Issued by Mid North Coast Weeds Coordinating Committee, 30th April, 2014
Media Release
New Weed Declarations Workshops
On the 28th of February 2014 the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) gazetted a list of
newly and previously declared noxious weeds under section 7 of the NSW Noxious Weeds Act 1993.
These declarations are the result of a 3 year process of weed risk assessment, review and public
consultation undertaken by the NSW DPI under the NSW Invasive Species Plan.
The declaration of new noxious weeds in NSW by way of the Noxious Weeds (Weed Control) Order
2014 marks a new policy direction in Invasive Weed Management in NSW. These declarations
provide the legal backing to the NSW Invasive Species Plan by ensuring that the control of new weed
incursions and the management of high risk invasive weeds protect priority landscapes on a tenure
blind approach. This is a marked deviation from the traditional focus on agricultural weeds which
impact on primary production by including the declaration of more weeds impacting on the natural
environment.
Some of these newly declared weed species are widespread in the rural, urban and peri urban
landscape as many are associated with historic nursery or market sales and backyard garden
plantings. The declaration of these new weeds has implications for both the urban and rural
community. Many of these new declarations mean that land managers in the private landscape will
be faced with the control of garden plantings that, until now, have had no compulsion pursuant to
the Noxious Weeds Act.
Chairman of the Mid North Coast Weeds Co-ordinating Committee Councillor David West, said
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the Committee to work in partnership with the community,
landcare Networks, and other land management agencies to assist landholders / land managers and
build their capacity to manage the newly declared weeds”
Management of some of these newly declared species could prove challenging as some weeds are
already widespread in certain areas but only present to a limited extent or even non-existent in
some localities, and some weeds may have social implications attached. The purpose of these
declarations is to seek protection of high priority natural assets. To this end differing management
strategies will need to be implemented and adjusted to suit the peculiarities of specific areas.
It is proposed that where possible, staged treatments of individual species on Council managed land
would be implemented over a period of some 10-20 years utilising grant funds where available,
combined with in kind contribution from Council. To complement these works Councils will
negotiate weed management plans with individual landholders in adjacent areas to ensure the longterm success of this programme.
Chairman of the Mid North Coast Weeds Co-ordinating Committee Councillor David West, said
“A series of regional community workshops are planned during May and June to introduce these
new declarations to the wider community supported by Mid North Coast Weeds Coordinating
Committee, in a bid to educate the community first hand.
I encourage all interested persons to attend the workshops.”
Workshop dates and locations;
All workshops will commence at 6.00pm and finish by 8.30pm
Stroud – Stroud Country Club, 13 May 2014
Nabiac – Nabiac Showground Hall, 15th may 2014
Gloucester – Gloucester Senior Citizens Hall, 4th June 2014
Taree – Wingham Golf Club, 22nd May 2014
Wauchope – Wauchope Senior Citizens Centre, 27th May 2014
Kempsey – Kempsey Showground Hall, 29th May 2014
Comboyne- War memorial hall, 19th June 2014
All persons wishing to attend should RSVP to their respective Council before the date of the
workshop for catering purposes.
Further enquiries contact Terry Schmitzer, Regional Weed Management Officer 02 65 871116