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Raising Weed Awareness Of Vicroads Staff

One hundred and eighty three staff from all seven VicRoads regional offices participated in a recent weed awareness training program delivered across Victoria by the Department of Primary Industries.

By Department of Primary Industries - 6th June 2007 - Back to News

The training program was based on WeedStop training developed and delivered by DPI over the last two years.

As part of DPI’s ‘Tackling Weeds on Private Lands Initiative’ this program was delivered as a contract to VicRoads to develop and provide training to increase VicRoads staff awareness of the issues weeds have on VicRoads.

Participants gained skills to be able to recognise noxious weeds within Victoria and developed processes to reduce the spread of weeds through their daily activities.

They were also shown how to detect problem weeds in vehicles, equipment and machinery used by VicRoads. As part of the full day training a vehicle sample analysis was conducted, highlighting the importance of vigilance and hygiene to prevent risk of weeds spreading.

Material cleaned from vehicles and equipment was submitted for analysis of weed species. Preliminary visual analysis of the 133 samples from the 29 vehicles and equipment identified four items carrying noxious weeds.

A slasher with caltrop in its tyres, a sedan with spear thistle in its engine bay and flax leaf broom in the cabin and a two wheel drive ute with horehound and Paterson’s curse in its cabin, Paterson’s curse and African love grass in its radiator.

A tractor was also found to be carrying gorse branches with shattered mature seed pods attached but no seed was observed.

Positive responses from almost all participants indicate they valued the training and that it achieved the objective of increasing their awareness of weed issues relating to VicRoads.

In addition to VicRoads training program, DPI has delivered training in weed spread prevention techniques to municipalities, agricultural contractors and the fodder industry across southern Australia.

For further information about WeedStop training contact Michael Moerkerk at DPI on (03)5362 2125.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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