Weeds

A weed is any plant that colonises and persists in an ecosystem in which it did not previously exist. Many plants introduced into Australia in the last 200 years are now weeds.

Weeds can be spread by birds, animals, wind and people. They cause problems by smothering native vegetation, blocking waterways and increasing the risk of flooding.

Weeds and the risk they pose to the economy, environment, human health and amenity cannot be managed effectively unless we share responsibility. Changes in NSW legislation in 2017 saw the former Noxious Weeds Act 1993 repealed and replaced by the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and Biosecurity Regulation

Council has obligations under this Act to manage weeds on Council land and inspect private land to ensure land owners/managers are carrying out their obligations. In addition all landowners or land managers have a responsibility to control Priority Weeds on their property, known as a General Biosecurity Duty. If Council’s Authorised Officers believe that the land owner/occupier is failing in their Biosecurity Duty to control weeds on their land, then they can issue a Biosecurity Direction to prevent, eliminate or minimise the biosecurity risk.

Weeds are now divided into State, Regional and Local Priority Weeds (formerly referred to as Noxious Weeds).

State and Regional priority weeds were identified through the development of the Greater Sydney Regional Weed Management Plan FINALSeptember 2019 and outcomes for these weeds demonstrated compliance with the General Biosecurity Duty for the species listed in Appendix 1 of this plan.

Priority weeds for Hunters Hill are available on the NSW Department of Primary Industries website (see link below). Descriptions, photographs and control methods of many of these weeds are available on this website or the Sydney Weeds Network website (see link below).

The quickest and most effective way of dealing with weed issues on your neighbours’ property is to resolve the issues together. If this is not possible, contact Council’s Authorised Officers who will inspect the property to assess whether the plant has legislative requirements to be controlled under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015. If so, Council can proceed with the matter.

If you still can’t resolve the issue with your neighbour, contact Community Justice Centre for free advice and mediation. Taking a neighbour to court via Trees (Disputes between Neighbours) Act 2006 legislation and its regulation should always be a last resort.  Bamboo and any plant that is a vine are defined as trees under the Act.

In addition, Hunter’s Hill Council is a member of the Sydney Weeds Network (Sydney Weeds Central), which coordinates a regional approach to weed management.

Also available below is Hunter’s Hill Council’s Pesticide Notification Plan and a fact sheet on use of herbicide in the local community.

NSW Department of Primary Industries Priority Weeds

Sydney Weeds Network

Local Weeds Brochure

HHC Pesticides Notification Plan

Hunter’s Hill Council’s use of herbicides

Council staff can also help to identify weeds and provide advice on weed removal. For assistance or to report weeds, please contact Council on 9789 9400.