Biosecurity - Weeds

Biosecurity – Weeds

From 1 July 2017 the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinates came into effect.

The Act provides modern, flexible tools and powers that allow effective, risk-based management of biosecurity in NSW. It will increase efficiency and decrease regulation in responding to biosecurity risks and provides a streamlined statutory framework to protect the NSW economy, environment and community from the negative impact of pests, diseases and weeds.

Full details on the Biosecurity Act and the impact it may have on you can be found on Department of Primary Industries Weeds website.

General Biosecurity Duty

In NSW all plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.

Landholder's Obligations

Each landholder and/or occupier has a legal requirement to control biosecurity matter (weeds) on their property and should develop an effective control strategy and plan to ensure they meet their General Biosecurity Duty.

Where any owner/occupier fails in their biosecurity duty to control weeds on their land, the Council may issue a Biosecurity Direction that prohibits, regulates, or controls the carrying out of an activity in connection with the biosecurity matter, carrier or potential carrier identified above. It is mandatory to comply with this biosecurity direction.

Failure to comply with the conditions of a biosecurity direction could results in a penalty notice or prosecution.

Council's Obligations

Council has a legal obligation to manage the biosecurity risk posted 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 carry out their obligations to manage the Biosecurity Risk by controlling priority weeds.

Weed Management Guides

To assist landholders identify and manage weeds in the region, Narromine Shire Council together with Central West LLS have published Weeds Guides listed below. For the best guidance on how to contain the spread of weeds on your property, contact your Weeds Officer at Narromine Shire Council or Central West Local Land Services.

Priority Weeds

Priority weeds have the potential to pose a Biosecurity Risk which can impact on human health, the economy, the liveability of our region and the environment.

The Central West Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan identifies state, regional and local priority weed species, Biosecurity Act requirements and strategic responses.

NSW Weeds Action Program 2020-2025

The NSW Weeds Action Program 2020-2025 is an initiative of the NSW Government to reduce the impact of weeds through the implementation of the NSW Invasive Species Plan and the NSW Biosecurity Strategy.

Priorities for the program include: -

• Prevent the establishment of new weed species
• Eliminate or prevent the spread of new weed species
• Reduce the impact of widespread weed species
• Ensure that NSW has the ability and commitment to manage weeds

Pesticide Use Notification Plan

 Under the NSW Pesticides Regulation 2017, Council is required to prepare a Pesticide Use Notification Plan to outline how we will notify the community of pesticide applications in outdoor public places.  This notification allows community members to avoid contact with pesticides.

Further information

NSW Local Land Services

Macquarie Valley Weeds Advisory Committee

If you require information on weed control you may contact Council’s Biosecurity Officers on 6889 9999.