Biosecurity and Weeds

Why does local government have a responsibility for weeds?

Local government delivers services for communities across New South Wales (NSW). These are grouped broadly into five core functions and services: protecting the local environment, providing and maintaining infrastructure, safeguarding public health, supporting community development and planning for sustainable development (Councillor Handbook, Office of Local Government, 2017).

Managing weeds is part of providing these five core services. Different weeds create different problems in different parts of NSW, and councils are best placed to make or inform decisions about the weeds management priorities for their local communities. Responsive weeds management is a strategic, ongoing component of local government work.

NSW local government has had a legal responsibility for managing weeds across their lands for more than 100 years. Weeds management has been legislated under a number of Acts in that time, and is now legislated under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Act) and Biosecurity Regulation 2017 (the Regulation) – see Section 2.

The Act maintains local councils as the local control authority for weeds within their area of operation – see Section 3. This provides continuity in weeds management, while other key stakeholders support local government initiatives to manage weeds – see Section 5

As local control authorities for weeds Councils:

• appoint and support staff as authorised officers under the Act - see Section 4
• inspect lands for high-risk weeds and seek compliance with the Act from owners/occupiers
• educate their communities about weeds risk and best practice weeds management
• control high-risk weeds
• submit weeds management records to the NSW government
• participate in regional strategic weeds management through their Regional Weed Committee.

In NSW the management of weeds is governed by the Biosecurity Act 2015. The Minister for Primary Industries has responsibility for this legislation. Local Government / Council is the lead agency for enforcing weed control within the local government area.

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015 a weed is a plant that has a biosecurity Impact.  A biosecurity impact means an adverse effect on the economy, the environment or the community that arises, or has the potential to arise, from that plant, being an adverse effect that is related to the introduction, presence, spread or increase of that plant.

Follow the titled links below  for information on identifying and controlling some priority weeds found in the Snowy Monaro Regional Council area or conduct your own weed search on the DPI website at  NSW WeedWise

 
African Lovegrass
Blackberry
Cape Broom 
Chilean Needle Grass
Coolatai Grass
English or Scotch Broom
Fireweed
Gorse
Hawkweeds
Nodding Thistle
Serrated Tussock 
St John's Wort
Sweet Briar

This plan details the specific control obligations for land managers within the Snowy Monaro Regional Council area under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
Snowy Monaro Region - Local Weed Management Plan(PDF, 2MB)

Curious about what weeds are in your vicinity and what’s growing nearby that you need to keep an eye out for? Have a look at Snowy Monaro Regional Council’s weeds distribution maps at the links below.

 
African-Lovegrass-A4.pdf(PDF, 4MB)
Blackberry-A4.pdf(PDF, 5MB)
Broom-A4.pdf(PDF, 3MB)
Coolatai-Grass-A4.pdf(PDF, 3MB)
Fireweed-A4.pdf(PDF, 3MB)
Gorse-A4.pdf(PDF, 3MB)
Hawkweeds-A4.pdf(PDF, 3MB)
Needle-Grass-distribution-map_1.pdf(PDF, 2MB)
Oxeye-Daisy-A4.pdf(PDF, 3MB)
Serrated-Tussock-A4.pdf(PDF, 5MB)
Spanish-Heath-A4.pdf(PDF, 3MB) 
St-Johns-Wort-A4.pdf(PDF, 5MB)

Please advise your local Council Biosecurity (weeds) office if you have sighted the following weeds. Do not attempt to remove or destroy them. If possible confirm a GPS location and take a photo.

• Orange Hawkweed
• Chilean Needle Grass (Nassella trichotoma)
• Coolatai Grass (Hyparrhenia hirta)

   

Would you like to develop an Integrated Weed Management Plan specific to your property? 

Call Council's Biosecurity Team to arrange a meeting on your property to work through developing a plan with you. This is a free service offered by Council to all landholders in the area. 

Phone: 1300 345 345

• Recognising, managing and preventing herbicide resistance in serrated tussock

Know your enemy – without successful weed ID, you can’t be sure you’re using the right technique, or even targeting the right plant. Councils Biosecurity Officers are available to assist you with weed identification on your property.

•  If you only control a site once, you’re probably wasting your time – weed control is a long-term project 

•  Weeds don’t respect boundaries – some populations will need cooperative approaches to control together with other land managers. Contact Councils Biosecurity Officers to help you coordinate a community weed control program.

•  Weeds love bare ground – avoid overgrazing, minimise soil and vegetation disturbance when working to minimise the number of weeds you'll have to control and replant where necessary. 

•  Always follow the label - read and follow the instructions on the labels of all herbicides you use – they’re not just there for decoration. 

•  Think about off-target damage - will your work affect local waterways, native plants or animals, neighbouring lands or create a public safety issue? 

•  Keep up your good weed hygiene practices – a few minutes spent cleaning vehicles and equipment can save days of work in years to come. Ensure visitors respect and adhere to your biosecurity practices. 

•  Know where to get the right information to control target weeds. Council’s Biosecurity Officers are available to help with current weed control recommendations. Refer to the NSW WeedWise website or download the free app.

•  If you’re not sure what it is, take a photo and/or bring a sample back for identification, as well as details of where you found it. Council’s Biosecurity Officers can assist you with plant identification.

Call Council today and together we can start planning for effective weed control next season 1300 345 345.