In NSW the Biosecurity Act 2015 identifies local councils as the local control authorities for weed management within their local government area (LGA).

As a local control authority Camden Council:

• Inspects private land and high risk locations for priority weeds to help ensure that property owners are aware of and carrying out obligation to manage biosecurity risks and controlling Priority Weeds.
• Inspects public land and develops and implements programs to control priority weeds on Council owned and managed lands.
• Engages with the community to raise awareness and understanding of priority weeds and best practice management.

The Biosecurity Act identifies the plants that pose the biggest threats and these are known as state priority weeds. There are restrictions on the trade and movement of these plants, along with requirements for their control and management. Previously these weeds have been known as noxious weeds, however this terminology is no longer in use.

Camden Council is a member of the Greater Sydney Regional Weeds Committee, which has developed the Greater Sydney Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan to outline how we can all work together to identify, minimise, respond to, and manage weeds. The Plan sets the vision and goals for weed management across Greater Sydney and identifies regional priority weeds.

Plants that are scheduled as either state and regional priority weeds that have been recorded within the Camden local government area are shown in the table below. You can follow the links to find out more about these weeds and if you think you have may have seen these weeds please contact Council’s Biosecurity Officer on 13 22 63 or email mail@camden.nsw.gov.au.

• Alligator Weed – Objective is containment
• Asparagus fern – Objective is containment
• Bitou Bush - Objective is containment
• Boneseed – Objective is eradication
• Chinese knotweed – Objective is eradication
• Frogbit – Objective is eradication
• Kidney-leaf mud plantain  - Objective is eradication
• Ming fern – Objective is eradication
• Salvinia – Objective is containment
• Tiger pear – Objective is eradication
• Water Hyacinth – Objective is containment

Some of the other priority weeds that are known to be widespread across New South Wales are identified below. The spread of these plants must be minimised to protect important assets including bushland areas.

• African boxthorn
• African olive
• Asparagus weeds
• Blackberry
• Cat’s claw creeper
• Chilean needle grass
• Fireweed
• Gorse
• Lantana
• Ludwigia
• Madeira vine
• Opuntia
• Serrated tussock
• Silver-leaf nightshade

You can find out more about these priority weeds in our Priority Weed Identification Guide.

All landholders have a general biosecurity duty, which means all people who deal with plants through their commercial, professional, volunteer, recreational or lifestyle activities have a duty to be aware of the impacts the plants they deal with may cause.

There are some great mobile application resources available to assist with identifying weed species, including:

• NSW WeedWise App
• WeedSCAN

Please report any sightings of priority weeds to Council’s Biosecurity Officer on 13 22 36 or email mail@camden.nsw.gov.au. To assist with a quick response please include a detailed description of the location of the plant, and photographs showing a close up of leaves, flowers and fruit, as well as a photograph of the entire plant.

Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum)

A new aquatic weed called Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) has been identified in the upper Georges River catchment.

It can rapidly invade and smother waterways. Plants can form into large mats of runners and adult plants can develop very quickly. Juvenile plants have a great capacity for distribution as they are small and can be easily and quickly carried along by water currents. While Frogbit spreads when plants move in water, a common cause of spread is the dumping of illegal aquarium or pond plants in waterways and by transfer on marine craft.

Frogbit is a serious biosecurity threat to Camden’s lakes, creeks, dams and the Nepean River, as well as the rest of NSW. All species of Frogbit are classified as “Prohibited Matter” under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and if found must be reported immediately to NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) or to Council.

To report a sighting of Frogbit, contact Council's Natural Resources (Biosecurity) Officer on 13 CAMDEN. 

Parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus)

How does this weed affect us?

Parthenium weed can cause severe dermatitis and respiratory problems in humans.

It invades pastures and crops and can also cause health problems in dogs and livestock.

Parthenium weed:

• Is toxic to livestock;
• Outcompetes pastures;
• Can taint the flavour of meat or milk;
• Reduces crop yield;
• Contaminates grain; and 
• Is a host plant for crop viruses.

Where are you likely to find it?

Parthenium weed has recently been found in an urban compost heap in Engadine. It may have spread to other locations in Greater Sydney.

Look for it where:

●            There is lots of bare soil (roadsides, poor pastures);

●            New soil or compost has been delivered;

●            Earthworks have taken place; and

●            Hay, grain or bird seed has been fed to livestock or chickens.

Check regularly and especially after rain.

What does it look like?

It is fast-growing and usually grows up to 1.5m tall but can be up to 2m tall.

Leaves are pale green and covered in soft fine hairs. Lower leaves are 5–20cm long.

and deeply divided. Upper leaves are smaller and less divided.

Flowers are creamy white, 4–6 mm across and star-like with 5 distinct points. Flower clusters are delicate and look a bit like "baby's breath".

Stems are grooved, woody when older, and have many branches when flowering.

Seen it? Call NSW DPI Biosecurity Helpline 1800 680 244.

For control and biosecurity information visit NSW WeedWise.

Any use of pesticides for control of priority weeds required to be notified under Council’s Pesticide Use Notification Plan will be included below.