Bourke Shire Council is the Local Control Authority, for the control and eradication of weeds within the area of Bourke Shire Council under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Act). Under the Act, Council is responsible for controlling weeds on land that it owns and or controls and on roadsides. Council is also responsible for ensuring that all owner/ occupiers of private land fulfil their obligations under the Biosecurity Act 2015 .
What is a Weed?
Simply, a weed is defined as a plant growing where you don’t want it. However, in reality it is a bit more complicated than that. In NSW there are many other definitions for weeds too. You may have heard of environmental weeds, agricultural weeds, Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) and National Environmental Alert List weeds.
These are all different classifications of weeds and interestingly some weeds can be several of these classifications. For instance, serrated tussock is a WoNS and a serious agricultural weed in some parts of NSW. Similarly, alligator weed is a WoNS, an environmental weed and is now emerging as an agricultural weed as well.
Weeds are a major threat to our unique natural environment, threatening the survival of hundreds of native plants and animals in NSW alone. They also impact on the price of food, human health through allergies and asthma, recreational activities and the NSW economy.
A great resource for property/landholders with weed biosecurity issues is NSW Weedwise, please find the link below.
Weed Control Methods
Control of weeds can take many forms; spraying with herbicides, physical removal, burning, grazing by stock, biological control agents or cultivation among others.
Please note that there are circumstances where the use of some of these methods can be damaging to weed control effect, some control methods which work with some weeds, may effectively spread others.Before choosing any of above controls, care should be taken, seek advice, as the most effective control method may well be a combination of a number of these methods.
Responsibilities of the Landholder/Owner/Occupier
The person who has care, control and the use of the land is the occupier; they are responsible for the control of weeds on their land. For situations such as watercourses, unfenced roads, laneways etc, adjoining landholders should seek clarification of their responsibilities from Council. Any occupier, who fails to take reasonable and effective action to control and eradicate weeds on their property, may be liable to prosecution.
Further information may be obtained by contacting Council’s weeds staff during normal office hours on 02 6830 8000.
For more information, see the websites below:
https://www.westernweeds.org
https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/weeds
