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WEED CONTROL CLASS 4 MANAGEMENT PLAN

The control objective for weed control class 4 is to minimise the negative impact of those plants on the economy, community or environment of NSW.

NAME OF WEED: Rhizomatous Bamboo Common name Scientific name.. Rhizomatous bamboo Phyllostachys spp.. The above mentioned weed is a noxious weed declared under section 7 of the Noxious Weeds Act 1993.

PLAN PERIOD: Starting date: 1 March 2011 Completion date: 28 February 2016 (unless otherwise revoked)

CONTROL MEASURES FOR THE WEED AS PER ORDER 20 Class 4: “The growth and spread of the plant must be controlled according to the measures specified in a management plan published by the local control authority and the plant may not be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed”.

CONTROL REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS WEED IN THE AREA OF OPERATION The above local control authorities specify the following measures to control this weed: Any part of this weed must be prevented from growing within 3 metres of the boundary of a property. If the plant cannot be prevented from growing within 3 metres of a property boundary, it must be destroyed. On public land, Bamboo must be strategically controlled and reduced according to available resources. If the area is a listed priority wildlife corridor, Council will not enforce the removal of the weed. The weed will be removed to 3m of the boundary fence only. Note: Council will only issue weed control notices where bushland, public open space or footpaths are affected by Bamboo growth. If Council is approached by residents concerned about Bamboo on adjacent properties not managed by Council, Council will act as an advisory service only and encourage the property owners to obtain advice on removal or barriers from landscape/gardening contractors or similar. Council will only issue weed control notices where the Bamboo is growing within 10 metres of bushland as defined by SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policies) 19 as 'land on which there is vegetation which is either a remainder of the natural vegetation of the land or, if altered, is still representative of the structure and floristics of the natural vegetation'. Council will not participate in negotiations or disputes between neighbouring property owners or residents concerning Bamboo growth. Neighbours in dispute will be encouraged to use the services of the community justice centres to resolve their differences. GENERAL INFORMATION ON CONTROL MEASURES: General information on control methods for this weed can be found in the most recent edition of the annual Noxious and Environmental Weed Control Handbook www.dpi.nsw.gov.au or at www.sydneyweeds.org.au or contact your local control authority. Before commencing any chemical control program contact your local council's weeds officer for advice tailored to your situation. All herbicide use should be undertaken with a registered herbicide as specified on the herbicide product label.

LINKAGES TO OTHER PLANS, STRATEGIES (Local, Regional, State and National): Sydney North Regional Weeds Strategy Sydney Metropolitan Weeds Strategy NSW Invasive Species Plan

PART 3: NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL ON LAND (Noxious Weed Act 1993): Section 12 - Private occupiers of land must control noxious weeds on land. Note: If occupier fails to comply with obligations under a weed control order, those obligations may be enforced against the owner of the land as well as the occupier by a weed control notice issued under section 18. Maximum penalty: 40 penalty units. Section18 - Local control authority may require owners or occupiers of land (other than local control authorities) to control noxious weeds. Note: The Act provides that the failure of an occupier to comply with a Section 18 Notice shall be liable to a penalty as prescribed by the Act. The Act provides that any cost and expenses reasonably incurred by the council in the exercise of its powers under Section 18 shall on demand be repaid to the Council by the occupier of the land concerned and may be recovered by the Council as a debt in a court. Section 18A - Prior notice of weed control notice Section 19 - Owners and occupiers must comply with weed control notices by local control authority. Maximum Penalty: 100 penalty units.

PLAN ENDORSEMENT - This plan is endorsed by XXXX Council.

Signed by: Position: General Manager

Please note: This document is only binding when reproduced in its entirety. For more information contact XXX Council on XXXX XXXX APPENDIX: Specifications for what constitutes an ‘effective root barrier’

[Supplied courtesy of Lane Cove Council]

General information about root barriers . Bamboo root barriers are generally available from nurseries that specialise in Bamboo. Other nurseries, hardware stores and arboricultural suppliers should be encouraged to make these more available. . Before installing any barrier, all existing Bamboo between proposed barrier and property boundary must first be completely eradicated either by physical removal or poisoning (see control techniques below). . Consider recommending the use of other plants that can provide similar functions but do not have the same invasive habit as Bamboo. Some alternative non-invasive clumping Bamboo species include Bambusa multiplexa, many cultivars exist from 1m to 10m high, and Bambusa balcooa which grows from 15-30m tall. . The root barriers recommended below should, as much as possible, be monitored for their effectiveness, and where necessary these specifications should be reviewed as new information is received.

Location of the root barrier . Barrier must be installed at a minimum distance of 1000mm from a property boundary/ fence line or retaining wall. This will facilitate adequate and regular inspections of the rhizome barrier and allow for any necessary maintenance as required, and without having to enter adjoining property. . During barrier installation, care should be taken to avoid damage to underground pipes and cables. . Barrier should divert around large trees to avoid root damage during installation.

Root barrier fencing Construction . Barrier fencing should be made from a material which will not rust, break or shatter in the long term e.g. o reclaimed or recycled conveyor belt rubber. o polycarbonate roofing with four corrugations overlapping at the seams sealed with a silicone adhesive. o high density polystyrene or polyethylene plastic, 40 mm or heavier, glued at junctions, or clamped with stainless-steel clamps. . Galvanised iron is not suitable because it will rust over time. . No barrier is suitable in rocky ground. . Where the soil is poor and the existing rhizome descends no more than 150mm, construct a barrier 600mm deep. . Where the soil is free draining or kept moist, or where the rhizome descends more than 150mm, the barrier should descend to at least 1000mm depth (or when in doubt, up to 1200mm). . Barrier should protrude 100mm above the ground to hinder rhizomes growing over top. . For added benefit, the barrier can be slanted outward at the top so that when the rhizomes hit the barrier they will bend upwards rather than down. (a barrier does not stop a running rhizome, it only deflects it). . Where extra support is required, the barrier should be securely tied to star pickets installed into the ground to at least 200mm below the barrier, and at maximum intervals of 1.5m. . To ensure adequate confinement where the ground level changes abruptly: o the full depth of the rhizome barrier should project from the bank o at the foot of the bank, the barrier should return at least 300mm back into the area to be confined. . There must be no gaps in the barrier otherwise it will be ineffective. . The barrier must extend the whole length of the bamboo infestation. . If the barrier is not continuous, it should join with an existing structure that will prevent the bamboo spreading eg. masonry wall with deep footing, and must be material that is a least as deep as the rhizome barrier and not prone to degrading eg. concrete. . Where the rhizome barrier ends at a wall it should be returned around the corner and along the wall, at least for 350mm so that the rhizome is forced to grow back into the grove itself. The barrier should be secured hard up against the wall so that the rhizome cannot grow outside the barrier. . Retaining walls should be installed where steep banks cannot support the barrier in the long term.

Maintenance The top of the barrier should be checked every 6 months to: . cut off and remove any rhizomes that are growing over top. . remove any build up of leaves and debris. Bamboo sheds many leaves forming a dense leaf mulch layer on the ground that makes it more difficult to properly inspect the barrier for rhizomes growing over the top or underneath. . repair any defects or damage to the barrier, including re-installing any loose star pickets.

Use of reinforced concrete . Dig trench 1200mm deep and 150mm wide with small backhoe or other trench digging machine. . Fill trench with reinforced concrete.

Escape proof planters made from fibre reinforced cement . Different sized cylindrical planters are available according to desired height of plant. The minimum diameter is 450 mm (smaller than 450mm may force the rhizome deeper than 1m in the ground). . Depth of the planter must be at least 1000mm underground. . Set top of planter at least 50mm above ground. . Keep soil level 50 - 75mm below the top of the planter to expose any rhizome that jumps the top of the planter. . Inspect and cut off all rhizomes that grow over the side of the planter on a regular basis.

Bamboo plants contained in pots . Bamboo may be grown in a pot within 1m of property boundary if it is placed on a hard surface (eg. non-cracking concrete), off the ground, or on a large saucer underneath the pot, to prevent spread of rhizomes.

Water . A water-filled pond, stream or ditch can also effectively block the spread of bamboo, since rhizomes and roots cannot tolerate extended periods of saturation. . Water need only be present for one season a year. . This option should only be used if pond, stream or ditch already exists.