Australian Wildlife Week, celebrated across the country during the first week of October, provides a timely reminder for all of us to consider the importance of our forests and bushlands, wetlands and waterways, that are home to unique native animals – particularly in light of the impact from devastating natural disasters like the Black Summer bushfires. ¹ 

The scale of these bushfires and severity of its impact on our native forests² and on our wildlife was unprecedented, highlighting the vulnerability of our native species and the need to protect their habitat against future disasters.

Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary

The Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park experienced the impacts of the Black Summer bushfires first hand. The sanctuary is home to more than 200 native Australian animals with many of them able to be free-range. In 2019/2020, all animals had to be evacuated when the bushfires reached the sanctuary’s borders on the NSW Central Coast. The evacuation itself was stressful and dangerous for the animals.

After this event, the sanctuary identified the need to significantly improve the ability to defend the sanctuary and the community against future bushfires through the upgrade of existing fire trails. Funded by the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, the recently completed upgrade allows for the increased protection of the sanctuary and the surrounding landscape which contains native animals and culturally significant sites. These trails will also allow for access for the NSW Rural Fire Service Category 1 Firefighting Vehicles to navigate these trails to reach fire fronts.

With this upgrade, the sanctuary is now a defendable gateway against bushfires reaching the Coast from the South, with the sanctuary's 170 acres of natural bushland forming a fire break between Popran National Park and Glenworth Valley in the south/south-west, and the suburbs of the Central Coast to the north-west.

Breed-for-wild release program

Tassin Barnard, General Manager of the sanctuary spoke to the importance of their work to protect the natural habitat, essential for the sanctuary’s breeding program, “Breed for Wild Release”, funded by the NSW Government. This program, which takes up a significant part of the sanctuary, is dedicated to the re-establishment of endangered populations of bilbies, Tasmanian devils and brush-tail rock wallabies. “This work is so important, as when these animals are released back into places like the Blue Mountains National Park, they must have learned the skills to thrive in the wild. We have recently achieved our first wild release to re-establish rock wallaby colonies destroyed by previous bushfires.”

Cultural Education Tours

The sanctuary also includes a number of cultural sites, some dating back 4,000 years, and which make up part of the cultural educational tours that enhance the visitor experience.

“At Walkabout Sanctuary, we are protecting thousands of years' old Aboriginal sites. We must protect them from raging hot fires as it is so important that this remains a place where people can connect with Country to learn about Aboriginal culture.”

The Australian Government supports the preservation and protection of Australia’s unique native habitat and animals. Find out more about all the programs we’re delivering to reduce the impact of disasters and increase resilience across Australia.

About this Project

Who: Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary

What: To upgrade the Sanctuary’s existing fire trails so they can carry full-sized Category 1 firefighting vehicles to provide increased protection of the Sanctuary and its’ wildlife and the surrounding area.

Disaster Funding: Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program

Funding: $57,620

Benefit delivered: Fire trail upgrades will not only provide better protection for the sanctuary and its’ cultural education and breeding programs but also provide a defendable gateway against bushfires reaching the Central Coast from the south.

Stage: Completed July 2022 Image courtesy of Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary.

 ¹ 3 billion animals harmed by Australia’s fires | Stories | WWF (worldwildlife.org)

² Australia’s Black Summer a climate wake-up call - ANU