Noxious Weed Control Program

Roadside Weed Control

Baw Baw Shire implements a yearly program to control priority noxious weeds on council managed roadsides.

Approximately 300 kilometers of roads are treated each year, depending on funding allocations from Council and State Government. With 1,515kms of local roads within Baw Baw Shire, it is not possible to treat all noxious weeds on all roadsides every year. For blackberries, a rotational program is run starting with the roads listed as collector roads, then followed by local roads and local minor roads. Roads treated will be retreated after two years to ensure that follow-up control is done.

Landowners can request to have their roads included on the spray list. Please contact Carolyn Ferguson on 5624 2409 for more information.

Weed control on the main arterial roads and freeways is up to VicRoads.

Species of Weeds

Species of weeds to be treated will be based on the priority weeds for the area – gorse, blackberries, broom and ragwort.

There will be some money allocated for the control of environmental weeds such as holly, ivy and hawthorn where a Landcare or community group sees them as a local priority.

Council provides a free service to landholders and residents on weed identification and control, including new landowners information kits, property visits, and a free allocation of herbicide for control of noxious weeds.

The free booklet – Common Weeds of Gippsland is available at Baw Baw Shire Customer Service Centres. 

More information is also available on the South Gippsland Landcare Weeds Website.

Further inquiries contact:

Carolyn Ferguson on 5624 2409 or Tyson Dennis on 5624 2599.

Contractors Carrying Out Works

Only registered contractors using herbicides registered for targeted weeds will be used to undertake the work when weather conditions are suitable. Roads allocated for treatment will be advertised the local media at the start of the weed spraying season. Farmers with Organic properties are encouraged to contact council staff to ensure that their properties are not impacted from the use of herbicides on their roadsides.

Baw Baw Shire Weed Management Strategy – draft

Weed control is a vital component of land management, both in preserving the habitat quality of conservation areas and for productive farm management.

The strategy identifies weed control actions for Council owned and managed land, identifies weed control actions that provide support to the community to encourage weed control on private land, and partnerships with other stakeholders including neighbouring councils to maximise weed control across all land within the shire. The strategy will also guide works, define and document responsibility, raise community awareness and ensure the best economic return.

Existing council weed programs include; one on one assistance for new landowners; the provision of information on weed identification and control methods and provide support for Landcare, community groups and schools through weed workshops and activities. 

Printed copies of the Weed Management Strategy Draft will be mailed out on request. Phone 5624 2411.

To provide feedback:

Feedback can be sent to Carolyn Ferguson,

Natural Environment Coordinator

Email:     carolyn.ferguson@bawbawshire.vic.gov.au 

Post:       Atttention: Carolyn Ferguson,

               Baw Baw Shire Council,

               PO Box 304, Warragul, 3820

Phone:   5624 2409