Introduction to aquatic weed management in Australia

Andrew Petroeschevsky

NSW Department of Primary Industries

National Aquatic Weeds Management Group

Legislation and responsibilities

State legislation Differing levels of control categories

Eradicate Control/contain/suppress Ban from sale (environmental weeds)

Responsibility for control – Vic DPI or Landholders

30+ aquatic plant species declared in Australia (approx 10 in Vic)

What are Australia’s worst aquatic weeds?

Weeds of National Significance

Alligator weed, cabomba, salvinia

National Alert List

Horsetails, lagarosiphon, senegal tea

Other Water hyacinth, water lettuce, dense waterweed.

Alligator Weed

Status

100+ infestations around Melbourne

Outbreak near Albury, NSW of high concern

Alligator weed

Cabomba

Status Recently removed from sale in

Victoria 2 Known sites (Lake Nagambie

& Broken River) Previous infestation in

Gippsland destroyed No registered herbicides

available

Salvinia

Status 15,000 hectares Most infestations under

biocontrol Major outbreak in Yellow Water –

Kakadu Occasionally found in nurseries &

water gardens