Noxious water plants

Weeds 10/8/11

2011-08-09T13:07:00.001-07:00

Weeds

Just as one dangerous weed gets under control, Fraser Coast residents are asked to be on the lookout for another invasive weed that threatens farms and waterways. Weed removal works have just been completed in storm detention basins around Hervey Bay to remove the weed Azolla (Ed. actually a native waterplant that thrives in nutrient rich water) but residents will have to turn their attention to a new threat, hymenachne. Hymenachne is the latest in a long list of weeds that could potentially impact farmers on the Fraser Coast and Biosecurity Queensland has warned canefarmers to watch their fields closely over the next few months. The long weed is invasive and is known to take over canefields, swampy areas or areas that flood frequently. It is a green grass with long leaf blades which can grow in water up to 2m deep.

Biosecurity Queensland National Hymenachne co-ordinator Craig Magnussen said the weed may have been spread across the area by recent flooding and wet weather. Mary River Catchment Co-ordinating Committee spokeswoman Eva Ford said the group had found outbreaks of the weed in Boompa, west of Biggenden. Burnett Mary Regional Group has labelled hymenachne a target species in its Mary River Catchment weed management strategy. Hymenachne also impacts fisheries by creating a barrier for aquatic animals, preventing territorial movements and breeding. To report a suspected hymenachne infestation, contact Mr Magnussen on 4661 6612. Hymenachne is a green grass that can grow up to 2.5 metres. It thrives in riverbanks and seasonally flooded areas and can grow in water up to 2m deep. It can be identified by the base of the leaves, which clasp around the stem. Flower heads can be up to 40cm long but are less than a cm wide.

Ed Comment; Hymenachne is one of over 400 foreign grasses that were introduced to Queensland illegally in the '80's and '90's by the Queensland DPI as a potential cattle stockfood for ponded pastures. It has now widely displaced native water plants throughout tropical and sub-tropical Queensland, and is now considered a noxious weed. As the native water plants are displaced by Hymenachne, so is the wildlife also displaced that depends on them.

Hymenachne 27/7/11

2011-07-26T15:01:00.000-07:00

Weeds

Just as one dangerous weed gets under control, Fraser Coast residents are asked to be on the lookout for another invasive weed that threatens farms and waterways. Weed removal works have just been completed in storm detention basins around Hervey Bay to remove the weed Azolla (Ed. actually a native waterplant that thrives in nutrient rich water) but residents will have to turn their attention to a new threat, hymenachne. Hymenachne is the latest in a long list of weeds that could potentially impact farmers on the Fraser Coast and Biosecurity Queensland has warned canefarmers to watch their fields closely over the next few months. The long weed is invasive and is known to take over canefields, swampy areas or areas that flood frequently. It is a green grass with long leaf blades which can grow in water up to 2m deep. Biosecurity Queensland National Hymenachne co-ordinator Craig Magnussen said the weed may have been spread across the area by recent flooding and wet weather. Mary River Catchment Co-ordinating Committee spokeswoman Eva Ford said the group had found outbreaks of the weed in Boompa, west of Biggenden. Burnett Mary Regional Group has labelled hymenachne a target species in its Mary River Catchment weed management strategy. Hymenachne also impacts fisheries by creating a barrier for aquatic animals, preventing territorial movements and breeding. To report a suspected hymenachne infestation, contact Mr Magnussen on 4661 6612. Hymenachne is a green grass that can grow up to 2.5 metres. It thrives in riverbanks and seasonally flooded areas and can grow in water up to 2m deep. It can be identified by the base of the leaves, which clasp around the stem. Flower heads can be up to 40cm long but are less than a cm wide.

Ed Comment; Hymenachne was introduced to Queensland illegally in the '90's by the Queensland DPI as a potential cattle stockfood for ponded pastures. It has now widely displaced native water plants throughout tropical and sub-tropical Queensland, and is now considered a noxious weed. As the native water plants are displaced by Hymenachne, so is the wildlife also displaced that depends on them.

Branched broomrape looms

2011-06-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

South Australia's Agriculture Minister Michael O'Brien will push for a national fund to contain a parasitic weed in the Murray Mallee after a report found it cannot be eradicated. Branched broomrape was found near Bowhill in 1992 and some properties have been quarantined for more than a decade now. The report recommends abandoning eradication programs in favour of containment. Mr O'Brien says the weed will become a national problem unless it can be contained. "We don't have a funding regime, a national funding agreement, in place to deal with containment and I'm hoping within a couple of months we'll see a proposal that will allow us to move from eradication to containment with all of the states chipping in," he said.

"I'll be looking at the industry groups that are the beneficiaries, which are the grain and horticultural industries on a national basis, to start making a contribution." A former state MP, Peter Lewis, says he helped Labor form government in South Australia in 2002 after a pledge to eradicate branched broomrape. "We eradicated TB in people, we've eradicated it in livestock, we can eradicate broomrape," he declared. Mr Lewis says a lack of political will is to blame. *ABC

Aussie Animal Flood Victim Appeal!

2011-01-19T23:10:00.000-08:00

Sydney Pet Rescue & Adoption, has launched the Animal Flood Victims Emergency Appeal, and together with various other rescue groups, they are working hard to raise funds to support animals affected by the recent devastating floods in Qld. The Wildlife Protection Association of Australia is one of the organisations they have chosen to support with the Appeal. We will be using the funds they raise to support foster carers in the worst affected and priority areas, with financial support to assist with the rescue and foster care of wildlife. ……….We thank SPRA and all the rescue groups who are working hard with them, for their support…..

Please click on this link to find out more about the appeal: SPRA Flood Animal Appeal Here!

Rainforest Weed a Pest Plant

2010-08-16T12:49:00.001-07:00

Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) has begun aerial surveys for a weed threatening world heritage rainforests in far north Queensland. The miconia weed invades rainforest areas and creek banks and can grow up to 15 metres high. BQ project co-ordinator Mick Jeffery says a helicopter will do low altitude flights over rainforest in Cairns and Kuranda to search for the weed. He says it is causing big problems overseas. "Quite a number of islands in the Pacific, including Hawaii, Tahiti and other nice holiday locations, they've got into their rainforests there," he said. "It's got to the point where it's so dense they've shaded out and out-completed a lot of other native plant species." * ABC

Sth American Parrotfeather

2010-08-09T02:43:00.000-07:00

Once considered a minor weed, St American Parrotfeather (Myriophyllum aquaticum) was introduced to Australia as an ornamental aquarium plant. Only female plants were introduced, but it spreads by broken stem runners. It is now consided to be another major waterways pest, a noxious water weed. In the photo shown, dredging actually spreads the weed, through broken stem runners. 6 months after dredging, the water surface was almost totally covered by a new growth of parrotfeather.

Noxious water weeds found in Adelaide!

2010-07-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

Two of the world's worst water weeds are on the loose in Adelaide. There are fears the weeds could spread from backyard ponds and water features into creeks and rivers, where they smother native wildlife. The Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board is running a campaign to seek and destroy the weeds, spurred on by reports the plants were offered for sale at northern suburbs markets and garage sales. Three investigations are under way, as authorities crack down on the illegal trade. Salvinia and water hyacinth are both declared pests. Their movement or sale can incur fines of $10,000 to $50,000, says Michael Garrod from the NRM Board.

"Both of these plants grow very quickly, and form dense mats that reduce water quality, increase evaporation, impede water flow, block irrigation channels and threaten aquatic ecosystems," he said. "If they get into our waterways, we could expect to see the deaths of many native fish, crustaceans and other aquatic animals, as well as serious damage to our water supply infrastructure." He said the weeds had been "circulating for a while through personal networks" but the fact the plants were now being offered for sale was of "great concern, as the circulation increases dramatically". "We encourage people to purchase, preferably natives, from reputable nurseries, which will minimise the risk of purchasing and spreading rogue plants."

David Newble from West Lakes Shore said his wife became concerned about the plants in her pond when she saw an advertisement in the paper. The authorities were called in and the suspects identified as water hyacinth, "the world's worst aquatic weed". "It just floats on the surface and seems to reproduce quite rapidly, which of course was quite good as far as we were concerned, but not so good for the waterways of Australia," he said. He said they'd picked up the weed from friends, "they say `We've got a good weed that grows in the pond, would you like some?". *Adelaide Now

Hymenacne, a noxious water weed.

2010-07-25T18:42:00.000-07:00

One of the most invasive weeds in Australia is threatening wildlife and plants in the Top End. Olive hymenachne is regarded as one of the worst weeds in Australia because of its invasiveness, its potential for spread and its economic and environmental impacts. NT Parks and Wildlife rangers and members of the Field and Game Association have now joined forces to fight the weed that threatens the wetlands around Harrison Dam, about 60km southeast of Darwin. ``If it continued to spread, the area wouldn't be a viable wetland for waterbirds any more,'' NT Field and Game president Bart Irwin said.

Mr Irwin, 48, of Howard Springs, said the weed would totally exclude all birds from access to the water. ``It already covers up a big area of water and blankets all the area around the Window to the Wetlands,'' he said. ``Only a few open water areas are left for birds.'' Hymenachne, a stock pasture grass ``gone wrong'', first escaped in the 1990s from a research farm. Its sticky seeds are transported by flooding and birds and have a 98 per cent viability, making the grass a dangerous threat for flora and fauna. ``It needs constant attention, as all weeds do, and due to the enormity of the job Field and Game has made an effort in assisting Parks and Wildlife with the hands-on work, as well as with organisational aspects and through a grant system assisting with funding,'' Mr Irwin said. With a helicopter and an air boat the first joint forces spraying recently took place at Harrison Dam. * NT News

Ed Comment; Hymenachne was illegally imported and deliberately released in Queensland by the Queensland DPI in the late "80's as a cattle fodder for use in ponded pastures, and has now spread throughout tropical Australia. It grows along creekbanks and in shallow water, and displaces all native vegetation, which impacts on native wildlife. It's a tall, dense, impenetrable and invasive plant that has done much damage to wildlife habitat. Its almost impossible to remove, without heavy chemical spraying, which of course impacts on frogs and other species. *

Noxious Water Weed Found 26/7/10

2010-07-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

Hardware retailer Bunnings has been fined $15,000 without conviction after it was caught selling a noxious weed in its Victorian stores. Bunnings and four suppliers - Ball Australia, Oasis Horticulture, Summerhill Nurseries and Regal Blooms - all pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates Court to charges of buying and selling the weed, Mexican feather grass. The offences took place between January and May 2008. The grass is a state-prohibited weed, the highest category for noxious weeds under Victoria's Catchment and Land Protection Act.

The agriculture department was also awarded costs in the case. As part of an out-of-court settlement with the department, Bunnings has agreed to pay $50,000 in compensation and has taken steps to ensure it never again sells noxious weeds. Agriculture Minister Joe Helper said the prosecutions were a warning to the garden and nursery industry. ''While the vast bulk of the industry do a fantastic job and is aware of its responsibilities, this prosecution is a timely reminder of the risks associated with the importation and distribution of non-native horticultural plants,'' Mr Helper said. ''It's up to the nursery industry to stop this happening again.''

The department's director for invasive plants and operations, Brendan Roughead, said estimates suggested the economic and environmental impact of a statewide outbreak of a noxious weed such as Mexican feather grass could cost the state more than $10 million a year to control. Anyone who may have bought the weed, which might have been labelled Stipa capillata or Stipa lessingiana, should phone 136 186. A spokeswoman for Bunnings could not immediately be contacted. *Age