Noxious weeds in the Goulburn Broken Catchment are under a complete review for the first time in 30 years.
Noxious weeds in the Goulburn Broken Catchment are under a complete review for the first time in 30 years.
A new modelling process was developed by Department of Primary Industries Research Victoria to assess the economic, environmental and social impact of weeds.
The review will be conducted in three phases.
Phase one, now in the final stages, has involved a review of 101 regional and state wide declared species, assessing the potential for invasion and a management strategy to combat problems. Weeds have been categorised as state prohibited, regionally prohibited, regionally controlled or restricted.
Phase two has assessed the impact of another 10 weeds that are not declared as noxious weeds but are listed in regional Weed Action Plans across the state.
Using the model developed for the review, phase three will assess National and State alert weeds as well as weeds nominated by the Catchment Management Authority. Community members will also be able to nominate species for assessment.
“This review is important to landholders because for the first time, the decision to declare noxious weeds is based on a transparent, scientific assessment of the impact and invasiveness of each weed and consideration of a costed management strategy as required under the Catchment and Land Protection Act,” Department of Primary Industries Pest Plants and Animals Program spokesman Terry Barnard said.
The review focuses on meeting definitions outlined by the Catchment Land Protection Act 1994.
The current noxious weeds list in Victoria has not been reviewed since 1974. Apart from the addition of a small number of state prohibited weeds in 2003, the status of most weeds has not changed since that date.. All Catchments throughout Victoria are currently reviewing noxious weeds.
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