Weeds

Have you seen a State prohibited weed? Report it now!

Weeds, or invasive plants, pose a serious threat to primary production and biodiversity in Victoria. Many species have the potential to reduce agricultural productivity, displace native species, threaten social values and contribute significantly to land and water degradation.

Cost to agriculture

It is estimated that the annual cost of invasive plants to Australian agriculture is $4 billion through yield losses and product contamination. In 2006–07 an Australian Bureau of Statistics survey estimated the direct cost to agricultural businesses in Victoria of controlling invasive plants to be $253 million. Once allowed to establish large infestations of some species can be very difficult to manage and the cost may greatly exceed the value of production from the land. The cost to the natural environment is also high, with invasive plant invasion being ranked second only to habitat loss in causing biodiversity decline.

We focus on high risk species

Government intervention is primarily focused on preventing the establishment of high risk species through timely action to eradicate new infestations. State prohibited weeds including water hyacinth, Mexican feather grass and hawkweed are examples of high risk species. Where eradication is not feasible, effective management of established species is best achieved by the sustained and coordinated efforts of private and public landholders. Gorse and blackberry are examples of established species for which eradication from the State is not feasible.