Weeds
A weed is a plant that establishes itself outside its normal environment. There are over 80 Declared Noxious Weeds in the Goulburn Broken Catchment. Noxious weeds are proclaimed under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 and are classified in four categories each with different reponsibility for management.
Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, it is an offence (without a permit) to buy, or offer to buy, sell, or offer to sell, possess for the purpose of sale, wilfully bring or cause to be brought into Victoria, a noxious weed, noxious weed seed or any part of a noxious weed capable of growing. For further information or to report a possible sighting of a Declared Noxious Weed please contact the Department of Primary Industries.
Mansfield Shire Council is not responsible for roadside weeds.
Under the current interpretation of the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, it is the responsibility of the adjoining landholder to manage regionally controlled weeds and established pest animals on roadsides.
The section [Part 3 Section 20(2)] of the Act says:
“A land owner must take all reasonable steps to prevent the spread of regionally controlled weeds and established pest animals on a roadside that adjoins the land owner’s land”.
For weeds that are classified as regionally prohibited or state prohibited, please contact your nearest Department of Primary Industries Office.
The
Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 specifies four categories of noxious weeds in Victoria. These are; State Prohibited, Regionally Prohibited, Regionally Controlled and Regionally Constricted.
State Prohibited Weed
These weeds either do not yet occur in Victoria but pose a significant threat if they invade, or are present, and do pose a serious threat and that it is reasonable to expect that they can be eradicated from Victoria. Control of these weeds is the responsibility of the Department of Primary Industries wherever they occur throughout Victoria.
Additional Information DPI Notes Information Series
Regionally Prohibited Weed
Declared noxious weeds that are not widely distributed across Victoria, but are capable of spreading. It is reasonable to expect that they can be eradicated from a region. Private landholders are responsible for control on private land but not on roadsides adjoining their property, which are the responsibility of the Department of Primary Industries or Vic Roads, depending on the class of road.
Additional Information DPI Notes Information Series
Regionally Controlled Weeds
Declared noxious weeds that are widespread and established in a region. To prevent their spread, continuing control measures are required. Landholders have the responsibility to take all reasonable steps to control and prevent the spread of these weeds on their land and roadsides that adjoin their land.
Additional Information DPI Notes Information Series
Restricted Weeds
This includes plants that are a serious threat to primary production, Crown land, the environment or community health in another State or Territory of Australia, which have the potential to spread into and within Victoria, and pose an unacceptable risk of spreading in this State or to other parts of Australia if they were to be sold or traded in Victoria. Trade in these weeds and material containing them is prohibited.
Additional Information DPI Notes Information Series
Related weed categories -
Weeds of National Significance.
There are links below to facts sheets for weeds that have been classified for the Goulburn Broken Catchment.
State Prohibited Weeds
Regionally Prohibited Weeds Regionally Controlled Weeds Restricted Weeds Serious Agricultural Weeds
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has developed distribution maps for the weeds they are currently focusing on managing in the Mansfield Shire* :
- Gorse
- BlackBerry
- Serated Tussock
Links for these maps can be accessed from the "Download Files" section on the right.
*Explanation & Disclaimer
The Integrated Pest Management System (IPMS) is a networked corporate business application owned by the Department of Sustainability and Environment and operated and supported on its behalf by DPI CAS Landscape Protection Branch.
IPMS is intended to support the management of strategically significant pest plant and animal infestations within the context of the Victorian Pest Management – A Framework for Action. It does not attempt to describe the full extent, density and distribution of pest plant and animal infestations in Victoria. The sites inspected may vary from year to year.
The State of Victoria does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of information in this publication and any person using or relying upon such information does so on the basis that the State of Victoria shall bear no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any errors, faults, defects or omissions in the information.
The Goulburn Broken Weed Action Plan was developed by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA) with the aim of including pest plant management in integrated catchment management in the Goulburn Broken Catchment Region. Weed Management is acknowledged as a key factor by the GBCMA to improving the health of environmental conditions in the Catchment. The Action Plan provides a regional approach to weed management that complements the existing directions in the
National Weeds Strategy and the
Victorian Weeds Strategy.
The Action Plan endeavours to actively involve; public land managers, private land managers, local government, water authorities, infrastructure agencies and community groups.
The Action Plan aims to:
- Identify priority areas for weed control programs to focus limited resources more strategically
- Protect threatened assets, such as agricultural industries and biodiversity
- Establish regional priority weed species
- Encourage community ownership of weed program priorities
- Clearly identify roles and responsibilities for all land managers
- Provide a framework for investment on public and private land
The GBCMA have developed an identification Booklet for Weeds of the Goulburn Broken Catchment. To obtain a copy please contact the GBCMA.
Weed Spotters is an initiative of the Weed Alert Rapid Response Plan Victoria. Weed Spotters are members of the community who volunteer to assist the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to monitor and report the number of serious potential, new and emerging weeds in Victoria.
Weed Spotters do not need to have botanical training, a keen interest and eye for plants is all you need. The DPI will assist you by providing training in the identification of target weeds and how to report them. Weed Spotters who attend training receive a kit containing information to assist in the identification and collection of weed specimens and a quarterly newsletter.
If you are interested in becoming a Weed Spotter please contact the DPI.
Weed Warriors is a national program that is focused on educating school students from grade 3 to grade 9 about invasive pest plants with ‘hands on’ activities. The program is administered and supported by national and state/territory coordinators and is implemented at a local level by Key Contacts such as schools, community groups and individuals who have knowledge about and an interest in weed management.
For more information visit the
Weed Warriors Website or call the Victorian Weed Warriors Project Officer on (03) 9785 0110.
Current Department of Primary Industries weed projects running in the local area include:
- Howqua - BlackBerry control program
- Swanpool - BlackBerry control program
- Merton - BlackBerry extension program
- Yea - BlackBerry extension program
For more information contact the Pest Management Officer at the Benalla Department of Primary Industries Office on (03) 5761 1611.
Department of Primary Industries (DPI)
89 Sydney Road
Benalla Vic 3672
03) 5761 1611
Customer Service Centre – 136 186
Website:
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/vro/weeds Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA)
Head Office
168 Welsford Street
PO Box 1752
Shepparton Vic 3632
03) 5820 1100
Website:
http://www.gbcma.vic.gov.au/