Wednesday 21 September 2022

The scene

Ian and Rob have spotted something!

Tall blackened trees

but still spectacular walking amongst the tree ferns

A group of organised walkers (maybe)

Penance Grove (before) pre fires

Photos courtesy of Amanda, Helen, Brian and Karen 

Batemans Bay Bushwalkers went on a 12.5 km leg stretch in Monga National Park mid week. We ignored the forecast of rain and drove up Clyde Mountain to River Forest Road at the top. There were 12 of us.

National Parks have been working in the Monga to repair damage caused by the 2019-20 bushfires and the park has only just recently re-opened. Forest roads have been cleared of fallen trees, tracks re-cut, wooden bridges replaced, and picnic areas are currently being rehabilitated.

Of course, some damage cannot be repaired. The fire crowned through this section of the Monga and the tall forest trees are struggling to re-generate nearly 3 years on. The ancient pinkwood trees in Penance Grove have all died and are being replaced by an understorey of young wattles and eucalypt saplings. The boardwalk through the Grove is gone. We have yet to see if the Monga Waratah which flowers in November has survived the onslaught.

The Monga has always been famous for its coverage of treeferns, and although their black trunks indicate they were comprehensively burned, they have regenerated to pre-fire magnificence.

Karen