Greater Mount Alexandra Reserve

Wingecarribee Shire’s Premier Bushland Reserve.

The Greater Mount Alexandra Reserve stands as a premier natural asset within the Wingecaribee Shire Local Government Area. The reserve is 1898 hectares, extending south and north of the Hume Motorway. The reserve includes Council owned community land and Crown Land which Council manages. The northern section of the reserve is wilderness, with some steep gorge country and rolling hills.

Notable for its size and ecological connectivity, it links seamlessly with other protected Crown lands, community-managed areas, and privately conserved properties.

Greater Mount Alexandra Reserve extends across the localities of Colo Vale, Mittagong, Woodlands, Willow Vale and Welby.

Drapers Creek, Sheepwash Creek, Gibbergunyah Creek, and the Nattai River run through the reserve, which supports a rich variety of local plants and animals. Two historic weirs on Nattai Creek alter the natural water flow, and significant development near the Nattai River headwaters is adversely affecting water quality. Most of the reserve comprises priority habitat for Koalas and Greater Gilders.

Greater Mount Alexandra Reserve contains two Threatened Ecological Communities and is home to many threatened plants and animals, the most famous being Koalas.

Management

This Bushland Reserve was created to help protect the biodiversity (local flora and fauna) and sites of cultural significance within the Reserve. You can find more information about this in our Plan of Management for Community Land and Crown Reserves - Natural Areas (Bushland and Watercourse)(PDF, 4MB), adopted by Council in August 2024.

Council has legislative obligations to conserve and protect threatened species and ecological communities within the reserve and must complete environmental assessments prior to undertaking activities.

Council undertakes priority weed control work through its Bushland Field Team, Contractors and Volunteers . Generally most investment of resources occurs on the urban and peri-urban fringes along waterways.

Compliance:

Council partners with NSW Police to undertake trail bike patrols within this bushland reserve. Some of the main illegal activities impacting the reserve include:

Illegal access by 4WD and motorbikes
Soil disturbance, vegetation clearing and illegal track creation
Illegal firewood collection
Rubbish dumping
Vandalism to fire management assets and signage

Recreational Opportunities:

The Reserve offers a range of activities for local residents and visitors including:

Bird watching

Photography

Bush walking

Nature journalling

Cycling along designated tracks and fire trails
Nature immersion/forest bathing (Relaxing and enjoying the sounds and sights of nature)

Greater Mount Alexandra Reserve includes Welby Mountain Bike Park, situated on the southern side of the Hume Motorway near Welby Cemetery.

Areas within the reserve are open for rock climbing and in other bushland areas in the shire, however certain areas are closed to climbing due to irreversible damage occurring to Aboriginal Heritage. Council has legislative obligations under the National Parks and Wildlife Act (1974) to protect and conserve Aboriginal places and artefacts. Council cannot disclose locations or the type of Aboriginal Heritage. Please respect closure signs. Council does not monitor nor maintain climbing areas and people participate in this activity at their own risk.

Facilities: