But the recent horror summer has a long tail that is not shortened by a global pandemic. Regional communities are still struggling to pick up the pieces left in the wake of devastating summer fires. Families are still grieving the loss of life and property. And the ACT government is still trying to get compensation from the federal government for a major fire sparked by a Defence helicopter in January.

The Orroral Valley fire, which burnt out nearly 80 per cent of the Namadgi National Park, was set off by a landing light from an MRH-90 Taipan helicopter that was trying to clear landing ground.

But instead, it set off what ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said was the "most serious" bushfire threat to Canberra since 2003 - a tough and triggering call by any measure.

Despite efforts in the aftermath to limit the loss and wildlife and vulnerable sites, the ecological and environmental damage was substantial.

But the ACT government has been unable to secure disaster recovery funding from the Commonwealth to help restore Namadgi.

Mr Barr has been told, in response to information provided to the Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangements in April, that activities associated with environmental recovery were "not eligible" under the Commonwealth's Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

But now is surely not the time for quibbling over the right way to spend recovery funding.

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The fire in the Orroral Valley did not destroy any homes, and nobody was killed, but the park requires ongoing protection, both from future fires and environmental damage, and also from harm to the Cotter River catchment, Canberra's primary water supply.

Mr Barr has been rightly adamant that the work to protect the environment into the future from what could be regular large summer fires will be "significant and extensive", and will require collaboration between local and federal governments.

The ACT - two thirds of which is national park - has long been vulnerable to bushfires and environmental damage wrought by climate change, and work needs to be done now to protect it.

The territory is already doing its part in creating a series of pre-approved relief and recovery measures for future natural disasters, such as fee and charge waivers.

These measures would "better position the government to respond quickly and effectively to disasters".

Given this, aside from the fact that a federally funded mission was behind the Orroral Valley fire, it's only fair and just that federal funds be contributed to assist in the recovery of Namadgi. This is irrespective of the narrow guidelines superimposed on the commonwealth disaster recovery arrangements.

The fire, while accidental, extraordinary and perhaps unforeseeable, can be directly linked to one course of action.

Therefore the federal government can take extraordinary measures to make amends and ensure the consequences of the accident don't play out for years and generations to come.

The Namadgi National Park is itself extraordinary. Its destruction and damage was and is breathtaking. It is a significant natural asset both for the territory and the nation.

Its recovery and restoration should not be at the mercy of narrow bureaucratic restrictions.

It's time for the federal government to make amends, and for a natural and national treasure to be saved by common sense.