Fairlane Fauna & Flora Reserve
Queanbeyan Landcare searched for a large site to fulfill the objectives outlined in the Queanbeyan Palarang Regional Council (QPRC) Urban Forest Cooling Strategy and in 2023, selected an area within the Fairlane Fauna and Flora Reserve along Barracks Creek.
Council had previously planted in this area below Barracks Flat Drive from 2014 to 2016. More information about these earlier efforts can be found at Fairlane Fauna and Flora Reserve History.
The new site offered opportunities to expand and strengthen the connection between vegetation along the Queanbeyan River and surrounding natural areas. The following summarizes the planning and activities carried out each year since 2023.
2026
By late January 2026, many Eucalypts from the 2024 planting had grown beyond two metres, prompting the removal of oyster cages that had protected them.
The site showed promising growth: Bursaria were in bloom, Dodonea were seeding, and most Eucalypts and Wattles were thriving. Volunteers happily noted the success at the site, especially those who had participated in National Tree Day events in both 2023 and 2024.
No new plantings are planned for 2026; instead, the focus will shift to maintenance and ongoing support.
2025
Throughout 2025, numerous working groups gathered at Barracks Creek to tackle tasks such as weeding, staking, maintaining tree guards, replacing lost plants, and clearing fallen trees.
In June, Ian Johnsson coordinated the installation of old oyster cages donated by Tathra Oysters, to protect plants from feral deer.
Regular watering was essential for the 2023 and 2024 National Tree Day plantings, made possible by using water from the creek with a pump and hoses. QPRC occasionally supplied a water cube, allowing for extra watering, especially around the perimeter.
Coverage of this initiative can be found in the Regional Independent and Bidgee Bulletin. Several members, including Glen & Alison C, Lindsay P, and Ian J, also made independent visits to weed and water the site.
As 2025 drew to a close, increased watering became urgent due to heat waves and low rainfall.
2024
Early in 2024, Queanbeyan Landcare members focused on maintaining the 2023 National Tree Day plantings by weeding, watering, and replacing tree guards.
Weed growth, especially couch grass, was a major challenge due to persistent underground roots. A large ribbon gum from the 2015 planting fell, crushing 10-15 plants, which were then replaced.
Planning for the 2024 NTD event began with the goal of enhancing and thickening the vegetation corridor along the creek towards the Queanbeyan River.
The 2024 NTD event was a great community success (see National Tree Day). However, in the absence of a post-event watering plan and following a dry spring, many plants did not survive. Cardboard tree guards were removed from much of the 2024 site, and only a few plants were replaced due to the high density of the original planting. Feral deer damage was also observed.
The 2024 NTD event was a great community success (see our National Tree Day page). However, in the absence of a post-event watering plan and following a dry spring, many plants did not survive. Cardboard tree guards were removed from much of the 2024 site, and only a few plants were replaced due to the high density of the original planting. Feral deer damage was also observed.
2023
In February 2023, the area along Barracks Flat Creek was identified as a suitable location for the Council’s 2023 National Tree Day event, which took place on July 30.
Details about the planning, choice of species, and event photos are available at Queanbeyan Landcare National Tree Day. The planting was highly successful, with only minimal additional watering required afterward.
