Pest and Weed Control

 The Catchment and Land Protection (CaLP) Act 1994 is the primary legislation governing the management of invasive plants (weeds) in Victoria.

Under the CaLP Act, landowners are responsible for managing noxious weeds on their property. Council is responsible for managing noxious weeds on land under its management.

Noxious Weeds

Under the CaLP Act, certain plants are declared as noxious weeds in Victoria. These plants can cause environmental or economic harm or have the potential to do so and may pose risks to livestock and human health.

Agriculture Victoria, within the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, is responsible for enforcing weed control under the CaLP Act.

The CaLP Act defines four categories of noxious weeds as detailed below:

  • State Prohibited Weeds

    These weeds must be eradicated from Victoria or prevented from entering the state. The Victorian Government is responsible for their eradication or may direct landowners to prevent their growth and spread.
    Examples: Hawkweed, horsetail, mesquite, Mexican feather grass, parthenium weed, salvinia, water hyacinth

  • Regionally Prohibited Weeds

    Landowners, including public authorities managing Crown land, must take all reasonable steps to eradicate these weeds from their land.
    Examples: Cape tulip (one and two-leaf), African feather grass, Scotch thistle, serrated tussock

  • Regionally Controlled Weeds

    Landowners must take all reasonable steps to prevent the growth and spread of these weeds on their land.
    Examples: Horehound, Bathurst burr, African boxthorn, wheel cactus, Paterson’s curse

  • Restricted Weeds

These weeds are generally widespread. Trade in these weeds or their propagules (as plants, seeds, or contaminants in other materials) is prohibited.
Examples: Bridal creeper

 

Rabbits

Council has a legislated responsibility to control noxious weeds and established pest animals, including rabbits, on the public land it manages. Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, all land managers, including councils, must take all reasonable steps to prevent the spread of, and as far as possible eradicate, established pest animals such as rabbits. These obligations form part of Victoria’s broader biosecurity framework, which aims to minimise the environmental and economic impacts of invasive species.

For information regarding legal responsibilities for managing invasive species, visit Legal responsibilities for managing invasive species | Agriculture Victoria

Council continues to progress integrated rabbit control programs across the Shire.

For more information on rabbit control, visit Integrated rabbit control | Invasive animal management | Pest animals | Biosecurity | Agriculture Victoria

 

 

 

 

Back to top