Ragwort Control

Published on 28 October 2020

With the weather warming up, now is the perfect time for land owners to take control and spray Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) on their properties.

Each year Burnie City Council works in collaboration with the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) and the community to control Ragwort in the municipality.

Ragwort is a Zone ‘A’ declared weed within the Burnie municipality and therefore it is required to be eradicated across entire properties, not just buffer zones like fence-lines.

At this time of year most Ragwort plants are at the rosette stage and are very susceptible to herbicide application, as are many other weeds which will be entering their active growth stage. Timing is everything when it comes to weed control and getting a handle on weeds early in the season is the most cost-effective and labour-efficient way of dealing with any weed.

Mayor Steve Kons said, “Council works closely with the community to control the spread of this weed, and thanks to the conscientious efforts of landowners and community groups, there has been a significant decrease in the presence of Ragwort in our municipality.”

“Effective weed management requires vigilance and persistence so it is important that we continue this work into the future.”

If landowners have any questions or need advice on how to control Ragwort or other weeds, please contact Council’s Weeds Officer Phil Hrstich on 6430 5794.