Starting in 1998, this was the first major project tackled by the Barkers Creek Landcare and Wildlife Group. At that time this Reserve was an almost impenetrable wall of English Broom as far as the eye could see (which doesn’t really make sense). The group started on the left side of the bridge pulling broom but pretty soon there was a huge pile of plants which needed to be burnt off. To ensure this was done safely the Harcourt Fire Brigade did the burn as a training exercise for their members.

In 2003 this project was a part of a major Enviro-fund project ($70,000) which included seven sites “demonstrating protection and enhancement of fragmented and degraded valley remnant vegetation”.

In more recent years the group has moved to the right side of the bridge continuing to remove Broom and re-vegetate the Creek line. McManus Road reserve is now a great example of ongoing care. The 2 metre high English Broom is now almost totally eradicated and has been replaced with a wonderful mix of local grasses and shrubs.