WINTER IS HERE...
Time to Treat Fireweed Winter is here and with the cooling temperatures, residents may soon see fireweed and its distinctive yellow flowers popping up. “Council’s Pest Management team can help landowners identify and manage fireweed on their properties by offering advice and free use of spray equipment,” Cr Steinhardt said.
To prevent large infestations of the invasive weed, Council is urging landholders to treat fireweed on their properties as soon as it first appears. “Unfortunately, fireweed has become increasingly abundant in South East Queensland, including the Lockyer Valley,” Pest Management Portfolio Councillor Cheryl Steinhardt said.
“We also have a Herbicide Subsidy Program that provides access to herbicide at a 50 per cent subsidised rate that I encourage landholders to take advantage of.
“As an invasive weed it grows quickly and produces a lot of seed, competing strongly with pasture, and has the potential to poison livestock if eaten.
“Smaller infestations of fireweed can be hand pulled using gloves, double bagged and disposed of free of charge at the Gatton Landfill on Fords Road only.
“Early season spraying of fireweed helps get ahead of the seedbank, preventing large bushes from establishing and requiring longer term fireweed control.”
“All fireweed must be double bagged and sealed prior to transport to prevent further seed spread, and not placed in wheelie bins,” she added. Council manages fireweed on roadsides, parks and reserves by undertaking scheduled herbicide spraying programs and hand removal techniques.
Fireweed features distinctive yellow daisy-like flowers and is a category 3 restricted invasive plant under the Biosecurity Act 2014.
“Our spray crew is on the lookout, surveying known fireweed locations and will spray or hand remove fireweed on Council land as soon as it is first detected,” Cr Steinhardt said.
The Act requires everyone to take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or minimise the biosecurity risks of invasive plants under their control. This means all landowners, including Council, have a General Biosecurity Obligation under the Act to manage fireweed.
For more information on managing fireweed or accessing the Herbicide Subsidy Program, contact Council’s Pest Management team on 1300 005 872 or visit www. lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/ pest-management.
18