Ginninderra Falls to reopen in five to 10 years

Riverview Projects - the developer behind the massive cross-border development, Ginninderry - is funding the reopening of the falls as a recreational and educational destination.

The falls sit within the Yass Valley on the NSW side of the development.

They have been closed since 2004 because of public liability concerns. Several people have fallen at the walking and swimming spot including a 17-year-old boy, a woman and a man.

This is also an area of cultural value and Riverview Projects has been consulting with the Ginninderry Aboriginal Advisory Group, which includes a number of families and knowledge holders from around the region.

This group has been established to identify areas that should be restricted from public access because of their cultural significance.

Riverview Projects wanted to engage with the advisory group early on, said Jason Cummings, who has been working on this project for several years.

"All of the work that has been done so far has been in the discussions with the advisory group to understand where the designated swimming spots, walking trails and lookouts should be located," he said.

Previously, there were no areas off-limits to the public to protect Aboriginal cultural value.

"Now, we're doing everything the advisory group wants," Mr Cummings said.

Ginninderry Aboriginal Advisory Group said in a statement that the group had found the process of working with Riverview "a good, collaborative process."

"Our main concern has been to protect the sites themselves," the group said.

"Our input on cultural concerns has been listened to and valued and changes were made to respond to our concerns. We feel that the increased protection and management of the cultural sites is a good outcome."

The falls are also an area of ecological value with an abundance of native fauna, flora and wildlife.

"From a biodiversity perspective, the falls are in good condition," Mr Cummings said.

"Since closing, orchids and a rare pomaderris have grown by the falls and the team wants to protect them.

"On the other hand, visitor infrastructure has been left to degrade, so there's a lot of work to be done to install new tracks, trails, lookout points and picnic areas," he said.

While most of the falls sit within an E2 Environmental Conservation zone, an area of land adjacent to the conservation corridor (but outside the E2 zone) is proposed as a SP1 Special Activities zone.

This would allow the team to build visitor facilities like the ones Mr Cummings mentioned, as well as potentially a tourism centre, restaurant and cafes.

"Most of the area will stay under the E2 zoning, so it will have the same level of protection as before," Mr Cummings said. "The bulk of the visitor centre and other facilities will be outside of that."

Mr Cummings believes the reopening will be positive news for people living in Yass Valley and Canberra.

"I think there is a strong level of support to reopen the falls," Mr Cummings said. "Many people went there as as a child or have heard about them."