Since the 2003 bushfires ACTEA has regularly sought replacement of the old stock fence that ran along the Tuggeranong Parkway near the pine forest south of the Zoo. Riders were concerned that one day a startled horse could run on to the Parkway. This became a bigger issue when the Zoo expanded southward to the old underpass which now goes directly into the Arboretum. There was never a positive response – too expensive, not necessary, not our responsibility etc.
To everyone’s astonishment the Canberra Times of 16 September announced a Commonwealth Government funded project to install kangaroo proof fencing along stretched of the Tuggeranong Parkway. Miraculously, one of these stretches was the area between the front gate of the Arboretum and the bridge over the Molonglo River.
Upon enquiry (because it seemed too good to be true) ACTEA was advised that the fence would indeed be going up. In fact machinery to clear the trees and vegetation arrived on Thursday and there will be substantial clearing activity and noise over the next week up and down the fence corridor. The installation of the actual fence was programmed to occur late next week but may slip until after the second long weekend (that should be a quieter activity but they will still have machinery to core the holes).