A NEW floating barrier of pool noodles on the Queanbeyan River will aim to stop the waterway’s famous family of swans and their cygnets from being washed over the weir.

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) supported the initiative at last night’s council meeting (September 8) following calls from Queanbeyan Wildcare for assistance in its installation.

The swans have become quite the local celebrities, especially in the Queanbeyan Community Noticeboard on Facebook where photos of the family are posted almost every day and the issue is often heatedly discussed.

The family includes two breeding black swans, who produce a clutch of cygnets each year in Spring.

In the past, some of the new cygnets have fallen from the weir wall where afterwards it is virtually impossible for them to make their way back to their parents.

Last year, the community applauded Wildcare’s installation of a temporary barrier to protect the swans with the help of the State Emergency Service (SES).

On the day of the barrier’s announcement the Wildcare Facebook page received 680 likes.

Unfortunately, the barrier broke apart and washed away in March following heavy rain which caused the river to flood, spurring Wildcare to call on Council for assistance in installing a new barrier in time for this year’s breeding season.

The new barrier will include bollards on either side of the river that will allow for easy removal in a future flooding event and installation will begin today (September 9).