Weeds

Current Activities

A number of activities are currently being delivered under the Regional Weed Management Program. These include programs developed to assist in the implementation of Hunter and Central Coast Regional Weeds Management Strategy (the Strategy).
Current programs include:

LGSA grant to control Coolatai and other grasses Singleton - Dungog
In conjunction with Dungog and Singleton Shire Councils, HCCREMS has received funding under the Local Government and Shires Association’s (LGSA) Roadside Vegetation Improvement Program to implement the on ground control of exotic grasses along the main artillery road between Dungog and Singleton.

Details of this project can be seen under the Environmental Roadside Project

Caring for our Country grant to aid Alligator Weed control
Ninety-five percent of Australia's distribution of A. philoxeroides occurs in the Hunter/Central Coast, Hawkesbury and Nepean/Sydney regions. These have been identified by the Commonwealth as nationally core infestations needing control. To prevent additional spread control of outlier infestations is important, sites selected for control have already been subject to rigorous investigation and assessment processes to determine the risk of further weed distribution spread through water channels and floodplains, with corresponding impacts on vegetation communities and aquatic ecosystems.

This project is directly linked to major control priorities identified for the two regions (National Priority Action Frameworks (http://www.weeds.org.au/WoNS/alligatorweed). Collaboration by a range of stakeholders in recent years has strategically identified and prioritised control sites for Alligator Weed at the sub-catchment level.

The project is implementing on-ground works to control priority regional outlier infestations and facilitate ongoing control and maintenance by the community. The five sites being specifically targeted under this project are in the Port Stephens region (Hanna Reserve, Lemon Tree Passage and Horizons), Maitland LGA (Rathluba Lagoon) and Lake Macquarie LGA. (Burnt Bridge Creek).

Black Creek Riparian Vine Project, funded by the Environmental Trust
This project is conducting a weed control program for ecologically significant sites across two local government areas within the Hunter Region (Cessnock / Singleton). The project is considered a priority for on-ground remedial work, as it directly removes the threat of riparian weeds before infestations become established and widespread along 40 kilometres of Black Creek between Ferguson Street, Cessnock LGA and its intersection with the Hunter River, Singleton LGA

Three Environmentally Endangered Communities (River-Flat Eucalypt Forest on Coastal Floodplains, Kurri Sands Swamp Woodland and Lower Hunter Spotted Gum - Ironbark Forest) will benefit from the venture, which has the support of both government and private landowners.

The project is controling emerging priority species, as identified in the Hunter-Central Coast Regional Weeds Strategy and DECCW Key Threatening Process (KTP) “Invasion and establishment of exotic vines and scramblers” namely Cat's Claw Creeper (Macfadyena unguis-cati) ; Balloon Vine (Cardiospermum grandiflorum) and Madeira Vine (Anredera cordifolia). These species are not declared under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993, accordingly there is no legal requirement for councils or land managers to undertake control works and it is through projects such as this we are able to assist land managers to fund removal of emerging weed species.

Salvinia along Wollombi Brook
Salvinia on the Brook has been a long-term project for both HCCREMS and the Hunter-Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority. We are once again partnering with the HCRCMA to survey the Brook and assist land managers efforts to control this aquatic weed before the warmer weather promotes the species spread.