Development of the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Weeds Management Strategy (the Strategy) was initiated by the Regional Weed Management Professional Team that comprises representatives from each of the Lower Hunter and Central Coast Councils and the Upper Hunter Weeds Authority. The Strategy was compiled by the Regional Coordinator and the HCCREMS team, with the assistance of key stakeholders including member councils, Upper Hunter Weeds Authority, Industry and Investment NSW and the Hunter - Central Rivers Catchment Management Authority.
Within the Hunter and Central Coast region both noxious, as determined by the Noxious Weeds Act 1993, and non-classified weeds impact on natural, social and economic assets. Particular impacts include:
• Many exotic species threaten flora and fauna biodiversity by altering the structure and function of vegetation communities, thereby changing natural environmental conditions and balances
• Weed species may affect human and / or animal health including, and increasingly, causing respiratory complaints
• Loss of primary production and expense of weed management activities incurred by landowners and managers is great
• Economic costs to the community incurred through weed incursion (e.g. visual degradation negatively impacting on tourism opportunities)
The Strategy aims to provide the overriding framework to manage weeds on a strategic landscape scale through coordination in planning, investment and operational activities on a regional basis across landscapes, land management boundaries (irrespective of tenure) and local control authority jurisdictions.
To do so, the Strategy identifies five key objectives. These are:
Objective 1: Ensure effective weed management coordination and collaboration across land management responsibilities and land tenures to reduce the impact of weeds in the region
Objective 2: Identify and prioritise knowledge gaps to improve effective management and scientific understanding of weed issues in the region
Objective 3: Strategically increase the awareness and capacity of community and stakeholders to undertake effective and coordinated weed management initiatives across the region
Objective 4: Implement early detection and treatment strategies for new weed incursions;
Implement works program to address high priority landscapes and high priority natural assets on natural assets throughout the region
Objective 5: Improve and standardise data capture techniques, monitoring, reporting and evaluation processes
Sixteen strategic management recommendations and forty nine implementation actions detailed within the Strategy aim to deliver on these objectives for the Hunter - Central Coast region. These recognise and build upon the significant work already carried out by local councils, state agencies and community groups. These recommendations have been formulated with significant input from councils, agency personnel and industry specialists.