Weed Information

"Weeds are among the most serious threats to Tasmania's primary production and natural environment. They reduce farm and forest productivity, displace and degrade native species and communities, and contribute significantly to land and water degradation." (WeedPlan - The Tasmanian Weed Management Strategy).

A number of plants have been officially declared as weeds under the Weed Management Act 1999 because these plants are considered to have potential to reduce farm production, to degrade the State's natural or physical resources, to degrade ecological processes or to reduce the genetic diversity of native plants.

Councils are responsible for controlling weeds on their own property but are not responsible for weed management on all property. Under the Weed Management Act 1999 all landholders must take an active part in controlling or eradicating weeds on their property. Under Section 34 of the Act, councils may choose to employ a weed inspector to assist with weed management in their area.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is a Weed?
2. Which Plants have been declared as weeds in Tasmania?
3. If there are declared weeds on my land, what does it mean?
4. How do I identify the weeds in my area?
5. How do I control weeds?
6. Is there any funding assistance available to help control weeds on my land?
7. How do I remove the weeds?
8. What are the Council's responsibilities concerning weeds?
9. Where can I go for further information?

Weeds are plants that grow where they are not wanted. Nevertheless, what is a weed to one person, may be a valued plant to someone else.

Seventy-seven plants have been officially declared as weeds under the Weed Management Act 1999 because these plants can cause, or have already caused, an adverse impact on our natural or agricultural environment.

Once plants are declared weeds under the Act, there are restrictions relating to their trade, sale, import, movement and disposal.

Under Section 15 of the Act, a Weed Management Plan must be drawn up for each plant within 12 months of it being declared a weed. These Plans are drawn up by the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE), and go through a public consultation phase before becoming statutory plans under the Act.

Draft Weed Management Plans have been drawn up for all declared weeds and these set out restrictions and approaches for reducing or eradicating them. They apply equally to public and private landholders. The DPIWE Website shows all draft Weed Management Plans.

Seventy-seven plant species have been declared weeds under the Weed Management Act as at May 2003.

The Weed Management Act 1999 and the associated Weed Management Plans provide detailed information on the legal obligations relating to landowners and declared weeds. This includes restrictions on the:

• sale
• trade
• importation
• movement of declared weeds, or things that may be contaminated by declared weeds.

It also includes requirements in relation to such things as boundary protection.

Basically, the Weed Management Act puts obligations on all landholders, both public and private, to take an active part in either controlling or eradicating the weeds on their property, as per the relevant Weed Management Plan. In areas where declared weeds have not yet been recorded, it is everyone's responsibility to prevent the weeds getting established and to look out for new infestations.

If you travel from areas interstate or overseas infected with declared weeds, it is important that you check all your belongings for seeds, fruit and plant matter, or get quarantine officials to check them when you arrive in Tasmania. The importation of some plants is also restricted under the Plant Quarantine Act 1997.

Weed inspectors can require action to be taken to remove weeds. The weed inspector will be able to provide you with more detailed information on your obligations under the Act.

Jamie Cooper, the Regional Weed Management Officer for the Department of Primary Industry, Water & Environment currently provides weed inspection services in the Dorset Municipality. Jamie can be contacted at (03) 6336 5429.

Dorset Council can provide you with information brochures to help you identify weeds in your area. Contact Jay Wilson or Peter Hoffner on (03) 6352 6500 for further information.

Council can also give you the contact details of community groups operating in the area such as Bushcare or Landcare groups, the Understorey Network or various 'Friends' groups which are often involved in weed management activities.

The Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) Website also has a lot of information on weeds, and provides identification assistance as well as information on control and management techniques.

There are several good publications around that have pictures of weeds to look out for:

A Guide to Garden Plants that are Going Bush and Becoming Environmental Weeds in the Tamar Region; Environmental Weeds of Southern Tasmania.

These brochures are available through (DPIWE) Regional Weed Management Officers.

The Coastcare Manual has colour photos of a number of common coastal weeds and pictures of native plants that can look similar. If in doubt, do not pull it out - get advice first.

The Manual is available from the Tasmanian Environment Centre, 105 Bathurst St. for $5.50. Ph: (03) 6234 5566.

Coastal Weeds of Tasmania; Are You Growing an Invader?

A Coastcare publication freely available through DPIWE's Coastal and Marine Branch. Ph: (03) 6233 3963.

The Tasmanian Weed Handbook is to be updated soon.

Fact sheets on the control of weeds declared under the Act are available from DPIWE.

There are a number of key steps to successful weed control:Plan weed control activities carefully.

• Find out the different options for weed removal before starting.
• Make weed control activities strategic - start in areas that have few weeds and gradually work in towards the main infestations.
• Concentrate on clearing weeds from areas that are mostly in good condition.
• Be prepared to sustain the effort. You could actually make the problem worse by clearing too much too soon and not doing enough follow-up work.
• Get adjacent land managers to work together to eradicate the weeds.

In Tasmania those weeds are:

• Serrated Tussock

The Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment (DPIWE) is responsible for the Serrated Tussock Weed Management Plan in Tasmania.

Clarence City Council can provide further information on the Serrated Tussock Program. Ph: (03) 6245 8714.

• Bridal Creeper

DPIWE is responsible for the Bridal Creeper Weed Management Plan in Tasmania.

• Boneseed

DPIWE is responsible for the Boneseed Weed Management Plan in Tasmania.

• Gorse, Blackberry, Willow

DPIWE is responsible for Weed Management Plans for Gorse, Blackberry and Willow in Tasmania.

Contact Greening Australia Tasmania Inc on Ph: 03 6223 6377 for information on Gorse, Blackberry and Willow projects.

Some other weeds, such as Rice grass, also have specific removal programs. Contact your (DPIWE) Regional Weed Management Officers for more information.

Dorset Council is a partner in the implementation of the Bridport Region Rice Grass Management Plan.

Some weeds have been declared Weeds of National Significance and there is funding available, through the Federal Government, to remove them.

The actions you need to take to remove weeds in your area depends on:

• the weed(s) you are dealing with
• the environmental conditions.

Successful weed control requires consideration of the characteristics of the plant itself, as well as the context in which it is growing. What may be a successful and acceptable solution in one situation may be ineffective or inappropriate in another. Seek professional advice before undertaking weed control work.

Often an integrated approach that uses a combination of control methods may be required to effectively deal with a weed. These methods may include:

• pulling or digging out by hand or by machine
• mulching or establishing competitive vegetation
• grazing, mowing or slashing
• spraying with appropriate herbicides.

If using chemicals:

• take adequate safety precautions,
• always read the instructions on the label,
• be especially careful near lakes and waterways as some chemicals harm aquatic ecosystems.

Some weeds need a variety of methods to successfully remove them and some follow-up work will nearly always be required.

Contact your local (DPIWE) Regional Weed Management Officers or your council weed management officer or join a local community group to find out more.

Contact Natural Resource Management Coordinator Jay Wilson or Environmental Health Officer Peter Hoffner on (03) 6352 6500 for further information.

Under The Weed Management Act 1999, Weed Management Plans have been prepared for all 77 declared weeds. These plans specify from which municipalities the weeds should be eradicated and those in which the weeds must at least be contained.

Weed Management Plans provide the legal framework by which weed law enforcement can occur.

The Weed Management Plans in the Dorset Council municipal area, list the plants for eradication or control.

The Dorset Natural Resource Management Plan contains information and objectives for weed management in the Dorset Municipality.

A number of councils have prepared Weed Management Strategies that detail specific approaches to weed management within the municipality. There may also be an appointed weed inspector within council.

Councils have some obligations under Section 39 of the Local Government (Highways) Act 1982, to keep roadsides clear of vegetation that may obstruct sightlines or become dangerous, including weedy vegetation.

Some weeds have been declared Weeds of National Significance and there is funding available, through the Federal Government, to remove them.

Three (DPIWE) Regional Weed Management Officers can provide advice and assistance on weed management. Contact details are:

In the North: 165 Westbury Road, PROSPECT, TAS, 7249

In the North-West: Stoney Rise, Government Offices, DEVONPORT, TAS, 7310. Phone: (03) 6421 7654

In the South: 134 Macquarie Street, HOBART, TAS, 7000. Phone: (03) 6233 3650.

For further information, have a look at the Australian Weeds search website.