Partial closure of Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve extended

A section of Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve between Mount Ainslie Drive and Campbell Park Offices off Northcott Drive will remain closed until Friday 24 February 2012.

The closure was put in place on Thursday 17 November 2011 while a detailed survey of the area was undertaken for unexploded ordnance (military ammunition which has been fired, but failed to explode).

The survey was undertaken by a contractor engaged by the National Unexploded Ordnance Office. The survey uncovered the waste remnants of six mortars. No further unexploded ordnance was found.

Defence, however, recommended that a small area of the park be further surveyed for items which may be buried. This survey has so far found four pieces of unexploded ordnance buried under the ground which have been safely detonated by the Department of Defence.

The contractor will continue their survey work before making a recommendation to the ACT Government about when the reserve can be reopened.

Signage has been erected at access points to the reserve, as well as along fencing, advising people of the closure.

For more information about the closure please view the Question and Answer sheet.

To view the closed area on Mount Ainslie Nature Reserve please refer to the map.

For more information on unexploded ordnance visit www.defence.gov.au/uxo