Landholders encouraged to prepare for noxious weed season

Published on 13 October 2020

As of the date of signing, the Chief Executive Officer has certified that this material is not considered to be electoral material in accordance with Council’s Governance Rules made under the Local Government Act 2020, Civic Place, Warragul. 

Local landowners are encouraged to prepare their properties to minimise the impact of noxious weeds this spring.

Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 certain plants are declared as noxious weeds in Victoria. These plants cause environmental or economic harm or have the potential to cause such harm.

Priority weeds for control within Baw Baw Shire include ragwort, blackberries, Paterson’s Curse and thistles.

Properties in hillier areas of the Shire are at more risk of growing ragwort, which is considered Regionally Prohibited in Gippsland.

Ragwort is highly poisonous to stock, particularly cattle, horses and chickens. It causes cumulative liver damage leading to photosensitisation, jaundice, wasting and sometimes death in animals. It also competes strongly with desirable pasture species reducing pasture production and devaluing property.

In favourable conditions, one ragwort plant can produce as many as 250,000 seeds which are spread by wind, on agricultural machinery and by animals, and can remain viable in the soil for as long as eight years.

Detailed information about weed identification and control is available at the Victorian Government’s Agriculture website.

Additional information is also available at the South Gippsland Landcare website

Quotes attributable to Baw Baw Shire Council Chief Executive Officer, Mark Dupe.

“Whether you’re on one hectare or one hundred hectares, it’s important to keep weeds under control – especially during spring. If not managed correctly, weeds can get out of control quite quickly and pose a threat to your pastures and stock and potentially spread to neighbouring properties.”