Removing willow, ash, peppercorn and poplar species from Honeysuckle Creek will help improve water quality and habitat for the native plants and animals that rely on it for food and shelter.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Honeysuckle Creek Project Officer Corey Wilson said a contractor would start work to remove the woody weeds along a 1km stretch either side of Violet Town’s Baird St later this month.
“The contractor will use the cut and paste method, which involves cutting the trees back to ground level then applying an environmentally sensitive herbicide to the stump,” Mr Wilson said.
The paste is not toxic to animals or people. The contractor will chip branches on-site and dispose of the mulch and larger logs.
“These woody weeds are very invasive and compete with native plants for space, nutrients and sunlight,” Mr Wilson said.
“They can also change the creek’s path, causing erosion and bank degradation while their matted roots and heavy leaf litter can alter insect and native fish habitat and ultimately their survival. Some of the weed species use significantly more water than native trees.”
The woody weed removal work is funded by the Goulburn Broken CMA and supported by the Honeysuckle Recreation Environment Project (HREP) and Strathbogie Shire Council.
The Honeysuckle Creek Project is part of the Victorian Government-funded Strathbogie Streams project. This five-year initiative aims to protect and improve the long-term health of key streams flowing from the Strathbogie Ranges by working with landholders, community, and other government agencies to control weeds and pest animals, reduce stock access to waterways and increase in-stream habitat.
More information is available here.