Weeds and other invasive plants can be a real problem for land managers. Sometimes they cause direct damage to other plants. At other times they simply ‘crowd out’ native plant life and, over time, make the environment less habitable for native birds, animals and other species needed for balanced and healthy ecosystem.
Winton Wetlands Committee of Management puts a lot of time and effort into controlling invasive species on the wetlands reserve. In early 2023, we’re particularly targeting three invasive weed species:
- Noogoora Burr (Xanthium strumarium)
- Bathurst Burr (Xanthium spinosum)
- Sweet Briar (Rosa rubiginosa)
These species have a bad impact on native ecosystems, pose a threat to livestock, and can reduce agricultural production, so they are of concern to our farming leaseholders and neighbours as well. All three are declared Noxious Weeds in Victoria under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, and are considered Regionally Controlled in the Goulburn Broken catchment.
The Regent Honeyeater Project (an ongoing habitat restoration project driven largely by dedicated volunteers) has secured funding from the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority to coordinate the control of Sweet Briar along the north-eastern fringe of the wetlands reserve. In future, it’s possible that some of this funding might be used to help with the control of Sweet Briar on private land adjoining the north-eastern fringe of the reserve. For more information and to express interest in this possibility, please contact Andie Guerin of the Regent Honeyeater Project.
Thank-you to anyone able to assist with this important ongoing activity.
Dr Lisa Farnsworth – lisa.farnsworth@wintonwetlands.org.au 03 5766 4462
Andie Guerin – andie@regenthoneyeater.org.au 0429 782 777
