Weeds and pest animals

Indigo Shire Council is responsible for controlling weeds and pest animals on property we own and manage, including Council-managed roadsides and reserves. Council undertakes an annual roadside weed control program that covers its 1,300 km roadside network. This program is jointly funded by Indigo Shire Council and the Victorian Government’s Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions. The focus of this program are Regionally Prohibited Weeds and Regionally Controlled Weeds.

 Regionally Prohibited Weeds

These weeds are not widely distributed in a region but are capable of spreading further. It is reasonable to expect that they can be eradicated from a region and they must be managed with that goal. Land owners, including councils, must take all reasonable steps to eradicate regionally prohibited weeds on their land.

Example of a Regionally Prohibited Weed in Indigo Shire - Khaki Weed (Alternanthera pungens) near Rutherglen.

 Example of Regionally Prohibited Weed and a Weed of National Significance (WONS) - Serrated Tussock (Nassella trichotoma) in Rutherglen.

Regionally Controlled Weeds

These weeds are usually widespread in a region. To prevent their spread, ongoing control measures are required. Land owners have the responsibility to take all reasonable steps to prevent the growth and spread of regionally controlled weeds on their land.

Example of a Regionally Controlled Weed in Indigo Shire - English Broom (Cytisus scoparius) in Beechworth.

Example of a Regionally Controlled Weed in Indigo Shire – St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) in Rutherglen.

Other noxious weeds

Indigo Shire Council’s roadside weed control program also targets other declared noxious weeds including Weeds of National Significance (WONS), Restricted Weeds, Unclassified Environmental Weeds, and New and Emerging Weeds.

Example of a Weed of National Significance – Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides)

 Example of a Weed of National Significance - Chilean Needle Grass (Nassella  neesiana) in Rutherglen.

Indigo Shire Council’s weed control work on roadsides and reserves is primarily undertaken by licenced and experienced contractors, who are certified and trained in the safe use of chemicals. Landcare groups in Indigo Shire are consulted on the priority roads to include in the program each year. If you would like to report a weed or pest animal infestation on a council roadside or reserve please call (03) 5728 8000.

Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

Ox-eye daisy is a declared noxious weed that is a quickly emerging issue in Indigo Shire. To the untrained eye the plant looks like a typical white and yellow daisy. But this weed spreads quickly and forms dense stands in agricultural areas and in native vegetation. It is unpalatable to livestock and reduces carrying capacity in pastures. It also outcompetes native plants, threatening higher quality habitat and endangered plant species. A native plant in Europe and parts of Asia, Ox-eye daisy is rapidly spreading through large areas of high rainfall country including Kosciuszko National Park. The species is spread by plant parts and seeds moved by water, animals, vehicles, equipment (e.g. movers), and contaminated produce. Each plant can produce up to 26,000 seeds each summer. The weed wasn’t recorded in Indigo Shire until the 2000’s, and is now spreading on different land tenures including Council roadsides - particularly throughout Stanley and Beechworth. Like other noxious weeds, Council has a responsibility to undertake control works to reduce the spread. We undertake this work engaging qualified and experienced contractors.

Find out more about this weed at: https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/OxeyeDaisy

The following is a list of declared weeds found in Indigo Shire, and their category. 

Chestnut blight is a disease of chestnut and oak trees that is present in Victoria. It is caused by a fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) that grows underneath the bark, resulting in degraded or dead tissue (cankers) that slowly develop and surround the infected trunk, stem or branch. Once a tree is infected, the prognosis is bleak – the tree will eventually die.

In Australia, chestnut blight primarily infects chestnut and oak trees. These are referred to as “host” trees.

Chestnut blight poses a significant risk to Australia’s chestnut industry, approximately 70 per cent of which is produced in Victoria. Once present, the disease can remain dormant for many years before symptoms become visible, making it very difficult to detect and eradicate.

The Industry Biosecurity Officer (Chestnuts Australia Incorporated) can provide support to chestnut growers across Australia regarding surveillance, suspected detections and management of chestnut blight. Growers are encouraged to contact the Industry Biosecurity Officer for further advice.

Growers are our first line of defence.

All chestnut growers are asked to remain vigilant and survey their chestnut and oak trees every three months for signs of this devastating disease. If you suspect that you have found chestnut blight, report it immediately to:

•     the Industry Biosecurity Officer (Chestnuts Australia Incorporated) at ibo@chestnutsaustralia.com.au (if you are located within Victoria), or

•     the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881 (if you are located outside Victoria).

Useful links can be found below.

Guide to managing Chestnut Blight(PDF, 2MB)

Chestnut Blight surveillance form(PDF, 71KB)

Whilst herbicides are often used to eradicate or reduce the spread of noxious weeds, it is critical that herbicides are used safely by everyone.

STOP! Used incorrectly and in the wrong conditions, the herbicide you are using could have catastrophic impacts on a neighbour’s organic farm, winery or other enterprise.

There are strict legal controls on herbicide use under the Catchment and Land Protections Act 1994. It is the responsibility of the user to be familiar with this legislation. 

This includes requirements for keeping records of chemical applications, which includes product trade name, date the product was used, application rate of the product, weed species treated, location, wind speed and direction, name and contact details of the person/s applying the herbicide. These records must be made within 48 hours of using an agricultural chemical product, and must be kept for two years from the date of use.

Herbicides are registered for specific uses. Each herbicide has a 'product label', which details the approved use and the approved rate of use. The product label must be followed by users at all times.

Other controls include the requirement to possess an Agricultural Chemical User Permit (ACUP) to allow use of certain chemical products and restrictions of use of certain chemical products in agricultural chemical control areas.

Choose only products registered for use in your particular situation. Read the product label carefully and follow all label instructions.

Chemical retailers can provide information on chemical products registered for your situation. They can also supply a 'material safety data sheet (MSDS)' which outlines the health and safety information about a product. This information is also available from chemical manufacturers and product labels are available from Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority. Before spraying, consider the weather conditions and proximity to:

• native vegetation
• vineyards
• organically grown crops
• waterways
• other sensitive areas

Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, public and private landowners have a legal responsibility to control weeds on their property. Reasonable steps must be taken to remove regionally prohibited weeds and to prevent the growth and spread of regionally controlled weeds.

Visit Agriculture Victoria for more information about legal responsibilities for managing weeds and pest animals.

No-one likes living next door to a property that is being overrun by weeds. It’s common knowledge that weeds don’t respect property boundaries, and the efforts of diligent landholders can be undone if there isn’t a shared commitment of neighbours to keep weeds under control.

If you have a complaint about a weed or pest animal on a neighbouring property, we advise you to first have a friendly chat with your neighbour about your concerns. If it can't be resolved that way, the next course of action is to escalate your concern to Agriculture Victoria who has the authority to enforce weed control legislation. Phone 136 186 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.

Indigo Shire Council does not have enforcement powers with respect to noxious weed control on private property.