Weeds
What is a weed?
A weed is commonly referred to a plant that is growing out of its place.
There are two main kinds of weeds:
- Noxious: those weeds declared as noxious under the NSW Noxious Weeds Act 1993. Examples include Madeira Vine, Privet and Lantana. Read more about noxious weeds.
- Environmental: those weeds not listed as noxious but readily spread throughout gardens and bushland. Examples include Ehrharta, Jasmine and Japanese Honeysuckle. Read more about environmental weeds.
Why control weeds?
Weeds can rapidly spread throughout gardens and bushland and outcompete with the plants that live in the bushland naturally or plants that we want in our gardens. In our gardens this can lead to the loss of our favourite plants. In our bushland this can lead to the loss of native plants and animals including threatened species, reduced water quality and reduced biodiversity.
The NSW Noxious Weeds Act 1993 requires the management of noxious weeds to ensure that people, livestock and our gardens and bushland are protected from these weeds.
Who is responsible for controlling weeds?
Section 12 of the Act requires that an occupier of land must manage the noxious weeds on that land (Occupier includes owner, resident, tenant or lessee).
Sections 13 and 14 require public authorities and local control authorities to manage noxious weeds on land they occupy.
Section 36 of the Act requires Council, as the local control authority, to implement the requirements of the Act.
Where is Council controlling its noxious weeds?
Council manages over 2000 hectares of bushland and in addition many Crown Land reserves. There are over 18 000 hectares of National Park land adjoining some of these reserves. Council undertakes and manages bush regeneration works in many of these reserves.
Council is a Sydney North Regional Weeds Committee member, identifying future problem weeds and developing control measures.
How can you help?
- Join a local Bushcare group and gain practical skills in plant identification, weed control and bush regeneration.
- When planting in your garden use locally native species or non-invasive species.
- Do not throw garden waste into bushland. Use compost bins or Council's green waste bins.
- Control Noxious Weeds and environmental weeds in accordance with required control measures.
Further information
For more information, visit the Environment counter at Council's administration building, the Community Nursery, or see the following websites:
