Territory and Municipal Services wishes to advise that due to a total fire ban in place on Saturday 12 January 2013, the following nature reserves and roads will be closed:
- Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (the Visitor Centre will remain open);
- selected roads within Namadgi National Park including Apollo Road, Orroral Road, Old Mill Road, Warks Road, Mount Franklin Road at Piccadilly Circus, and the Corin Dam Road (the Namadgi Visitor Centre will remain open);
- Googong Foreshores;
- Lower Molonglo River Corridor; and
- Mulligans Flat Woodlands Sanctuary.
Note that the Boboyan Road and Brindabella Road remain open to through traffic.
Additionally Namadgi National Park, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Googong Foreshores as well as Kowen Forest will remain closed until 7 am Sunday 13 January 2013 in the interests of public safety.
With the very bad fire weather expected in the coming days, closing Namadgi, Tidbinbilla, Googong Foreshores and Kowen Forest will ensure visitors are out of harm's way should conditions deteriorate.
In an effort to accommodate recreational users, the Canberra Nature Park and all Pine Forest areas (other than Kowen Forest) will remain open to the public during the early morning hours, however users are advised that they should leave these areas no later than 11 am.
Electric barbeques provided at the Cotter, Casuarina Sands, Pine Island and in Canberra's urban parks will be available, however all gas barbeques will be turned off.
For up-to-date Total Fire Ban declarations and more information about how they affect you, visit the ACT Emergency Services Agency website esa.act.gov.au, follow @ACT_ESA on Twitter or like ACT Emergency Services Agency on Facebook.
People can also contact Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.