Weed Management

Blackberries

Weeds are classified as plants that invade our native vegetation and threaten primary production and biodiversity. Because weeds have no regard for boundaries, a cooperative approach needs to be adopted for control to be successful.

Control and eventual eradication of weeds will lead to improved local and regional productivity, sustainable land-use and an increase in natural vegetation and habitat.

Community’s responsibilities

Pest plants cost local communities tens of thousands of dollars each year in lost production and the cost of control. These pest plants also threaten environmental values and can have an impact on recreation, tourism and human health.

All landowners have a legislative duty under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 to control pest plants and animals on their own land and the adjoining roadside and have a duty of care to ensure that their activities do not spread pests or introduce new pests into an area.

Council recommends that all noxious and environmental weeds on your property and along the roadsides are removed. If these weeds cannot be eradicated, the seeds should be removed from the plant to avoid spread.

Many of the plants in your garden or property may be environmental weeds. To help you identify these weeds the Colac Otway Shire’s environment department has developed the following significant weeds brochures for different regions within the shire:         

These brochures clearly identify the 20 most significant weeds in each of the three bioregions of the Shire. Brochures can be obtained from Council offices and the Visitor Information Centres in Colac and Apollo Bay. To request copies of the brochures, please contact Council’s Environment Officer on 03 5232 9512.

Council's responsibilities

Council has a responsibility to manage weeds on Council owned and managed land. This includes the eradication of weeds under the following criteria:

  • New and emerging weed species
  • Council owned and managed assets
  • High conservation roadsides

Council’s control program for weeds and pests on municipal roadsides is supported by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). DELWP provide funding to assist Council in implementing the Colac Otway Shire Council Roadside Weed and Pest Control Plan 2017-2019(PDF, 2MB). Council continues to operate under the Roadside Weeds and Pests Plan 2017-2019, under the direction - and with the financial support - of the Victorian Government.

The Colac Otway Shire also facilitates a weeds consultative committee, which comprises a number of government agencies working together to provide direction on weed issues within the shire. This committee assists with the implementation of Council’s weed strategy and works together on joint weed eradication programs.

For further information on the current weed control works being conducted as a part of the Environmental Program please visit https://www.colacotway.vic.gov.au/Works-Projects/Upcoming-Weed-Control-Works or contact Council's Environment Department on (03) 5232 9400.