History Project Stories
PINK-TAILED LEGLESS LIZARD

A comprehensive flora and fauna survey of Queanbeyan produced by Dr Peter Barrer in 1993 marked the start of Queanbeyan Landcare's ongoing involvement with the pink-tailed Legless Lizard and Fairlane Fauna and Flora Reserve. The report recognized the area as a site of significance for its 'high quality’ habitat and isolated remnant woodland.

Bushlands, grasslands and the ecological resources of the City of Queanbeyan, N.S.W. : a report to the Trees for Queanbeyan Committee, the Queanbeyan Branch of the Monaro Conservation Society, the Queanbeyan City Council and the Save the Bush Grants Scheme / by Peter Barrer. - Trove (nla.gov.au)

This report can be accessed in Box 3 of the 5 Boxes held for Queanbeyan Landcare by the Frank Pangello Heritage Library. See ‘Resources’ at the end of this story.

In December 1996 Dr Barrer advised the Queanbeyan Landcare Committee of the condition of the site along River Drive. He indicated that it provided habitat for a diverse range of plant and animal species and noted that it supported an isolated population of the Pink-tailed Legless Lizard (Aprasia parapulchella).  This species is listed as ‘threatened’ under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act (1995) and ‘endangered’ under the equivalent National legislation thus presenting Council with an obligation to manage the land consistent with any Recovery or Threat Abatement Plan.

The area of focus for the Landcare group was on the rocky slope next to River Drive, now known as the Fairlane Flora and Fauna Reserve. The Reserve is just 1.78Ha and is described as an endangered ecological community, unique for its isolated remnant woodland community.  It is a rocky knoll in the midst of Fairlane Estate.  Initially the site was in private ownership but the landowner, Arthur George indicated he was amenable to protection of the site and transfer to public reserve was sought and achieved.

In November 1997, prior to the Queanbeyan Landcare monthly meeting, an inspection of the site (identified at this time in the Minutes as Barracks Flat Creek and marked on the map as the current Fairland Flora and Fauna Reserve) occurred.

Meagan Cousins and Tom Baker sought funding for Queanbeyan Landcare to ensure the long-term survival of the Legless Lizard at this site. The grant application indicates that the main objectives were to prepare a Plan of Management specifically for the Lizard and to protect, maintain and increase the lizard population. Other objectives include increasing and encourage community ownership and implementation of a monitoring program.

An inventory of the flora and fauna was planned for July 1998 and Queanbeyan Landcare received a grant from the Environment Protection Authority to conduct this.

By May 1999, the draft POM for the Pink-tailed Legless Lizard, prepared by Lynn Bain, Isobel Crawford and Alison Rowell of National Environmental Consulting Services (NECS) had been tabled and was presented to Queanbeyan City Council on World Environment Day 5 June 1999 by Phil Selmes (the President of Queanbeyan Landcare at the time). 

The rocky outcrop of the subject site abuts a public reserve which by contrast is a grassed floodplain with substantially altered vegetation. The issue of compatibility of management for protection of a threatened species with the Plan of Management for the Barracks Flat Reserve was considered in the POM for the Lizard.

By June 2002 the Bushland Team was conducting trials of weed control methods that could be used in the Reserve (in accordance with the Management Plan for the Aprasia no spraying was to be undertaken in the main habitat area). Issues around fencing and signage options were also discussed with Council and NSW National Parks. Although some vandalism of the site had occurred the group looked to recruiting residents to conduct surveys and act as guardians. There was also a discussion on the conflict between advertising the project to gain community involvement and at the same time minimizing site intrusion to protect the Aprasia.

In October 2002, Dr Sandie Jones presented a paper detailing survey guidelines and delivered workshops in surveying and monitoring Aprasia for Landcarers, Council staff and community members.  The Fairlane Flora and Fauna brochures were also available at this time and were delivered around the estate by the then existing Bushland Team.