The ACT Government has completed a major upgrade of Old Well Station Road through Nadjung Mada Nature Reserve.
This project marks the final milestone for a program of works delivered by the Parks and Conservation Service for Canberra's northern grasslands that received $2.1 million from the Albanese Government through the Disaster Ready Fund.
This package also included major remediation, and restoration works at Jarramlee Nature Reserve and the Budjan Galindgi Nature Reserve, which all provide critical habitat for threatened species.
As a project jointly funded by the Australian and ACT governments, the Building Climate Resilient Visitor Infrastructure project also delivers safer access, stronger emergency management capability and improved protection for nationally significant grassland habitat in Canberra's north.
The upgraded road now provides a safe, reliable, all‑weather route built to rural roading standards. It supports bushfire response, emergency services and land management operations, while also improving community access for pedestrians and cyclists connecting surrounding neighbourhoods with schools, services and the wider city.
The project strengthens the ACT's ability to respond to emergencies by ensuring consistent, dependable access through the reserve, particularly during severe weather and bushfire events.
Environmental protection has been central to the design and delivery of the works. Innovative safeguards have been incorporated to protect the vulnerable striped legless lizard (Delma impar), including trialling purpose‑designed rumble grid crossings installed at multiple locations along the road to support safe dispersal and habitat connectivity for the threatened species.
Stormwater infrastructure across Sullivan's Creek has also been upgraded to better manage heavier rainfall and future storm events. With the planned development of the suburb of Kenny upstream, these improvements will help manage increased runoff and water flows, reducing the risk of erosion and flooding within Nadjung Mada Nature Reserve.
The project was delivered with $218,000 funding from the Albanese Government's Disaster Ready Fund, supporting disaster resilience, risk reduction and preparedness across the Territory.
