Coolamon Shire Council Asbestos Pocily s1

COOLAMON SHIRE COUNCIL

NOXIOUS WEEDS POLICY

OBJECTIVE The objective of Council's Noxious Weeds Policy is to eliminate, reduce or contain noxious weeds and prevent the establishment of new and threatening noxious weeds, so as to reduce the threat to agriculture, the environment and the community.

CONTROL CATEGORIES The Noxious Weeds Act 1993 amended 2005 specifies the following classes for control of noxious weeds.

WEED CONTROL CLASSES The following weed control classes may be applied to a plant by a weed control order: a) Class 1, State Prohibited Weeds b) Class 2, Regionally Prohibited Weeds c) Class 3. Regionally Controlled Weeds d) Class 4, Locally Controlled Weeds e) Class 5, Restricted Plants The characteristics of each class are as follows:

a) Class 1 noxious weeds are plants that pose a potentially serious threat to primary production or the environment and are not present in the State or are present only to a limited extent. b) Class 2 noxious weeds are plants that pose a potentially serious threat to primary production or the environment of a region to which the order applies and are not present in the region or are present only to a limited extent. c) Class 3 noxious weeds are plants that pose a serious threat to primary production or the environment of an area to which the order applies, are not widely distributed in the area and are likely to spread in the area or to another area. d) Class 4 noxious weeds are plants that pose a threat to primary production, the environment or human health, are widely distributed in an area to which the order applies and are likely to spread in the area or to another area. e) Class 5 noxious weeds are plants that are likely, by their sale or the sale of their seeds or movement within the State or an area of the State, to spread in the State or outside the State.

A noxious weed that is classified as Class 1, 2 or 5 noxious weed is referred to in this Act as a notifiable weed. RESPONSIBILITY OF COUNCIL The control of noxious weeds in NSW is specified by the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 (amended 2005). The Minister for Agriculture is responsible for administering the Act.

Council is responsible for implementing the Noxious Weeds Act within the Shire by:-

a) responsibility for the control of noxious weeds by occupiers of land (other than public authorities or local control authorities), b) control of noxious weeds on land owned or occupied by the local control authority and on certain roads and watercourses, rivers or inland waters as provided by this Act, c) to ensure, so far as practicable, that owners and occupiers of land (other than public authorities or other local control authorities) carry out obligations to control noxious weeds imposed under this Act, d) to develop, implement, co-ordinate and review noxious weed control policies and noxious weed control programs, e) inspection of land within the local area in connection with its noxious weed control functions, f) to report, at the request of the Minister, on the carrying out of the local control authority’s functions under this Act, g) to co-operate with local control authorities of adjoining areas to control noxious weeds, where appropriate, h) any other functions that are conferred or imposed on the local control authority by or under this Act.

RESOURCES

1 Financial Council will submit an annual application to the Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee for a NSW Government grant to supplement Council funds for coordination and extension activities and a separate annual application for noxious weeds control work.

Financial resources for noxious weeds control are limited so Council will:- i) Aim to obtain maximum landholders co-operation and participation in the effective implementation of the weed control program through the coordination program.. ii) Place greater emphasis on those weeds that are threatening weeds recently established or are noxious weeds in rare and isolated infestations.

2 Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee Council has appointed a Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee responsible for provision of assistance to Council's Weeds Advisory Officer and the development of management programs to assist affected landholders achieve eradication of noxious weeds. The Committee comprises the following representatives:-  4 Community persons  3 Councillors  NSW Department of Agriculture's Regional Noxious Plants Advisory Officer

Coolamon Shire Council Noxious Weeds Policy 2 3 Staff (i) Weeds Advisory

Council is a member of the Riverina Eastern Noxious Weeds Authority (RENWA)

RENWA staff are responsible for fulfilling Council’s statutory requirements under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 (amended 2005).

RENWA’s responsibilities are:

 To adhere to Council’s noxious weeds policy and weeds strategy.  To apply for, manage and maintain records of any relevant available grant funding.  To report regularly to Council and maintain such records as to provide public and legislative accountability for Council’s actions and activities dealing with Noxious Weeds.

Through RENWA Council is committed to:

 Inspect all properties within the Council area with a view to locate, map and encourage control of noxious weeds infestations by the relevant Land Manager.  Advise all land managers of their responsibilities under the Noxious Weeds Act.  Enforce the Noxious Weeds Act as required.  Inform and educate land managers and the community as to identifying noxious weeds which already exist within the Shire and those Noxious Weeds that are close to and threatening the Shire.  To liaise and cooperate with Federal, State and Regional Organisations and Authorities involved in noxious weeds management.  The reduction of existing noxious weeds infestations and the prevention or limiting of establishment of new noxious weeds within the Shire.  To plan and manage the operational control of noxious weeds on Council controlled lands. ii) Other Staff

RENWA employs contract staff to carry out control activities. Contractors are required to carry all relevant insurances and certificates –  Public liability  Workers compensation  Registered/permitted equipment  Current relevant pesticide usage certification.

Operations contractors are required to use on Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority registered and approved products. All products are to be applied strictly according to label recommendations and all pesticide usage regulation and legislation is to be adhered to. iii) Contractors

Where required, contractors may be engaged to assist in control programs during peak control periods. Contractors will be engaged under Council's Specification for Plant and Equipment Hire.

Coolamon Shire Council Noxious Weeds Policy 3 4 Work Methods

Inspections - Notices - Records i) Council's method of implementing noxious plant control will be by advising verbally after the first inspection, the presence of specific weeds on the property and stating a reasonable period of time and area for control methods to be implemented. ii) Second inspection will be followed by a letter from Council requesting control measures to be taken. A notice under Section 18 of the Noxious Weeds Act may be issued depending on maturity of the plant. iii) If the subsequent inspection shows no action has been taken, a notice under Section 18 of the Noxious Weeds Act, will be served or notice under the Self Enforcing Infringement Notice Scheme. iv) Failure to comply with this notice will result in Council instituting legal proceedings for non compliance and/or issue of a notice under Section 20 of the Noxious Weeds Act or notice under the Self Enforcing Infringement Notice Scheme after which Council may enter onto the property and carry out the work at the landowners expense. v) As property inspections are carried out details of the presence and extent of noxious weeds infestations will be recorded. This will assist in recognising problem areas and evaluating methods for achieving effective noxious weed control.

TECHNICAL ADVICE RENWA’s Weeds Advisory Officer can assist by advising landholders of methods of treatment to suite each infestation (eg: cultivation, pasture or chemical means). Staff being in regular contact with the NSW Department of Agriculture regarding latest recommended control measures, however the property owner will be advised the information provided for general information only and any landholder should not act on anything without considering, and if necessary, seeking appropriate specialist advice.

WEED CONTROL PROGRAM The Weeds Advisory Committee will draw up a program for inspections and spraying of various weeds. This program will give consideration to the priorities of noxious weeds and will be flexible to fit in with seasonal conditions.

Council will liaise with other local control authorities to ensure effective control of noxious weeds on areas of common interest such as boundaries and shared catchments.

HERBICIDES 7.1 The selection of herbicides for noxious weed control will give first consideration to operator and environmental safety. 7.2 Recommendations will be taken from NSW Agriculture publication "Noxious Weed Control Handbook - Herbicide Control". 7.3 Ester based sprays will not be used by Council employees within town boundaries of Villages and Towns in the Shire.

Coolamon Shire Council Noxious Weeds Policy 4 REVIEW This policy may be reviewed at any time but unless otherwise requested at least every two (2) years from date of adoption.

Version 4 Adopted: Council Meeting held 17 June 2010 (Minute No. 164/06/2010) Version 3 Re-Adopted: Council Meeting held 23 April 2009 (Minute No.104/04/2009) Version 3 Adopted: Council Meeting held 20 November 2008 (Minute No.328/11/2008) Version 2 Adopted: Council Meeting held 20 February 2008 (Minute No. 22/02/2008) Version 1 Adopted Council Meeting held 19 August 2004 (Minute No. 277/8/2004)

Coolamon Shire Council Noxious Weeds Policy 5 NOXIOUS WEEDS POLICY – ATTACHMENT 1 COOLAMON SHIRE COUNCIL NOXIOUS WEEDS DECLARED LIST

Botanical Name Common Name Category

Acacia karoo Karoo thorn W1 Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator weed W1 Chromolaena odorata Siam weed W1 Eichhornia crassipes Water hyacinth W1 Equisetum spp. Horsetail W1 Erthroxylum coca Coca leaf W1 Gymnocoronis spilanthoides Senegal tea plant W1 Kochia scoparia Kochia W1 Lagarosiphon major Lagarosiphon W1 Parthenium hysterophorus Parthenium W1 Pistia stratiotes Water lettuce W1 Prosopis spp. Mesquite W1 Salvinia molesta Salvinia W1

Hypericum perforatum St John's Wort W2 Lycium ferocissimum African boxthorn W2 Onopordum spp. Scotch/Illyrian/Stemless thistles , St Barnabys W2 Papaver somniferum Opium poppy W2 Raphanus raphanistrum Wild radish W2 Rosa rubiginosa Sweet briar W2 Sclerolaena birchii Galvanized burr W2 Sorghum halapense Johnson grass W2 Xanthium spp. Bathurst/Noogoora/ W2 Californian/Cockle burrs Prairie Ground Cherry Physalis Viscosa/Virginiana W2 Blue Hiliotrope Heliotropium amplexicaule W2 Hyparrhenia Hirta Coolatai Grass W2 Heleotropium Amplexicaule W2

Ailanthus altissima Tree of heaven W3 Solanum elaeagnifolium Silverleaf nightshade W3

Cenchrus incertus Spiny burrgrass W4e Cenchrus longispinus Spiny burrgrass W4e Cabomba spp. Cabomba W4g Salix spp. Willows W4g