2025-06-11
ACT Greens MLA for Ginninderra Jo Clay has backed community petitions calling for Ginninderra Falls to be reopened to the public as part of its sale conditions, after it was closed off by the current owners in 2004.
Two petitions have been launched to get the New South Wales and ACT Government to work together with the Federal Government to establish the falls as part of a National Park.
Ms Clay said the community is pushing for the falls to become a community asset once again while supporting ecological conservation and First Nations heritage of the site, as part of its current sale conditions.
“When it was opened it was truly a spectacular place to visit - you could go for picnics, hikes, swim in the pool at the bottom of the falls or simply enjoy the calming sounds of nature around you.
“Although the falls are in New South Wales, the only way to access them is through the ACT so our community and government should be involved in the current sale process. These are decisions which will impact our community directly.
“Surprisingly, the ACT Government has not considered the potential tourism benefits from reopening Ginninderra Falls, nor have they discussed public access with the NSW Government and Yass Valley Council. This is why the community is taking action.
“Many people in Canberra have no idea this gorgeous spot even exists because they, their friends, neighbours or their colleagues have never been able to access it.”
The petition calls on the ACT Government to work constructively with the NSW Government and the future buyer of Ginninderra Falls to ensure:
- The ecological values of the land are protected.
- The land is made publicly accessible, subject to appropriate environmental protections.
- Sites of significance to First Nations people are managed by First Nations people.
- Ginninderry's EPBC approval conditions are fulfilled.
- A national park is established to include Ginninderra Falls as well as the Murrumbidgee and Ginninderra gorges.
- The development of a 5-10 year plan about how this could be achieved with the milestones legislated.
Linda Medic, member of Voices for West Belconnen, who are supporting the petition, said: “It’s time for this magnificent natural asset, virtually on Canberra’s doorstep, to be environmentally protected and publicly accessible by Canberrans as well as people in the local region as well as visitors.
“We want current and future generations to have the opportunity to visit the falls, and for the area’s ecological and cultural values to be preserved. We also need to make sure the area’s biodiversity and wild ambiance of the falls are not threatened by nearby urban development.
A change.org petition is also calling on the NSW government to purchase the land, with financial help from the ACT and Commonwealth governments, and create a jointly-managed national park.
The Ginninderra Falls Association has been lobbying for the falls to be opened to the public for the last 13 years, which the President of the Ginninderra Falls Association, Dave Kelly, says has fallen on deaf ears.
“There a huge unity ticket to protect and publicly open Ginninderra Falls across the community – from the Greens in the ACT Legislative Assembly, the ACT Conservation Council, David Pocock in Federal Parliament and across our community with more than 1500 signatures on the initial change.org petition,” said Mr Kelly.
“Canberra filmmaker Benny Plunkett is also in the process of creating a documentary about the falls to show Canberra how beautiful they are and ensuring places like this are protected for future generations to enjoy.”