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Weeds

A weed is a plant that is growing out of place or where it is not wanted. The majority of weeds in Australia were introduced legally as attractive garden ornamentals or fruit and flower producing plants.

Weeds impact biodiversity, bushfire risk and agricultural productivity. While it is not possible to eliminate weeds Council along with other stakeholders are working to contain and manage weeds.

Left unchecked, weeds risk reducing our agricultural productivity. They can look unsightly too and be a fire hazard.

Weeds can be of national or environmental significance with the potential to impact biodiversity.

Weed Management

All landholders have a responsibility to manage noxious weeds on their property. Leeton Shire Council is responsible for managing weeds on public land managed by the Council and collaborating with landholders and other stakeholders to ensure that weeds are contained, controlled or managed as far as practicable.

Council has engaged an independent contractor to help manage its functions under the Weeds Action Plan and to carry out inspection and weed control activities in accordance with the Plan and the new Biosecurity Act.

Useful link

Department of Primary Industries - Weeds - information on weed control and identification, legislation and policy

Riverina Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan

Riverina Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2023-2027(PDF, 5MB)

Local Weed Management Plan

Leeton Shire Council views effective weed management is an essential activity which safeguards our economy, environment, and community. We manage weeds in accordance with the NSW biosecurity framework and associated tools. Under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Act) everyone, including State Government Organisations, Council and, private landholders have a legal obligation to manage identified priority weeds on land that they own or occupy. In addition, there is a minimum General Biosecurity Duty to effectively contain and prevent the spread of weeds and invasive plant species from landholder’s properties into adjacent properties. For additional information please contact Council on 02 6953 0911 or council@leeton.nsw.gov.au.

Useful link

Local Weed Management Plan(PDF, 160KB)

Controlling Environmental Weeds

Council operates a series of weed specific control programs for a range of environmental weeds on Council managed land. Most of these programs are funded under Federal or State Government Programs.

Local Control Authorities

Local Control Authorities (called LCAs) are Local Government Authorities that are responsible to ensure that weeds are controlled throughout New South Wales. This responsibility is allocated to Local Control Authorities from the Biosecurity Act.

Responsibility for the Control of Weeds

Council’s Weed Inspectors carry out inspections on private property and enforce the provisions of the Biosecurity Act. Council is also responsible for the control of weeds growing on roadsides and land under the control of Council. Other State authorities are responsible for the controlling of weeds on the land they administer.

Weeds and Legislation

In NSW all plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose.

On 1 July 2017, the Biosecurity Act replaced the Noxious Weeds Act.

Biosecurity is the protection of our economy, environment and community from the negative impacts of pests, diseases, weeds and contaminants. In NSW all plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose.

Leeton Shire Council is committed to maintaining an effective and efficient program to control biosecurity on both private and Council owned land.

Our Biosecurity Officers assist in the management of the vegetation on Council land, roadsides, public and private land by managing biosecurity in accordance with relevant legislation.

Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.

For more information please contact Council on Phone 02 6953 0911 or email council@leeton.nsw.gov.au

Weed Identification

Weed identification tools and resources

Use the NSW WeedWise website to help identify weeds on your property. The website contains over 300 weed profiles, describing:

Profile
Control (including registered herbicide options)
Biosecurity duty (under the Biosecurity Act 2015)

You can also choose to view a full list of priority weeds for the Leeton Shire.

Useful link

NSW WeedWise

Planning a Weed Control Strategy

Weeds thrive on disturbance

As well as taking action to remove weeds, you need to look at what has contributed to the infestation, and treat the causes, as well as the symptom (the weeds). Reliance on simply spraying weeds as they appear is an expensive spiral of increasing disturbance and increasing infestation.

Healthy, vigorous native vegetation or pasture is relatively weed-resistant. Nevertheless, timing is the crucial factor in weed control.

Remember; removing a weed may simply result in its replacement by another rapidly growing coloniser of empty space, usually another weed. Look at the whole picture, and decide what you want to achieve before starting a weed control program.

If you have any questions or need assistance in planning a weed control strategy for your property, contact our Council during business hours on 02 6953 0911 or email council@leeton.nsw.gov.au to set up a meeting with our Biosecurity Officers.

Useful link

New South Wales Weed Control Handbook

External Resources

Links below to more online resources and information on Biosecurity and weeds. Please also be aware that these links are not an exhaustive list of resources available:

Biosecurity Act 2015

NSW WeedWise

Weeds In Australia

NSW Department of Primary Industries - Weeds

Riverina Weeds

Pesticides Act 1999