Weed Management
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What is a weed?
A weed is an invasive plant. By law, some weeds must be managed. These are the declared weeds which include:
Some other invasive plants may also need management.
The Gympie Region Biosecurity Plan describes the weeds that have impacts in our region.
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The tools below help you work out what weed you have.
Remember, it is also important to make sure that we look after our native plants.
Weed ID tools:
Invasive plant and animal fact sheets:
Fact sheets have been produced by Biosecurity Queensland for invasive plants and animals, and contain helpful information about identifying, and ways of managing or controlling pest plants and animals. Head to this link for more info: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/biosecurity/invasive-plants-animals/fact-sheets
Native plant ID tools:
Not sure if it’s an Australian native?
Check out the plant ID keys, below.
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Deciding on a weed management strategy early allows you to plan your activities and allocate a budget for dealing with your weed problems.
Check out the Business Queensland website for weed management strategies here.
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Some introduced plants from other countries have become serious pests in Queensland.
These weeds are also called invasive plants.
See below for information on how to control all sorts of weeds.
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All sprayers need to be calibrated regularly to work efficiently and economically. Regular calibration ensures the right amount of chemical will be applied to the target weed without costly wastage.
Click here for boom spray and knapsack calibration calculation.
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You can use the following strategies to prevent weeds from spreading on and from your property.
Click for Business Queensland’s preventing weed spread information.
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Giant Rat’s Tail grasses (GRT) – also known as weedy sporobolus grasses – are a group of related grass weeds that include four types of GRT grasses. These grasses decrease pasture productivity and reduce land values. The weedy sporobolus grasses – best practice manual provides valuable information in the fight against GRT.
Gladstone Regional Council and DAF have produced two videos that provide great Giant Rats Trail (GRT) grass management advice.
The GRT Seed spread management video includes information on:
GRT characteristics, including seed viability, palatability and invasiveness. Viability of seeds after passing through cattle. How to minimise the spread. Using fire as one part of an integrated GRT management regime.
The GRT herbicides video provides information on:
The two registered herbicides used on GRT (flupropanate and glyphosate) and how these herbicides work. Application timing, spray rate recommendations, and tips on new pasture sow back timing and withholding periods. It also answers the important question: Can herbicides kill GRT seeds?
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Giant Rat’s Tail grass (GRT) includes the four ‘declared’ GRT grasses Sporobolus pyramidalis, S. natalensis, S. jacquemontii, and S. fertilis. In the Gympie region, GRT is a well-established, widespread and abundant weed, which negatively impacts the economy and the environment. GRT management is expensive and time consuming, and control activities are often met with limited success in the long term.
Council management strategies for GRT are based on biosecurity risk, and higher risk situations are prioritised for compliance management actions. Higher biosecurity risk sites are likely to be located where GRT is NOT as widespread and abundant on a regional scale, or where inadequate GRT management will result in GRT being directly spread to areas where GRT is not already widespread and abundant.
This guideline is designed to assist all land users to meet their general biosecurity obligation and to manage the risk of GRT spread onto and across the land they use, and to other properties.
Click here to view the Guideline.
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The Queensland Government has amended the Vegetation Management Act 1999 with the aim to improve environmental outcomes. The changes are shown here.
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Biological control of invasive plants (weeds) involves the use of naturally occurring, co-evolved insects, mites or pathogens (diseases) collected from the target weed in its native range. Biological control agents can reduce the vigour, size and competitiveness of weed infestations; however, they rarely get rid of them altogether. Biological control works best in conjunction with other control methods. Weed biocontrol information is provided in the links below.
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Weed control contractors have the expertise, understanding and equipment to undertake effective weed control works on your land. Attached is a list of local weed control contractors that you may wish to contact. Council does not endorse these businesses.
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Gympie Regional Council (Council) is responsible for managing vegetation for road safety, and weeds listed as restricted matter growing on land it owns or manages, via the application of a registered herbicide. Landholders that wish to take over the management of vegetation and weeds in the road reserve that fronts the property they own, can apply to be on the Spray Exemption Register. Registered participants are granted a provisional exemption to Council’s herbicide application program, only whilst the conditions listed below, are met. Link to the registration form is provided below.
Note: If these conditions are not met at all times, Council will resume the application of herbicide. No correspondence will be entered into.
Verbal or physical abuse of Council staff will not be tolerated and will result in removal of the participant from the Spray Exemption Register.
Conditions of the Spray Exemption Register:
- No spraying signs* are placed at each property boundary with an arrow indicting the direction of the participating property. Additional signs should be placed at intervals on a long road frontage. Internal road frontage signs should either have no arrows, or an arrow pointing in both directions (refer to image 1).
- No spraying signs are clearly visible to vehicles travelling along the road.
- Guideposts, signs, and other roadside furniture is maintained in the following way:
- Vegetation is kept below 50cm in a 1 metre area around guideposts, signs, and other roadside furniture.
- The participant commits to undertake any vegetation management activities that may be required within the road reserve, for road construction or maintenance purposes. This will be by request.
- The road reserve that fronts the participants land is kept free of the weeds listed below.
*No spraying signs are available for purchase at Town Hall at a cost of $50 a pair or $25 a single sign. Call 1300 307 800 to ensure signs are in stock.
Weed species Council requires to be actively managed in road reserves:
- Annual ragweed
- Fireweed
- Giant Rat’s Tail grass
- Groundsel bush
- Lantana
- Mother-of-millions
- Parthenium
- Singapore daisy
- Other weeds by request, listed here: Restricted invasive plants | Business Queensland
For further invasive plant information refer to the Gympie Regional Council Biosecurity Plan here: grc-biosecurity-plan-2023-2028 (gympie.qld.gov.au)
Image 1: Correct No Spraying signange set up
Spray Exemption Registration Form – click here
Note: Council does not manage roadside vegetation on state-controlled roads and this register does not apply to these roads. Issues relating to use, access, construction, and maintenance of state-controlled roads should be directed to the Department of Transport and Main Roads. State-controlled Roads map: Wide Bay-Burnett District map (publications.qld.gov.au).