Biosecurity

Weddin Shire Council's Weeds Officers are now called Biosecurity Officers.  This aligns with the new Legislation governing weed management in NSW, the Biosecurity Act 2015.  Councils dedicated Biosecurity Officers will support landholders with information and advice on weed related Biosecurity compliance matters and routine inspections. 

Council's Obligations

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, Weddin Shire Council as the Local Control Authority, has a legal obligation to manage the biosecurity risk posed or likely to be posed by reducing the impacts of Priority Weeds on human health, the economy, community and environment.

These obligations are met through programs to:

  • control Priority Weeds on Council managed lands; and
  • inspect private lands to ensure that owners of land carry out their obligations to manage the Biosecurity Risk as imposed under the Act by controlling Priority Weeds.

Council’s Biosecurity Officers are responsible for implementing these programs. The programs are based on targeted sub-catchment and a broader landscape approach to achieve an effective outcome for all landowners. The Biosecurity Officers take a coordinated approach with residents, community groups and other agencies to control Priority Weeds on all lands in selected areas regardless of land tenure.

Your Obligations

Under Part 3 of the Biosecurity Act 2015, all land owners or land managers have a “General Biosecurity Duty” to prevent, eliminate or minimise the Biosecurity Risk posed or likely to be posed by Priority Weeds.  

What Is Council's Aim?

Our aim is to:

  1. Protect Biodiversity by controlling Priority Weeds and raising awareness of the impact of weeds on bushland, swamps and creek lines. This is achieved through communication between Council’s Biosecurity Officers and landholders and through education about weeds and effective weed control techniques.
  2. Monitor the spread of Priority Weeds and report new incursions within the Weddin Shire Local Government Area.

What is a Priority Weed?

Priority Weeds have the potential to pose a Biosecurity Risk which is required to be controlled by law; this is the responsibility of all landholders. These are known as Biosecurity Matter under the Biosecurity Act 2015 in NSW.

Priority Weeds or Biosecurity Matter can impact on human health, the economy, the liveability of our shire and the environment. Impacts can include allergies and other health issues, costs of control, loss of tourism value, degradation of natural landscapes, parks and recreation facilities, reduction of useful agricultural land and loss of primary production, loss of biodiversity and water quality.

In New South Wales, the Biosecurity Act 2015 is administered by the Minister for Primary Industries. The Act is implemented and enforced by the Local Control Authority (LCA) for the area, usually local government.

The Central West Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2023 – 2027(PDF, 2MB) , developed in partnership with the Central West Regional Weed Committee outlines two categories of Priority Weeds:

  • “State Priority Weeds”
  • “Regional Priority Weeds”

It also lists Additional Species of Concern in the Central West.

Both “State Priority Weeds” and “Regional Priority Weeds” have specific measures for the control of individual weed species.

The Additional Species of Concern in the Central West have been put through a Weed Risk Assessment process which identifies outcomes for these weeds. This category will be known as Additional Species, these species are a high priority for asset protection.

There are a number of species that are currently identified as being a priority for the Weddin Shire Council Local Government Area (LGA).  Follow the links below for information on identifying and controlling some priority weeds found in the Weddin Shire Council LGA.

For further information please go to: 

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