Invasive and Priority Weeds
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Weeds Management in Camden
Weeds are one of the biggest environmental issues in Australia, costing billions of dollars each year in management programs and lost production. Weeds within the Camden LGA have potential to pose a serious threat to our agricultural enterprises, the natural environment, and the community.
Weeds on agricultural lands include the loss of productive land and financial costs associated with weed control. Impacts on our natural ecosystems include potential impacts on aesthetic values, choking of waterways, and loss of native species through harm to habitats of both flora and fauna.
The introduction of the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Act) has removed the old “noxious weed” categories and replaced them with “Priority Weeds”.
Your Role
All landowners, occupiers or managers of land are required under the Act to carry out their General Biosecurity Duty to control any Priority Weeds which may be growing on their property
If Council’s Authorised Officers believe that the owner/occupier of the land is not meeting their biosecurity duty to control weeds, they can issue a Biosecurity Direction to prevent, eliminate or minimise the biosecurity risk posed by those weeds.
Councils Role
As a public land manager, Council must prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk posed by weeds found on all land under its control.
Council is also the Local Control Authority for the Camden Local Government Area, which means we are responsible for administering and enforcing the Biosecurity Act 2015 in relation to weeds. This includes undertaking inspections of privately owned and public land, high risk pathways such as major roads and waterways, and high-risk sites such as recreational, agricultural and related businesses. These inspections are undertaken to identify new, emerging, and widespread weeds and to ensure all owners/managers comply with the requirements of the Act.
The Greater Sydney Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan (LINK BELOW) supports the regional implementation of the Act by articulating community expectations in relation to effective weed management, and facilitating a coordinated approach to weed management across the region. The plan identifies state and regional Priority Weeds and the outcomes required to demonstrate compliance with the General Biosecurity Duty.
If a weed poses a biosecurity risk in a particular area, but is not the subject of any specific legislation, Council’s Authorised Officers may rely on the General Biosecurity Duty to manage that weed or to prevent its spread.
Links and Further Information
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