Draft Weed Management Strategic Plan 2019: Have Your Say

We’re calling for feedback on our Draft Weed Management Strategic Plan 2019.

The draft plan – endorsed by the Council at the Ordinary Meeting on 30 April – outlines Council’s management response to the multiple threats of weeds within our local government area. 

This is within the context of current Federal, State and Regional weed policy and recent legislative changes.

Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, urged the Blue Mountains community to comment on the plan.

“Weeds are one of the biggest threats to the biodiversity of the Blue Mountains. They affect the city’s liveability, tourism, economy, aesthetics and the productivity of land. The draft plan outlines Council’s response to this threat.”

The weed management issues across the Blue Mountains LGA are unique.

The long linear development pattern, coupled with our proximity to a World Heritage Area, places weeds as one of the single biggest threats to our biodiversity. 

The magnitude of our weed problem is not always obvious to the untrained eye, but there are currently over 400 weed species in the Blue Mountains. Despite considerable investment by all levels of government, it is not possible or practical to plan to eradicate all weeds from the Blue Mountains.

“Council’s weed management programs focus on a long-term, strategic approach which protects key assets and involves cooperation with all landowners to achieve high level, sustainable weed control,” Mayor Greenhill said.

The Draft Weed Management Strategic Plan 2019 replaces Council’s Weed Strategy 2010, taking into account significant policy and legislative changes in relation to weed control. This includes changes to Council’s and the community’s role under the new NSW Biosecurity Act 2015. 

Community awareness and involvement in the draft plan is essential to its success. We will be receiving submissions until 5pm Monday 3 June, 2019.  Go to yoursay.bmcc.nsw.gov.au to Have Your Say.

Weeds are everybody’s responsibility.  We can all work together to protect our World Heritage Area and the unique bushland, swamps and waterways of the Blue Mountains. Get to know your weeds and the Priority Weed species that are currently being targeted. Go to: bmcc.nsw.gov.au/weeds for more.

Pic caption: African Olive is a Regional Priority Weed.