Some Sydney National Parks reopen with extreme fire weather backing off.

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has reopened popular visitor precincts in many Sydney reserves after the extreme fire risk of earlier this week eased. This includes parks around Sydney Harbour and Royal National Park to the south.

NPWS A/Director Metropolitan and Mountain, Mr Mike Patrick said today that the NPWS recognises that Parks play a key role in allowing Sydneysiders and visitors alike to enjoy their weekends and asked that visitors be patient while normal operations are resumed.

“Please understand that while the conditions have eased, Fires in the Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands continue to draw on the NPWS staff and resources from across the state. As a result normal services may not operate as usual throughout Sydney parks on the weekend.

“For as long as the current Total Fire Ban persists, tracks and trails will remain closed in all of our reserves. “Emergency services resources are still stretched and we are asking people to remain in easily accessible visitor precents rather than heading for remote areas. We look forward to seeing people setting out on long bushwalks again as soon the fire danger has fully passed and all of our people are back to normal duties,” Mr Patrick said.

All visitors to the our reserves are reminded that the NSW Fire Commissioner has declared a Total Fire Ban until further notice and in accordance with the Rural Fires Act all forms of cooking and bbq’s other than those provided by National Parks are not permitted. For details on what is permissible in a Total Fire Ban go to Total Fire Ban Rules - NSW Rural Fire Service

All parks in the Sydney region will be open as of tomorrow morning with the exception of the following:
Agnes Banks Nature Reserve
Castlereagh Nature Reserve
Gulguer Nature Reserve
Kemps Creek Nature Reserve
Mulgoa Nature Reserve
Prospect Nature Reserve
Newington Nature Reserve
Wianamatta Nature Reserve
Wianamatta Regional Park
Joadja Nature Reserve
Pitt Town Nature Reserve
Thirlmere Lakes National Park
Burragorang Lookout

All track and trails are closed with the exception of:
Tracks in Sydney Harbour NP
Lady Carrington Drive in Royal National Park
Burrawang Walk in Kamay Botany Bay National Park

In accordance with the closure of tracks and trails, remote campgrounds in Royal NP (Nth Era Campground, Uloola Falls Campground) and all sites in Heathcote NP remain closed.

The following parks are subject to total closures while fire fighting operations are underway:
Bargo River State Conservation Area (including Caves Creek Track)
Bargo State Conservation Area

National Parks apologises to park visitors for this inconvenience; however these closures are necessary to ensure public safety whilst the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service deploys all available fire-fighters to assist the Rural Fire Service and NSW Fire and Rescue in combating the fire emergency.

The latest information on park closures is available at

http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/Na...ireClosure.asp

Media contact: Stuart Cohen 02 99955347
http://twitter.com/OEHmedia www.environment,nsw.gov.au

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