History Project Stories
FAIRLANE FAUNA & FLORA RESERVE
This page explores the plantings that have taken place in an area that was originally known as the Fairlane Estate. This area is usually accessed off old Cooma Road and bound by the Queanbeyan River, River Drive and the new Ellerton Drive Parkway. Barracks Creek, a tributary of Queanbeyan River runs through the area. The Fairlane Fauna and Flora Reserve, Barracks Creek Neighbourhood Park, the reserve along the Queanbeyan River and several smaller parks are features that have been of interest to Queanbeyan Landcare.
These are the events/plantings that have taken place over the years:
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National Tree Day
QPRC & Queanbeyan Landcare
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National Tree Day
QPRC & Queanbeyan Landcare
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Trees4cars
Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council
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River Drive Plantings
Trees for Queanbeyan
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Swan Place Parklet
Trees for Queanbeyan
National Tree Day 2024
In late 2023 and throughout 2024 the group has tended to the 2023 planting site and prepared the 2024 site. Mulching, mowing, spraying, staking and replacing damaged tree guards took place. Most of the plants were thriving, though some were damaged due to a tree fall and we suspect feral deer.
The 2024 site was an extension of the 2023 site, continuing along Barracks Creek towards Queanbeyan River.
The planting plan remained the same, strengthening and thickening the corridor along the creek towards the Queanbeyan River.
Site preparation focussed on weed control and ripping. We would like to thank and acknowledge Marc van Dyk from Black Earthworks & Civil who volunteered their time and machinery to rip the site. Members who regularly volunteered their time and energy include Glen & Alison Crawley, Ian Johnsson, Bruce Taloni, Dave Grey, Michele & Steve Dovers and Tom Baker. Also John, Kat, Joel, Lindsay and Di & Lindsay. QPRC helped with spraying and mulch supply. And Les Murray who along with Tom and Michele propagated many of the plants provided by Queanbeyan Landcare.
Sunday started with light rain, some hail and temperatures around 0 degree Celsius but the clouds soon cleared, and the wind dropped so a very pleasant working temperature. Over 100 Volunteers turned up and planted over 600 plants guided by our team of wonderful Supervisors. Once again many Community Groups joined the many local volunteers.
The logistics of the event were organised by staff at QPRC. They promoted the event, organised a bus to bring volunteers to the site, provided the tools, tree guards, stakes, mulch, gloves, first aid kits, the coffee van Bean Culture. Josie Grenfell from Food2Soil brought along a nutritious tonic for the plantings.
Queanbeyan Landcare’s tasks included site preparation, plant selection, plant placement and the identification of Supervisors who would guide the many volunteers on how to plant, where to plant, tree guard construction, watering and mulching. Once again Black Earthworks & Civil stepped in and provided a water truck for the event.
Over 600 plants were sourced:
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70 x Callistemon sieberi, River Bottlebrush
35 x Melalueca parvistaminea, River Melaleuca or Swampy Paperbark
65 x Gynatrix pulchella, Hemp Bush
20 x Kunzea ericoides, Burgan
35 x Dodonea viscosa, Hopbush
30 x Poa labillardieri, River Tussock
20 x Lomandra longifolia, Spiny Headed Matrush
4 x Callitris endlicheri, Black Cypress Pine
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26 x Bursaria spinosa, Sweet Bursaria or Australian Blackthorn
41 x assorted Wattles, mainly Acacia mearnsii, Green Wattle and Acacia rubida, Red-stemmed Wattle
10 x Dodonea viscosa, hopbush
2 x Eucalypts (species unknown
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15 x Eucalyptus viminalis, Ribbon Gum
10 x Eucalyptus melliodora, Yellow Box
40 x Eucalyptus blakeleyi, Blakely’s Red Gum
35 x Casuarina cunninghamiana, River Sheoak
25 x Acacia mearnsii, Black Wattle
25 x Acacia dealbata, Silver Wattle
40 x Acacia pravissima, Ovens Wattle
10 x Callitris endlicheri, Black Cypress Pine
40 x Acacia rubida, Red-stemmed Wattle
20 x Acacia implexa, Hickory Wattle
20 x Acacia pycnantha, Golden Wattle
National Tree Day 2023
Queanbeyan Landcare and Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council worked together to plant 400 native trees, shrubs and grasses for National Tree Day on 30 July in 2023.
Over 160 volunteers joined the planting which took place at Barracks Flat Creek in Karabar, over an area of 600 square metres (seen above). The site was chosen as it reinforces a critical vegetation and habitat link between surrounding natural areas, achieves many of the goals identified in the QPRC Urban Forest Cooling Strategy, provides habitat and stabilisation along Barracks Creek, and has potential for extension including possible future National Tree Day plantings.
Members of Queanbeyan Landcare took account of the recent history of the site to develop a planting plan (Initial plan, history, and other observations). They viewed aerial images of the area from 2010 to 2023 and searched QPRC archives to identify what plantings had previously occurred on the site and who had been involved.
The final species list was determined with reference to publications from QPRC, Molonglo Conservation, the local knowledge of our members and an understanding of the plants most suitable to a warming climate. Some 400 plants were planted, staked and mulched, including several local Eucalypt species, along with wattles, tea-tree and other native shrubs, and a range of smaller shrubs and grasses. Many community groups and families from Queanbeyan and Canberra pitched in along with Queanbeyan Landcare Members and QPRC staff. It was a great day as the images below show.
References:
QPRC Urban Forest Cooling Strategy December 2021
QPRC Climate Change vulnerability of Urban Trees
Trees4Cars Plantings 2014-2016
Run by QPRC from 2014-2016, the council staff planted trees and shrubs annually during that time as part of their Trees4Cars program to offset the carbon emissions from Council's fleet vehicles.
2014 Planting
2015 Planting
FACEBOOK POST MARCH 26, 2015
As part of Council's Trees for Cars program staff have today planted 480 native trees and shrubs in Barracks Flat Park. The plantings will offset the emissions of Council's entire fleet (cars, lawn mowers, trucks etc) for 2014-15. Last year we planted 480 trees and shrubs in the Same park and it will continue next year. All of this planting goes towards Council's goal to reduce its emissions by 25% by 2020.
2016 Planting
FACEBOOK POST
Council staff today planted around 500 trees and shrubs near Barracks Flat Creek. This is an annual activity in line with our Trees4Cars program to offset the carbon emissions from Council's fleet vehicles.
This is the third year of planting best Barracks Flat Creek. Today we planted a range of eucalyptus, acacias, sheoaks, lomandras, and hardenbergia.
SUMMARY FROM INVOICES - Planted at Barracks Flat 2014, 2015 & 2016
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Acacia dealbata
Acacia mearnsii
Acacia rubida
Eucalyptus roseii
Casuarina cunninghamiana
Eucalyptus Viminalis
Lomandra longifolia
Hardenbergia violacea
Lomandra Longifolia
Leptospermum obovatum
Melaleuca parvistimemea
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Acacia mearnsii
Acacia rubida
Eucalyptus rossii
Casuarina cunninghamiana
Eucalyptus viminalis
Lomandra Longifolia
Hardenbergia violacea
Leptospermum abovatum
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Acacia Mearnsii
Acacia Rubida
Casuarina Cunninghamiana
Eucalyptus Rubida
Eucalyptus Viminalis
Hardenbergia Violacea
Leptospermum Obovatum
1993 - Plantings along the Queanbeyan River - River Drive
In February 1993 Trees for Queanbeyan member Brian Boyes proposed that an area of open space at River Drive may be suitable for planting. It was decided that a site inspection by Committee members be carried out. Discussion in June 1993 indicate that there were issues with current and future ownership of the land. A letter was sent to Council advising of the intention to plant and seeking access for spring planting. As no reply was received from Council a letterwas sent directly to the owner, Eric Dobell who was known to and had spoken to Derek Rutherford, a member of Trees for Queanbeyan. A planting was agreed to and confirmed for 19 Sept 1993. It was reported in October that the trees had been planted.
The 1993 Chairman's Report by Tim Booth indicated that “Several plantings were undertaken this year including River Drive in September where with very good community involvement we planted 200+ “.
Tom Baker reported that “Council undertook extensive plantings between River Drive and the Queanbeyan River to complement the early construction of walking tracks and the progressive fencing off of the River from access by illegal trail bikes accessing the bushland to the east. Much of the infrastructure work was funded from Developer Contributions generated from the Fairlane Estate development. Several of the revegetation projects involved community plantings. More recently, these walking tracks have been completed downstream to the ‘gorge’ section of the River”.
In 2005 after willow removal between Lochiel Street and River Drive another public tree planting took place along the cleared section of the river. 15 people turned up and over 800 plants were put in. The theme for the planting which was held during Landcare Week was ‘Landcare in your backyard’
Between 2009 and 2011 an Indigenous river crew were part of a major willow and weed control project along the river.
1990 Swan Place Parklet - NOONAN, SWAN AND EMERY CRES (23)
The Swan Place Parklet area came to the attention of Trees for Queanbeyan in November 1990. A local resident and representative from the Fairlane Estate Neighborhood Watch Committee, Louise Richards asked the Committee for assistance in revitalizing an area between Noonan Place and Swan Place.
At the next meeting Louise had been joined by two other residents who reported significant community enthusiasm for a planting. They had already planted 20 Hakeas. Bob Olgilvie (Queanbeyan City Council member) provided a Council plan of the area and Tim Booth (President Trees for Queanbeyan) was to look for assistance with ripping the ground. The residents were to talk to Council about watering.
On Sunday 10 March 1991 members of the local Neighborhood Watch and TFQ committee members planted 270 trees and over 50 shrubs within 2-3 hours.
A follow up working bee was held in January 1992 to weed, mulch and erect tree guards.
Louise Richards subsequently joined the group and became Treasurer for both Trees for Queanbeyan (history) and then Queanbeyan Landcare until 2004. A farewell dinner for Louise, held in July 2004 was well attended by past and current Landcarers and members of the local community. When she retired many Landcare members undertook an overhaul of Louise’s garden in Swan Place in recognition of the time and effort she had made to the group. Louise passed away in 2021, her obituary emphasizes her community spirit in Landcare and the Country Womens Association.
On 6 May 1995 another Swan Place planting occurred and was reported on by Vanessa Olley. 15 people, including 6 children planted over 150 plants including Lomandra, Dianella, Hardenbergia, Acacia, Leptospermum and Eucalyptus (mannifera, macrorhyncha and bridgesiana). In March 2022 Tom Baker was walking through this parklet when he heard his name being called. It was Vanessa. She remembered Tom and as well as retaining the maps of the planting and the planting lists has many reflections on the planting conducted in Swan Place.
She was involved with both the 1991 and 1995 plantings. She remembers Megan Cousins giving the group a lesson on how to plant and then handing out a plant to each of the kids. As a result, all the plants were well looked after and most survived. Looking at the photos she identified her son with his toy wheelbarrow, the row of tiny Hakeas, the edge of her house, the sewage or water main access cap and the table that held the morning tea that she made for the group – Chocolate chip Cookies.
The two photos from the 1995 planting show Vanessa, her son and the growth of the Hakea over the 4 or so years. Not as many people attended the second planting but a lot was achieved. She has the plan of the Park which shows the position the plants were to be located which she will share when it is found.
First Interest
In the early days of Fairlane Estate before the houses were constructed extraction of sand and gravel occurred along the part of Queanbeyan River fronting what is now known as River Drive. A lot of equipment was left at the site and after the extraction activity was discontinued there was a large community cleanup that removed much of it. Some of the people who attended on that day subsequently became members of the Monaro Conservation Society and/or Trees for Queanbeyan Committee. The then Mayor, David Madew also helped on that day. Tom Baker remembers the day in detail.
Notes from one of the resources held by Queanbeyan Landcare:
The Barracks Flat Reserve in Fairlane Estate was initially formed from the off-cuts of the zoning and planning of the area which were either too close to the creek line or too steep. The reserve was formally acquired by Council for reasons that included open space and nature conservation.
It is described as a big reserve that runs through Fairlane Estate and is situated between River Drive and Cooma Street in south-eastern Queanbeyan. The reserve is approximately 8 hectares and is a large semi-natural and linear recreational area along a permanent creek line known locally as Barracks Flat Creek. Barracks Flat Creek is a tributary of Queanbeyan River with a rocky ridgeline and a relic flood plain on the flats which runs through the reserve.
In 1999 following community surveys, meetings and newsletters Queanbeyan City Council published a Draft Plan of Management for Barracks Flat Reserve and identified three distinct management zones within the reserve: Bushland, Watercourse and Park.
Of interest to the Queanbeyan Landcare group was the information about the Natural Heritage of the area and acknowledgement of the presence of the Pink-tailed Legless Lizard (Aprasis parapulchella) with its subsequent obligations for Council. The draft POM also acknowledged the Plan of Management for the Aprasis parapulchella being prepared by Queanbeyan Landcare for the Fairlane Flora and Fauna Reserve.
Several members of QLc remember that during the consultation phase of the POM the time Council was still mining pug soil from the Barracks Flat Creek for cricket pitches. This caused some dissention and this practice was discontinued about this time.