As a result of tomorrow’s predicted severe fire weather, several national parks and campgrounds in Greater Sydney will be closed from Saturday 4 January 2020, starting from midnight tonight, until further notice.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Greater Sydney Branch Director Deon van Rensburg said protecting the public is the key priority in making these decisions when faced with severe fire conditions.
“The closures include all of Royal National Park, including all remote campgrounds in (North Era and Uloola Falls) and all sites in Heathcote National Park,” Mr van Rensburg said.
“Wianamatta Regional Park, Bents Basin State Conservation Area and Cattai National Park in Western Sydney including their campgrounds, tracks and trails will also be closed.
“Precincts in the Sydney Harbour, Lane Cove and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, including The Basin will remain open but people should check National Parks alerts list before heading out.
“Under these conditions all walking tracks and fire trails are closed for public access in all parks within Greater Sydney,” he said.
In Royal National Park Sir Bertram’s Stephens Drive, Lady Wakehurst and McKell Avenue will be closed to all traffic from 8am tomorrow, except to local residents accessing Bundeena and Maianbar, as well as Garie Beach Road and Wattamolla Road. Local residents can access from Farnell Avenue only.
For full details and updates on all road closures check with Live Traffic NSW before travelling through any National Park and generally avoid driving in any bushland.
A full list of the closures is available at National Parks and Wildlife Service: Alerts for NSW National Parks.
For update-to-date fire information, including on total fire bans (TOBANs) visit RFS NSW Rural Fire Service: Fires Near Me.
Mr van Rensburg said NPWS is a key support agency for bushfire response and has more than 1,000 trained firefighters which it deploys to wildfires and hazard reduction throughout the year, including supporting RFS and NSW Fire and Rescue.
Note all national parks on the NSW South Coast are closed including Kosciuzsko National Park.
RFS have advised people to please avoid the area as it is not safe.
