The first stage of Ingledene Forest is complete with more than 200,000 new trees restoring the landscape and providing a new outdoor recreation area for south Canberra.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mick Gentleman said Ingledene would create local jobs in the forestry industry while providing opportunities for mountain biking, orienteering, bushwalking and bird watching.
“The woodlands and grasslands surrounding our city are a major part of what makes Canberra a great place to live. We are committed to improving areas like Ingledene and Kowen forests and protecting them from urban development,” Mr Gentleman said.
“The new plantings include more than 2,500 native trees to regrow critically endangered Box-Gum woodlands and will help with erosion control and restoration of the landscape.”
He said the ACT Parks and Conservation Service had worked together with Greening Australia and the ACT Natural Resource Management team to ensure the environmental values of the area were front-and-centre.
“Over 120 coir logs have also been installed to help with erosion and to capture sediment in drainage lines and shelter the newly planted vegetation,” the Minister said.
“The ACT Government’s $1.73 million commitment to Ingledene Forest will see more than 435,000 trees planted there by 2021.”
Ingledene Forest is located south of Tharwa, on the outskirts of Namadgi National Park and is flanked by the Gudgenby and Murrumbidgee rivers.
