
Smokers trail, via Corin Hub
Cotter Hut road, via Orroral Valley
Leura gap
Murray gap
Yaouk gap

Signage of the closure will be placed at all locations impacted.
For more information on the Bimberi Wilderness closure please contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81.

[Zapruda]

As of today, Namadgi is still closed due to a large active fire in the park. The fire continues to move in all directions. Please follow all park closures.

More information can be found here - https://esa.act.gov.au/

[Huntsman247]

As of today, Namadgi is still closed due to a large active fire in the park. The fire continues to move in all directions. Please follow all park closures.

More information can be found here - https://esa.act.gov.au/

Is there going to be anything green left to walk at the end of this summer?...

[Lophophaps]

Is there going to be anything green left to walk at the end of this summer?...[/quote]

There are places that are unburnt, but too many huge areas that are blackened ruins of what was. Major bushwalking areas will be closed for a while, perhaps until most of the dead timber falls over. Camping in such places would need to be in very big clearings away from trees. The bushfires will change overnight and longer walking for months if not years. Winter is wet and summer may mean bushfires, so it may be that autumn and spring are the new peak bushwalking seasons. I do not know.

[Zapruda]

As of today, Namadgi is still closed due to a large active fire in the park. The fire continues to move in all directions. Please follow all park closures.

More information can be found here - https://esa.act.gov.au/

Is there going to be anything green left to walk at the end of this summer?...

It’s not looking good. The fire is passing over Scabby Range now. Scabby is probably the most pristine sub alpine area we have on the mainland. The fire is also moving quickly over Bimberi and into KNP. Hopefully the rain helps.

[Andrew P]

Latest info from ACT Government on the Tharwa end of AAWT. (https://www.environment.act.gov.au/park ... ional-park , Recovery tab).
Bimberi Wilderness
Locations of interest

• Mt Bimberi
• Cotter Hut
• Australian Alps walking track

Works to be complete
significant damage to tracks and safety concerns will see precinct substantially closed until works completed
restoration work required on Australian Alps walking track in collaborations with NSW and VIC
Orroral Valley Precinct work required to allow access to this precinct
Status
CLOSED
Note: Anticipated opening September 2023

It really was a devastating fire...

[Zapruda]

I have it on very good authority that 2023 is far from the the actual date. Spring 2021 is apparently more realistic from what I’ve been told.

[crollsurf]

Bimberi Wilderness is closed until "significant damage to tracks and safety concerns' can be completed in an area ACT Parks claim they don't maintain because it's a Wilderness area! Spring 2021 Wow, that's nice of them

[potato]

It will be earlier than 2023. The tracks have been walked by the rangers to assess risks(?) etc. The real sticking point is the road access to Orroral Valley, one of the crossings is damaged and ACT Roads are slow to update their road repair work-plan.

[Lophophaps]

Potentially dangerous trees could be a significant issue. There are hundreds of kilometres of management and foot tracks in all bushfire regions, and it takes time to cut these trees down. It may also be too risky to cut trees. One of the worst that I have seen was in the Barry Mountains where a burnt tree had fallen across the track and was caught by another tree, with room underneath to walk through. It seems that it was too risky to cut, so Parks Victoria had blocked access and made a detour around the tree.

[badd0g]

Hey all,
We have a northbound e2e trip planned for October-November and assuming that the 2023 date for reopening sticks, I'm looking for advice on the alternate route via BNT from Oldfield's Hut.
Specifically, good camp spots and whether permits or permission from landowners required. Aside from poring over maps, we don't have any personal experience of the area and short of the western side of the park opening up before we go to allow for an alternate via Mt Gingera and Stockyard Spur, it looks like the BNT is going to be the go.

Any and all advice from those familiar with the region would be much appreciated. Cheers

[Zapruda]

Namadgi is completely open now.

AAWT walkers can use the original route through the park right from the NSW border to Tharwa.

https://www.act.gov.au/our-canberra/lat ... dgi-reopen