Every year the Authority undertakes a ‘Chairman’s’ tour of the area with NEWA’s General Manager and Weed Officers. The aim is to take an operational view of weed management, observe any new and emerging weeds in the area and consider weed management strategies for the future. 

After a particularly dry couple of years a number of weeds species are thriving at the moment and now is a good time to remind landholders of their responsibilities under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993. 

We have received a number of complaints about neighbours not maintaining widespread weeds on their properties – particularly Blackberry and Nodding Thistles. Both of these weeds are class 4 weeds throughout the New England region. Class 4 noxious weeds are plants that pose a threat to primary production, the environment or human health, are widely distributed in an area to which the order applies and are likely to spread in the area or to another area. 

Property owners and managers have a responsibility to continually manage these weeds on their properties and penalties apply to those who are not taking adequate measures to control weeds.

‘We work as closely and cooperatively as we can with our landholders but if they fail to be good land managers we have no option but to use the legislation and associated penalties to get weed treatment carried out,’ said Chairman, Clr Maria Woods. 

NEWA can help with weed identification, weed control advice and assist with your weed management plans. Other weeds of concern include Serrated tussock, St John’s wort, Chilean needle grass and Vipers bugloss. 

‘Please don’t hesitate to contact your local weeds officer should you have concerns’ added Clr Woods.