Council weed management program

Council’s weed program focuses on controlling weeds on Council-owned or managed roadsides and reserves. Our priorities when allocating resources for weed control are:

• Protecting areas with significant or threatened flora and fauna
• Meeting our legal obligations
• Contributing to fire hazard reduction efforts
• Supporting community-led projects and responding to community priorities
• Protecting adjoining sites of high conservation value
• Reducing habitat for pest animals
• Achieving cost efficiencies

On average, over 500 hectares of roadside are treated each year as part of the program, following these priorities. We generally focus on controlling noxious weeds listed under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Chilean Needle Grass is also a priority due to the serious threat it poses to conservation and agricultural land.

Our priorities may change over time as woody weed infestations decrease as a result of effective management. In some cases, we also treat environmental weeds that are not listed under the Act, including non-indigenous native species that can become invasive, such as Sallow Wattle and Cootamundra Wattle.

Council’s Weed and Pest Animal Strategy 2014–2024 outlines these challenges and our ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of weeds across the shire.

For more information on our weed treatment programs, call the Environment team on (03) 5422 0333 or email environment@mrsc.vic.gov.au