Weed management
Cross-tenure collaborative weed management in action
Municipal weed management programs – Central Highlands, Derwent Valley and Brighton
The Derwent Catchment Project facilitates each council’s weed management program, guided by strategic weed management plans. The plans outline clear, asset-based priorities with scheduled annual weed control works for major land managers across the municipalities. Stakeholders convene annually at the beginning of spring to discuss what was achieved in the previous season and to table what works will be undertaken in the coming season.
A simple report is collated from this process in which the stakeholders’ progress is acknowledged. This process allows for an evaluation of methods, timing and resources, and is updated as the program progresses.
DCP’s other role is to lobby for funding for priority issues and leverage money to concentrate effort and ensure the best use of resources.
Council weed management plans
Weed Action Fund large grants
African feather grass (AFG) biosecurity program
African feather grass is an aggressive invader of riverbanks and pastures and poses a risk to agricultural productivity and water health. We have developed a five-year weed management plan and are now implementing the plan to control AFG which inhabits sections of adjacent land on the Plenty and Derwent rivers. We are also engaging with landholders and the community to help educate about the impacts of this weed.
Orange hawkweed (OHW) biosecurity program
Orange hawkweed is an invasive herb from Europe which is a threat to Tasmania’s alpine and sub-alpine habitats. It can outcompete native vegetation, altering ecosystems as it has in places across the Australian alps.
This program follows a long-term effort to control this priority weed that is established in the Central Highlands on public and private land and within the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. We are also working to raise awareness and engage the community and individual private landholders who have had no previous involvement to undertake surveillance and survey work.
This program is supported by Fonz, a weed detector dog. Check out more about Fonz here.
DCP is project lead for the wider program that also includes the Hobart City Council municipality.
Karamu biosecurity program
Karamu is a priority weed which is a ruthless invader in riverbank habitats and wet forest. This program continues the good work undertaken by a multi-stakeholder* collaborative effort to manage Karamu in key locations along the Derwent River, around New Norfolk. Our control work is guided by the Karamu Weed Management Plan developed by the Derwent Catchment Project in 2017.
*Supporters of the Derwent karamu program include Parks & Wildlife, State Growth, the Derwent Estuary Program, Property Services (Crown Land) and the Derwent Valley Council
DCP is project lead for the wider program which also includes the Hobart City Council, Kingborough and Huon Valley municipalities.
Other weed management programs
Central Highlands
- Poatina ragwort – control ragwort infestations that have established in the area burnt by the Poatina bushfire (2013). Program commenced in 2016 supported by TasNetworks, Hydro Tasmania, State Growth and Parks and Wildlife.
- Ouse River ragwort – working with landholders and volunteers to map and control ragwort along the Ouse River post fire and floods which have seen significant spread of this weed (small grants round Weed Action Fund)
- Ellendale Spanish heath – contain and control Spanish heath infestations at the north-east boundary of Mount Field National Park that is threatening the World Heritage Area (Landcare and PWS Working Neighbours Program grants).
- Adopt-a-Shore – supported by Hydro Tasmania. Working with locals to control ragwort along the shore of the Great Lake.
- Highlands Broom Program – address increasing infestations of broom in the Central Highlands guided by strategic plan that prioritises cooperative control of English broom in the Central Highlands. Initial funding through the Parks & Wildlife Working Neighbours Program.
- Miena weeds program – supported by Hydro Tasmania. English broom and lupins are spreading along Thiessen Crescent, Miena. Providing workshops and information to locals about the weeds and how to control them.
- Great Lake Weed Management Program – mapping, planning and control of ragwort and Californian thistle along the shores of the Great Lake supported by Hydro Tasmania.
- Wayatinah township weed management plan developed to help manage and treat weeds around the old Hydro township. Funded and supported by Hydro. Derwent Valley
Derwent Valley
- ‘Entrance to the Valley’ program: working with the Department of State Growth road networks to tackle a range of declared weeds along roadsides in Granton Park, Lyell Highway and Boyer Road.
- World Heritage Area Buffer: working with stakeholders to address weed threats to the Derwent Wilderness World Heritage Area and buffer, mainly Spanish heath and Californian thistle.
- Elisha’s tears – managing infestations of Elisha’s tears along the Tyenna River near the Fenton Forest Estate (small grants round Weed Action Fund).
- Blackberry control for fruit fly: this program is a part of our Derwent Biosecurity Network – preparedness in a changing climate project. We have mapped commodities vulnerable to fruit fly (soft fruit orchards) as well as areas of blackberry and feral orchard trees which can serve as alternative hosts for fruit fly. We have undertaken control of blackberries in priority areas.
Collaborative partners
Our partners include a wide range of industry, NGOs, government and community organisations collaborating to make a difference on the ground.
