KARANA TRAILS
The
Lions Nature Trail has been nominated in a number of community award schemes
and most recently was awarded first prize in the Ipswich
city Council’s Environment ‘Awards of Excellence’. The following is part of
that submission as written by Bob McGregor .
The
role of the Moggill-Mount Crosby Lions Club as lead organisation has been
recognised by the naming of the trail by the local authority, the Lions
Nature Trail. Over the last
year, we have seen the provision of good quality parking off
This
venture has been very much a collaborative process which has brought together
many members of the community who have a common interest in the preservation of
the wildlife and vegetation of the Australian bush. It has also been an
outstandingly successful example of how community groups and the local
authority can cooperate in a mutual undertaking to the advantage of all.
We
would now like to take you for a walk through the Lions Nature Trail starting
from the car park adjacent to the Scout Hall off
In stark contrast to the foreground, behind
this sign there is a thickly wooded plantation of native trees beckoning people
to come and explore what lies beyond. To the left of this sign is a beautifully
constructed notice board which details the course followed by the trail, and
highlights the wildlife and vegetation you will see in the trail.
Moving over to the
entrance, which is clearly marked with copper logs, you initially walk down a
steep slope on a path which winds its way across the face of the slope in a
manner that allows wheel chair access. Here is a cool sylvan bower of densely
planted eucalypts, grevilleas, callistemon and native
frangipani. The bright yellow callistemon contrast beautifully
with the red grevilleas. The air is heavy with
the scent of frangipani and there is the sound of bees in the air. Through the
trees small bee-eaters flit. Shadows are everywhere, and there is a distinct
cooling as one moves into this area.
After approximately 60
meters, the path opens out across a small causeway onto an open area to the
right of which lies an amphitheatre, with the heavy foliage of the creek
behind. To the left is a more recent, very dense planting of a wide variety of
trees, which will eventually grow to completely shield an adjacent property.
Noteworthy are the many grevilleas and wattle. Moving
50 or so metres across this area one
enters a further cool green arbour, which covers a bridge across the Kopi Creek. In this area Kupi Creek has permanent water and on its banks are
numerous examples of ferns, particularly maiden hair variety. If one is very
quiet here, occasionally the splash of a platypus can be heard, and in this
area echidna have also been found. There is a park seat to the left of this
area to allow quiet contemplation. Moving on, you pass through a further
densely planted area, on the left with casuarinas, Toona
Australis (red cedar) as well as further examples of grevilleas and callistemon species. On the right, on a
slightly higher area above the water table, we have dense plantings of various
eucalypts, particularly eucalyptus Dunnei - all of these are koala friendly. Skirting
the plantings on the left, one comes to a small picnic area, behind which our
path leads into a loop which is defined by the creek as it winds its way around – in this area there are further
seats placed at strategic points for bird watching in particular – this area of
approximately 5000m², has been densely
planted with a wide variety of trees native to this area. In particular we have
the rough leafed creek figs, several examples of hoop pine, eucalypt as well as
the ubiquitous callistemon.
Moving
beyond this area again one passes a further dense planting, this time featuring
white and red cedars and grevilleas, particularly grevillea robusta
or silky oak, some of which are now semi mature and starting to flower. The
sound of bird life is everywhere as you walk down towards where the creek again
crosses the path. We now walk through further dense plantings of rain forest
species with an understorey of a variety of ferns and native grasses,
particularly allamanda. Some 50 metres beyond we come
to a further open area where there is a cluster of seats, table and
barbecue facility. This is backed by the Kupi
Creek, as well as dense plantings of rainforest species, and is shaded by
ancient gums from the midday sun. To the right, opposite this area, there are
very heavy plantings of
various sygigium or lillypilly
species as well as more examples of eucalyptus Dunnei,
some of which have now reached heights of around 20 metres. These are the
original plantings dating back to late 1992.
The path now divides – to the left it leads on through a bush tucker
area which was planted up last year – the
suitability of this area was checked by the C.S.I.R.O. who conducted soil
analysis. As a result of this, various additives were incorporated into the
soil, particularly phosphates, before plantings began. This has been extremely
successful and already the various species here have largely doubled in size
over the period of some 12 months since planting. This entire area measures
approximately 30m x 60m and holds around 300 trees. The lower path to the right
takes us down across Kupi Creek once again, over a
small causeway and as we pass through semi-mature casuarinas, lillypilly, callistemon and various rainforest species, a
gentle zephyr sighs through the treetops, fanning us with its cool passing and
breaking up the shadows in playful pantomime. These plantings continue along
the banks of Kupi Creek on the left for approximately
100 metres. On the right is an open area which is
being used for pony club dressage. Moving beyond this area, we come to a
further region adjoining the creek bank.
This area, which is quite low in the water table, has been recently
cleared and planted up with rainforest species already showing excellent early
growth. Beyond these plantings we move into an as yet undeveloped part of the
trail which winds its way along Kupi Creek and then
up a steep bank before arcing its way around the contour and eventually coming
to the end of the trail at Kindra Ave. As we turn to
retrace our steps, we spy a large water dragon moving quickly into the reeds
that define the creek bank. Our sojourn with nature has thus far taken us
approximately half an hour.
In
conclusion, the planning and development of this trail has brought together people from
diverse backgrounds who share a vision of creating something very special in
our community. Over the next 10 years, as the canopy develops, and understorey
plantings mature, our trail will surely develop into a wonderful wildlife
sanctuary and fulfil our dream of establishing a really worthwhile regional
resource, a fitting testimony to the many hours spent by volunteers bringing it
to fruition.
