Weeds

What is a noxious Weed?

Noxious weeds are highlighted in the Government Gazette.

These plants are noxious because they have the potential to spread widely and cause serious economic loss to agriculture, or have some detrimental effect upon people, animals, the environment or the local community.

Who is responsible for controlling noxious weeds?

Wyong Shire Council administers the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 for private properties in the shire. Council must also comply with the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 on land under its control. Government land is the responsibility of the Government Department which has control over the land and the enforcement agency is the NSW Industry & Investment.

Notification and identification of some weed species requires a prompt response by Council because of a severe threat to the environment or the community. In instances where the resident feels urgent attention is required, the matter will be referred immediately to Council's Noxious Weed & Pest Species Officer. People may bring samples of noxious weeds to Council's Customer Contact Centre for identification.

Your responsibility

If you find any noxious weeds on the property where you live, you are legally required to carry out the control action indicated by their category. Find out more about preventing the spread of noxious weeds.

Tree preservation and noxious weeds

The removal of declared noxious weeds, within the meaning of the Noxious Weeds Act 1993, doesn’t require consent from council. However, you are advised to ensure that all weeds are correctly identified and methods of control specifically target the weed species. Removal or damage to native vegetation may be an offence and incur penalties under Wyong's Local Environmental Plan 1999, the Native Vegetation Act 2003 or other Environmental Protection Policies.

Classes of noxious weeds

There are five classes of noxious weeds and the appropriate control measures are given below.To obtain a list of species as well as information about each class of noxious weed declared within Wyong Shire take a look at the Primary Industries website.

Contact Paul Marynissen, Councils Noxious Weeds and Pest Officer, on (02) 4350 1690 or Paul.Marynissen@wyong.nsw.gov.au for additional information on noxious weeds.