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Do Your Bit To Bust The Weed CycleRepresentatives of Bass Coast Shire Council and the Bass Coast Landcare Network took to the streets earlier this month, as part of Council’s Weedbuster Week. By Bass Coast Shire - 2nd November 2005 - Back to News Landcare’s Community Pest, Plant and Animal Officer, Matt Stephenson, and Council’s Environment Project Officer, Clare Lamers, set up Public Information Street Displays in Cowes and Wonthaggi.
"We want to enhance people’s awareness of environmental and agricultural weeds so they can proactively control them," explained Mr Stephenson.
"The purpose of the street displays was to give the community the chance to learn more about weeds, look at samples of weeds to help with identification and to discuss control techniques with Officers," he said.
"Weeds have certain traits in common," said Ms Lamers. "They grow fast, mature and bear seeds in a short space of time, their growth is often much faster than indigenous and pasture plants and their seed production is enormous."
"The greatest competitive advantage alien species or weeds have is that they escape the predation and diseases that keep them in check in their native environment."
Which ones are weeds?
"Many people would be surprised to learn that agapanthus and arum lilies found in many gardens are actually classified as environmental weeds," said Ms Lamers.
"We encourage people to refrain from using plants known to be environmental weeds in any landscape project."
Ms Lamers said people interested in identifying environmental weeds could pick up a copy of the Common Weeds of Gippsland Bass Coast Shire Weed Identification Guide from any Council Customer Service Centre.
"The community can help to stop the spread of weeds by reporting people who dump green waste to the local council, removing weeds from their own garden, supporting local Coastcare and Landcare groups and being persistent in their fight against weeds," said Ms Lamers.
Indigenous plants
In a further attempt to reduce the impact of garden weed escapes, Bass Coast Shire Council, Bass Coast Landcare Network and Phillip Island Nature Park are working together to provide urban residents with free indigenous plants as a reward for removing identified problem species.
"We really want to nurture an appreciation for indigenous plants," said Ms Lamers.
The incentive known as "Weeds Out, Indigenous Plants In" runs until November 30. Forms can be obtained from Customer Service Centres, Council’s website and the Bass Coast Landcare Network Office, School Ave, Bass.
Keeping weeds in check
The aim of Weedbuster Week was to highlight some of the weed issues of the Shire, and is just one part of Council’s ongoing commitment to the issue.
The Roadside Weed Abatement Program is another initiative, run in partnership with Council and the Bass Coast Landcare Network.
"This incentive assists rural landholders by providing herbicide and advice to manage weeds along roadsides," explained Mr Stephenson.
"Application forms have recently been sent out to landholders as part of the program."
Further Council initiatives include the Land Management and Biodiversity Incentive Scheme, an Environmental Weeds Control Program and participation in the Bass Coast Weeds Forum.
Anyone interested in obtaining further information on any of these schemes or incentives can contact Council on (03) 5671 2211 or (03) 5951 3311.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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