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Take a look at the Creeping Backyard brochure to find out. A weed is a plant thriving outside its natural range. A weed can either be introduced from overseas or a native plant flourishing in the wrong place. Many nurseries sell exotic plants which become weeds, so watch their growth and if they spread throughout your garden pull them out.
The cost of weeds to agriculture in Australia is estimated to be $4 billion annually (in lost production and control costs).
The Catchment and Land Protection (CaLP) Act 1994 specifies four categories of noxious weeds in Victoria:
It is illegal to buy, sell, possess for sale, display, plant, propagate, deposit onto land, bring into or transport around Victoria a noxious weed, its seeds, or any part of the plant capable of growing.
The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) is responsible for the control and eradication of all state prohibited weeds.
Roadside weeds and pest animals are an emerging issue. Responsibility for the management of roadside weeds and pests will be VicRoads, council or private road ownership as defined in the CaLP Act 1994 and its amendments.
Council has developed a Control Plan in line with the amendments which allow a decision framework where Council can continue the control of high category weed species and support extended public and private land control for other listed weed and pest animal species.
Contact us for a copy of the Control Plan.
An easy-to-read guide to what Council does to keep our roads safe, including roadside weed clearance, while also protecting biodiversity, available here.
It is important to identify weeds early, manage them and prevent further spread. If you spot a weed not previously seen in your area, try to identify it. Take photographs of the flower, fruit, stem and leaves of the plant.
Contact the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources at www.agriculture.vic.gov.au or the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881, or the Catchment Management Authority on 5152 0600 to report this weed.
Council has a Sustainable Gardening booklet. There is information on common garden weeds (see page 44). Contact us for a free printed copy.
Bushland regeneration efforts in East Gippsland are being frustrated as weeds continue to enter reserves from private properties. Weeds on private properties can spread into the bushland via stormwater run-off, wind and birds. To help keep East Gippsland’s bushland reserves looking attractive and to minimise weed cover, please keep your property free of environmental and noxious weeds.
Individual landowners and managers are ultimately responsible for managing WONS. State and territory governments are responsible for overall legislation and administration.
The issues concerning WONS are of such a magnitude that they need coordination among all levels of government, organisations and individuals with weed management responsibilities. Each WONS has a strategic plan that outlines strategies and actions required to control the weed, and identifies responsibilities for each action.