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Weeds

Weeds are no different to native grasses, physiologically and morphologically. However, weeds are unwanted for a variety of reasons:

  •  They out compete native species.
  • They change the physiology of the environment.
  • They rapidly spread over a wider range, eventually changing the ecology of certain environments and do greater harm to economy in that area.

All exotic species are weeds, although our long established thinking about them as weeds is not always true. Many exotic species do not spread rapidly, are not invasive and are quite contained in their original site. However, some pose a serious threat by rapidly expanding over large areas.

Weeds are extremely costly to control, and can cause serious monetary loses causing expensive losses for agriculture and livestock. Weeds are not only a concern to farmers, they are a major concern to every individual as they directly or indirectly affect us all.

Australia has introduced approximately more than 3,207 species and naturalized in Australia. Of these species more than 500 species are considered as weeds nationwide. Consequently weed management is a great challenge to Australia. Australia’s Biosecurity is highly sensitive in terms of importing any plants and animals that are likely to become a weed or pest. There are measures in place to avoid any consequence that may be brought with the introduction of foreign plants.

Pest and disease surveillance at Australia’s borders – DAFF

Type of Weeds

The Australian Government has classified weeds into two broad categories, declared and non-declared environmental and agricultural Weeds.

Some declared weeds pose greater threat than others, and therefore they are further identified as Weeds of National Significance (WONS).

147 weeds are declared under the Weed Management Act 1999. However, not all 147 weeds are present in Tasmania. Out these declared 147 weeds, 32 weeds are declared as WONS.

Current data shows the Sorell Municipality is infested with at least 9 WONS and many other Environmental Weeds.

Council has legal obligation under Weed Management Act 1999 to control declared weeds on land we own or manage. From the management perspective, declared weeds are categorized into two zones – Zone A and Zone B.

Zone A species are those which have very limited presence or no presence in the Municipality The primary objective for these weeds is to erdaicate them.

Zone B species are widespread in the Municipality. The primary management objective for these weeds is to control them.

However, there are species which are in Zone A but have had wider infestation recently occur, and some Zone B species can be eradicated due to the continued efforts from all stakeholders.

Legal requirements

Management of weeds cost millions of dollars and it is not always entirely possible to eradicate weeds. We must understand one weed can be eradicated from a certain place for a certain period of time, but without continuous monitoring and follow up action, then its eradication cannot be  guaranteed. Shared responsibility is critical as it is the duty of every individual to eradicate and  maintain their property for weeds.

The Australian Government has declared that it is the legal responsibility of every land owner to manage their property effectively to to eradicate or otherwise contain the declared weeds within their boundary under the Weed Management Act 1999.

Sorell Council as a regulator has legal authority to inspect any property and issue weed notices to the land owner under the Weed Management Act 1999. If the weed infestations noted in Weed Notices are not brought under control within the defined time frame, then Council may issue a Requirement Notice under the Weed Management Act 1999.  Failure to comply with a Requirement Notice can result in an on the spot fine of up to $1,000.  Ongoing breaches of the Act may attract more significant penalties.

These weeds are often garden escapees that multiplied in the natural environment and have caused serious economic and environmental damage.

n name Scientific name Presence recorded in Sorell LGA
Banana Passionfruit Passiflora cinnabarina and Passiflora tarminiana No
Bluebell Creeper Billardiera heterophylla Yes
Blue Butterfly Bush Psoralea pinnata No
Blue Periwinkle Vinca major No
Cape Ivy Delairea odorata Yes
Cape Leeuwin Wattle Paraserianthes lophantha No
Cotoneaster Cotoneaster species No
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea No
Fuchsia Fuchsia magellanica No
Gazania Gazania linearis Yes
Ivy Hedera helix Yes
Mirror Bush Coprosma repens Yes
Sea Spurge Euphorbia paralias Yes
Sweet Pittosporum Pittosporum undulatum Yes
Sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus No
Tree Lucerne Chamaecytisus palmensis No
Wandering Creeper Tradescantia fluminensis No

WONS are the top priority weeds for any local land manger due to their potential to cause significant impact and the associated difficulty to eradicate them once they are established.

Common Name Scientific Name Presence recorded in Sorell LGA
African boxthorn Lycium ferocissimum Yes
Alligator weed Alternanthera philoxeroides No
Asparagus weeds Asparagus aethiopicus, A. africanus, A. asparagoides
Western Cape form, A. declinatus, A. plumosus and
A. scandens. Includes original WoNS Asparagus
asparagoides Excludes A. officinalis and A. Racemosis		 Yes
Athel pine Tamarix aphylla No
Bellyache bush Jatropha gossypiifolia No
Bitou bush/boneseed Chrysanthemoides monilifera Yes
Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg. Yes
Bridal creeper Asparagus asparagoides Yes
Brooms Scotch Montpellier Flaxleaf No
Cabomba Cabomba caroliniana No
Cat’s claw creeper Dolichandra unguis-cati No
Chilean needle grass Nassella  neesiana Yes
Gamba grass Andropogon gayunus No
Gorse Ulex europaeus Yes
Fireweed Senecio madagas cariensis No
Hymenachne Hymenachne amplexicaulis No
Lantana Lantana camara No
Madeira vine Anredera cordifolia No
Mesquite  Prosopis spp. No
Mimosa Mimosa pigra No
Opuntioid cacti Opuntia spp.  (excludes O. ficus-indica), Cylindropuntia spp.,
Austrocylindropuntia spp.		 No
Parkinsonia Parkinsonia acuteata No
Parthenium weed Parthenium hysterophorus No
Pond apple Annona glabra No
Prickly acacia Acacia nilotica No
Rubber vine Cryptostegia grandiflora No
Sagittaria Sagittaria platyphylla No
Salvinia Salvinia molesta No
Serrated tussock Nassella trichotama Yes
Silverleaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium No
Water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes No
Willows except weeping willows,
pussy willow and sterile pussy willow		 Salix spp. except S. babvlonica, S. x calendendron and
S. x reichardtii		 Yes

These species are not yet declared but have the potential to become species of significant concern if not managed properly and timely.

Common Name Scientific Name Presence recorded in Sorell LGA
Capeweed Arctotheca calendula No
Cumbungi, bullrush Typha species Yes
Docks Rumex species No
Glyceria Glyceria maxima No
Paspalum Paspalum dilatatum No
Rope Twitch, English Couch Grass Agropyron repens No
Spear Thistle, Scotch Thistle Cirsium vulgare No
Sweet Briar Rosa rubiginosa L. Yes
Variegated Thistle Silybum marianum L. Yes

There are number of ongoing projects in relation to the management of weeds in our Municipality.

We regularly engage in managing weeds from our parks and reserves. Further, we also control weeds in the roadside based on the needs assessment undertaken by our Parks and Reserves crew.

Last year, we received a grant from the Weed Action Fund to help a number of landowners to manage targeted weeds. The Council requested expression of interest from landowners within LGA and based on grant eligibility, some of the landowners were granted a one time grant of $5000 to manage/control these weeds.

This year, another round of the Weed Action Fund grant has been implemented via a contractor to manage targeted weeds such as Gorse, Serrated Tussock and Chilean Needle Grass. Properties were identified where these weeds are causing serious impacts and property owners were contacted to liaise with the contractor to implement the control action.

We are continuously working to contain weeds that causes serious threat to our natural environment and livelihood of our communities. We understand managing weeds is a continuous process that involves our organisation, everyone in our community and many other stakeholders outside of our Municipality.

Local Community Action

We have highly enthusiastic and motivated local community groups that engages our local communities to manage weeds in their local area. These groups have been successful in controlling weeds within their community. These community groups run regular Working Bee that focuses on controlling weeds, removing litter and taking care of the natural environment.

If you are interested about understanding weeds and want to directly get involved in managing these obnoxious weeds, please reach out to us via NRM department or contact your local community groups – Southern Beaches Landcare/Coastcare Group, Marion Bay Coastcare Group, Friends of Blue Lagoon and Wildcare Friends of Pitt Water Orielton Lagoon.

 

Priority Weeds for Sorell Council:

All weeds affect many aspects of life and livelihood, such as agriculture, water quality, environment, aesthetic and human health. However, there are few weeds that are more invasive, dominant and poses more serious impacts to communities. Based on its invasiveness, impact, relative abundance and regional partnership, some of the species are priority weeds over other weeds in Sorell municipality.

  • African Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum)
  • African love grass (Eragrostis curvula)
  • Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)
  • Boneseeds (Chrysanthemoides monilifera)
  • Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides)
  • Chilean Needle Grass (Nassella neesiana)
  • Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
  • Serrated Tussock (​Nassella trichotoma)
  • Spanish heath (​Erica lusitanica)

Principles of Weed Management

The Australian Weeds Strategy (AWS) 2017 – 2027 has outlined following seven principles that should underpin weed management in Australia and guide planning, investment and actions.

1) Effective weed management is a responsibility shared between landholders, community, industry and government.

2) Evidence-based decision-making should underpin the approach to weeds.

3) Risk-based prevention and early intervention is generally the most cost-effective approach for managing weeds.

4) Prioritisation of weed management must be informed by a risk based approach, considering feasibility, likelihood of success, impact and national significance.

5) Coordination amongst landholders, community, industry and government is necessary to manage weeds at a landscape scale.

6) Sustaining capability and capacity across landholders, community, industry and government is fundamental to effective weed management.

7) Individuals, organisations and industry groups that create risks that may result in a weed entering, emerging, establishing or spreading in Australia have a role in minimising the impacts and contributing to the costs of management.

We adopts the roles and responsibilities outlined in the AWS 2017 as below:

  • Exercise statutory duties to encourage responsible weed management.
  • Manage weed problems on our land in a responsible way, in co-operation with other landowners.
  • Assist with the coordination of community weed management programs.
  • Represent community interests in weed management.
  • Support the activities of local groups undertaking weed management.
  • Assist with data collection and information exchange.
  • Develop and adopt ‘good neighbour’ policies, where appropriate, to help reduce the spread and impacts of high risk weed species.
  • Support and build public awareness about weed issues.

Weed management depends on the presence, type, invasiveness and cost to management. However, if we act early and thoroughly we don’t need to be selective in managing these weeds. Prevention of any weed in an area is the best approach and early detection of species will help management reduce the cost significantly. However, the ideal condition is not always available thus, we have to work on stages for species based on the strategy.

It is very important that everyone is aware of these obnoxious weeds and report them as they see them.

One of the simplest way of reporting them is taking a picture and uploading them via iNaturalist. This is an app that can be downloaded on android devices via the Google Play Store or on Apple devices via the App Store.

Please click here to access the Sorell Council weed observation form

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