Council News WAGGA WAGGA CITY COUNCIL
FIRST PRINTED SATURDAY 27 JUNE 2015
Issue 50
Weekly information from us to you
Weeding out social media LETTUCE KNOW: Wagga Wagga City Council vegetation management officer Chris Holman inspects the Class 1 prohibited weed water lettuce, which was found for sale in Wagga on Facebook. Mr Holman encourages residents to contact Council if they are unsure if plants they have purchased are weeds.
Council warns against buying unknown plants online
It was described as a little plant that grows well in a pond, but it could have been a very big problem for the local environment.
Wagga Wagga City Council’s vegetation management team were tipped off that a Mount Austin resident was unknowingly advertising the Class 1 prohibited weed water lettuce for sale on Facebook. A quick response from weeds officers Matthew McGrath and Chris Holman ensured the weed was confiscated before any of the harmless looking plant was
sold. The incident comes after Council staff were able to prevent the outbreak of another Class 1 prohibited weed – frogbit – earlier this year after finding it for sale on eBay. Like frogbit, water lettuce can quickly cover the water surface, which can cause a range of issues and interfere with irrigation or boat use. “Water lettuce tends to form a heavy raft over the water, so it blocks sunlight and uses up oxygen,” Mr Holman said. “It can also encourage mosquitoes because the dense mat it creates slows the movement of water.” The water lettuce had been given to the resident as a gift when friends from Queensland were visiting and was being
kept in a small goldfish pond next to the house. The surface of the metre-wide pond was almost completely covered with water lettuce when Council staff arrived at the property on 12 June. Unaware that it was a noxious weed, the resident was happy for the weeds officers to remove the water lettuce. “They didn’t know that it was a weed – it was a gift from a friend,” Mr Holman said. “Be sure you know what plant you’re buying or selling and if you’re unsure, give our team a call at Council.” The majority of the water lettuce will be destroyed, but a small amount will be kept for educational purposes. You can contact the vegetation management team on 1300 292 442.
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What is water lettuce? Water lettuce (pistia stratiotes) typically grows in tropical and subtropical streams, rivers, and other bodies of water. It is found worldwide and is historically used as a water plant for ponds and aquariums. Water lettuce poses a high risk as it spreads rapidly creating new plants from its roots and forms a dense mat over the water surface.
It blocks out sunlight, restricts access to the water, and can encourage mosquito breeding. It’s a Class 1 weed prohibited in all of NSW and is not allowed to be owned, sold or distributed. It is also classified as a noxious weed in Queensland and Western Australia.
waggga.nsw.gov.au/environment
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