Did you know that it is your responsibility to control noxious and environmental weeds that seriously harm the environment?

Although there are many plants that can be classed as weeds, a few have an extremely detrimental effect on the environment, especially precious bushland. Auburn Council wants to actively control noxious and environmental weeds and declared plants must be removed by the landowner.

• Noxious weeds are weeds that legally must be controlled or removed under the Noxious Weeds Act. Weeds are declared noxious if they pose a significant problem to human health, the environment, livestock or the agricultural industry. In NSW, local Councils are responsible for controlling weeds in urban and rural areas under their responsibility. Councils can enforce penalties on landholders failing to control weeds on their property.
• Environmental weeds are usually introduced plants that have few predators and usually produce vast quantities of seed, and so easily out-compete or smother native plants. This makes them vigorous invaders.

The fruits are eaten by birds, especially Currawongs and seeds are dispersed in their droppings. Noxious and environmental weeds invade bushland especially along streams and take over native stream-bank vegetation. There is some very unspoilt bushland in the Auburn local government area along the Duck River which is why it is important to help eradicate these weeds.

What you can you do?

• Remove any weeds identified in the list below
• Never dump garden waste in bushland areas
• Compost garden clippings on-site or place in Council green waste bin for collection. For more information follow the link to recycling 
• Replace unwanted plants with locally indigenous species
• Join Council’s Volunteer Bush Regeneration Scheme. Click here  for more information