Site Profile: Cedar Creek, Ferny Grove

By Andrew Burrows

On a sleepy head stream in the upper reaches of Kedron Brook, lived a small stream titled Cedar Creek. Once upon a time this would have been a home to a majestic gallery riparian forest, abundant with mature Waterhouseas, dazzling silky oaks - a place where water flowed clear and the system was in a stable dynamic nature.

But as time and machines rolled through, the subtle nature of Cedar Creek, like all urban waterway systems changed. Its dynamics were torn open and the system lost its resilience to deal with change. The creek became open to pollution and invasion by the urban footprint.

So it was in this environment in which Tristan and I looked to reverse this process. We came across a small section of Cedar Creek that had changed formidably. It had been disturbed before and like in all urban creeks, became intoxicated with a mixed cocktail of weeds. The usual mix of Madeira, Japanese sunflower, Chinese elm, Guinea grass was present.

When we first started reveg on the site in 2001, we weren’t really clear on how to do it or how far we should go.  But over time the project grew and with lots of manual scrubbing, we eventually began to find the soil in which to plant the trees. The plants the we choose initially were mainly pioneers such as Eleaocarpus, Commersonia and Macaranage.  These initial plantings were always negatively hampered by the recurring Madeira and glycine vines. These were our constant foes who seemed to emerge incessantly and forever pulled on the struggling seedling.

However, as time went on, more help came on board from MOTT and the Brisbane City Council. The site preserved and grew well with the change in the seasons.  The plantings have now used approximately 1500 tubestock, lots of mulch and carpet.

The area is now emerging as a stable community averaging 4m high and is looking beyond the greatest threat of weeds. Its has been a great learning curve for Tristan and I as we have been able to watch what is achievable and the possible outcomes. The most memorable moments of the reveg have been those dynamic interactions with the frazzled wildlife

• the carpet snakes hiding in the weeds;

• the possums hiding in the nesting boxes; and

• the glow bugs flying by in the dusk air.

Overall though, the site has transformed well and has not only provided a good environmental outcome, but has seen a number of different community members come down to the creek to interact it with it. Something that as the urban footprint grows, will become so much more important.

March, 2008