$3.00

NORTHERN INLAND WEEDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

WEED MANAGEMENT GUIDEFOR NORTH WEST NSW

This booklet has been an initiative of the NORTHERN INLAND WEEDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Committee (NIWAC) promotes a regional approach to management of noxious and other environmental weeds by bringing together all local and state government organisations and other bodies involved in land management throughout the North West and New England Regions of New South Wales, Australia.

The NIWAC region covers 10 Local Control Authorities (councils and county councils) and parts of 3 Livestock Health and Pest Authorities districts. Relevant state government agencies within the NIWAC region are also represented e.g. Department of Industry and Investment and the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (includes Catchment Management Authorities and National Parks & Wildlife Service).

More information on NIWAC’s role is available at www.niwac.org.au

Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Committee acknowledges with thanks the significant financial support from Namoi Catchment Management Authority and Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority towards production costs of this Weed Management Guide for North West NSW

Copyright © 2009 Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Committee. All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form, without prior written permission of Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Committee.

Printed by Print Anything1800 804 643 • www.printanything.com.au

1

This weed management guide targets certain noxious and other problem weeds found in, or a potential threat to, the region covered by Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Committee (NIWAC) i.e. the local government areas of Armidale-Dumaresq, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah, Guyra, Gwydir, Inverell, Liverpool Plains, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Tamworth Regional, Tenterfield, Uralla and Walcha.

Information on individual plants, etc. has been submitted by James Browning, New England Weeds Authority; Tony Cook, I&I NSW, Tamworth; Chris Clausen, Clarence Valley Council; Stephen Geddes, Tamworth Regional Council; Peter Gray, I&I NSW Dubbo; John Hosking, I&I NSW, Tamworth; Scott Kermode, New England Weeds Authority; Stephen Kneller, Gwydir Shire Council; Alan Maguire, I&I NSW, Tamworth; David Nixon, Glen Severn Shire Council; Ken Pines, NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service, Armidale; Peter Scott, Liverpool Plains Shire Council; Andrew Schweitzer, Namoi Catchment Management Authority; Greg Steenbeeke, Dept of Environment, Climate Change and Water; Doug Stieger, Gwydir Shire Council; Les Tanner, Inverell Shire Council; Kevin Waters, New England Weeds Authority; Mike Whitney, Liverpool Plains Shire Council.

Cover design: john@printanything.com.au Images: individual plants, unless otherwise indicated: North West Weeds/Les Tanner.

Reference material - acknowledgments• Namoi Gwydir New Eng. Noxious Weed Control Handbook: L Amidy, Gunnedah Shire 2002• North West Weeds website • Noxious Weeds of Australia: WT Parsons, EG Cuthbertson. Inkata Press (abbreviated within

this booklet as NWA)• NSW Department of Industry and Investment website • Poisonous Plants Handbook for Farmers and Graziers: EJ McBarron (1983) Inkata Press• Plants of Western New South Wales; GM Cunningham, WE Mulham, PL Milthorpe, JH Leigh.

Inkata Press (abbreviated within this booklet as PWNSW)• Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries website• Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water website • Victoria Dept of Primary Industries website• Weeds of Southern Queensland 2nd Edition: GA Dight, JA Huggins, MJ Lucy, GR Zerner

Northern Inland Weeds Advisory CommitteeWeed Management Guide for North West NSW

Compiled and edited by Les Tanner, Chief Weeds Officer, Inverell Shire CouncilTechnical assistance from John Hosking (I&I NSW Tamworth) and Greg Steenbeeke (DECCW Inverell)

2

The importance of noxious weed control

Weeds pose a serious threat to human and animal health, to primary production and to our natural environment. Weeds reduce farm productivity, displace native species and contribute to on-going land degradation and reduced land values. This booklet seeks to provide general advice and guidance to land managers to assist them in their endeavors to control noxious and other undesirable weeds on their lands.

Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Committee (NIWAC) has provided this Weed Management Guide for North West NSW, sponsored in kind and financially by its constituent members, particularly Namoi and Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authorities. Support from our various sponsors has also helped NIWAC to produce this booklet at a reduced price.

Section 1IntroductionSection 2Council, NIWAC, I&I NSW, LHPA, DECCW and Landcare contactsSection 3Legislation relating to weed controlNoxious weeds list for all Shires within the NIWAC regionSection 4Declared/environmentally problematic weedsSection 5Other “weeds” of interest to land managers in north-west New South WalesSection 6Accredited weed spraying contractors available within north-west New South Wales

DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this publication is based on knowledge and understanding at the time of writing. However, because of advances in knowledge, users are reminded of the need to ensure that information upon which they rely is up to date and to check currency of the information with the local Council weeds officer or the user’s independent adviser.

ALWAYS READ THE LABELHerbicides recommendations throughout this publication are provided as a general guide only to enable land managers to obtain further information on herbicides known or believed to be registered for the particular weed. It is a legal and essential requirement that users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and must strictly comply with the directions on the label and conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this publication. Compliance with label directions includes adherence to stock withholding periods. Users are reminded they have a general duty of care in relation to notifying neighbours of intended spray applications.

REFERENCES TO HERBICIDE RECOMMENDATIONS within this booklet name the most common PRODUCT/TRADE NAMES as examples to help the user identify particular groups of like products. Users are reminded that in most cases there are competing brands of herbicides containing the same actives. Please refer to the Trade Names Comparison Chart on page 13.

Northern Inland Weeds Advisory CommitteeWeed Management Guide for North West NSW

3

COUNCIL AND OTHER CONTACTS - as at September 2009

Glen Innes Severn Council265 Grey St (PO Box 61)Glen Innes NSW 2370 Ph (02) 6730 2300Web: www.gisc.nsw.gov.auWeeds Officer David Nixon: (02) 6730 2358, 0427 669 871dnixon@gisc.nsw.gov.au

Gunnedah Shire Council63 Elgin St (PO Box 63)Gunnedah NSW 2380Ph (02) 6740 2100 Fax (02) 6740 2219council@infogunnedah.com.auWeb: www.infogunnedah.com.auWeeds Officers Lee Amidy(02) 6740 2225, 0427 254 188leeamidy@infogunnedah.com.auTony Woods 0429 667 692

Gwydir Shire CouncilMaitland St (LB5) Bingara NSW 2404Ph (02) 6724 2000, fax (02) 6724 1771Web: http://gwydir.local-e.nsw.gov.auWeeds OfficersBingara - Stephen Kneller 0427 240 061Warialda - Doug Stieger 0427 291012

Inverell Shire Council144 Otho St (PO Box 138)Inverell NSW 2360Ph (02) 6728 8288 fax (02) 6728 8277council@inverell.nsw.gov.auWeb: www.inverell.com.auWeeds OfficersLes Tanner 0427 241 806leslie.tanner@inverell.nsw.gov.auPhil Sutton 0418 446 068

Liverpool Plains Shire Council60 Station St, Quirindi NSW 2343Ph (02) 6746 1755 fax (02) 6746 3255Web: www.lpsc.nsw.gov.auWeeds Officers Peter Scott (02) 6746 2859, 0428 961 982peter.scott@lpsc.nsw.gov.auMike Whitney 0427 961 980

Moree Plains Shire Council21 Auburn St, Moree NSW 2400Ph (02) 6757 3222 fax (02) 6752 3934Web: www.mpsc.nsw.gov.auWeeds Officer Ian Schwartz 0427 044 521ian.schwartz@mpsc.nsw.gov.au

Narrabri Shire Council46-48 Maitland St (PO Box 261)Narrabri NSW 2390Ph (02) 6799 6866 fax (02) 6799 6888council@narrabri.nsw.gov.auWeb: www.narrabri.nsw.gov.auWeeds Dept (02) 6799 6702

New England Weeds Authority129 Rusden St (PO Box 881)Armidale NSW 2350Ph (02) 6770 3602 fax (02) 6771 1893newa@newa.nsw.gov.auWeeds OfficersArmidale – James Browning 0428 211 314Armidale - Rachel Betts 0488 711 012Uralla – Matthew Benham 0488 711 027Walcha – Scott Kermode 0427 711 729Guyra – Robert Williams 0439 711 701 Tamworth Regional CouncilRay Walsh House 437 Peel St (PO Box 555) Tamworth NSW 2340Ph (02) 6767 5555 fax (02) 6767 5499trc@tamworth.nsw.gov.auWeb: www.tamworth.nsw.gov.auWeeds Officers:Tamworth – Natasha Soar 0427 249 254n.soar@tamworth.nsw.gov.auTamworth – Stephen Geddes 0427 961 984Tamworth – Michael Hooper 0427 961 983Barraba – Mal Stein 0429 821 579

Tenterfield Shire Council247 Rouse St (PO Box 214)Tenterfield NSW 2372Ph (02) 6736 6000 fax (02) 6736 6005Weeds Officer Neil Rossington Ph (02) 6736 1744, 0402 210102n.rossington@tenterfield.nsw.gov.au

4

NORTHERN INLAND WEEDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (NIWAC)Chair Clr Maria Woods (Walcha Shire Council) “Muluerindie” Walcha NSW 2354 Ph (02) 6777 2250 email maria.woods@bigpond.com Secretary Michael Hooper, Weeds Officer, Tamworth Regional Council, PO Box 555 Tamworth NSW 2340 Ph (02) 6767 5816, 0427 961 983 m.hooper@tamworth.nsw.gov.au Website www.niwac.org.au

NSW DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY AND INVESTMENT Philip Blackmore, Regional Coordinator (Weeds), NSW Dept of Industry and Investment, Armidale Ph (02) 6738 8504, 0427 311 824 fax (02) 6772 8664 philip.blackmore@dpi.nsw.gov.au

NEW ENGLAND LIVESTOCK HEALTH & PEST AUTHORITY 1 Greenaway St, (PO Box 108) Glen Innes NSW 2370 Ph (02) 6732 1200 fax (02) 6732 1420Armidale Peter Frizell (Senior Ranger) 0427 007 192 peter.frizell@lhpa.org.au; Bruce Floyd 0427 007 182; Paul Berdar 0427 007 190 Tenterfield Michael Bayer 0428 669 132; Peter Petrie 0428 669 079; Andrew Davidson 0427 673 212 Glen Innes Rob Munro 0429 669 217 Walcha Harold Officer 0427 007 183

NORTH WEST LIVESTOCK HEALTH & PEST AUTHORITY101 Barwan St, (PO Box 18), NARRABRI NSW 2390 Ph (02) 6792 2533, Fax (02) 6792 1738Goondiwindi Gerard O’Connor (Senior Ranger) 0427 711 361 gerard.oconnor@lhpa.org.au Inverell Andrew Phillips 0427 291 683 Warialda David Lindsay 0427 291 883 Narrabri Jamie Maddocks 0429 924 365 Walgett Mal Scott 0427 281 091

CENTRAL NORTH LIVESTOCK HEALTH & PEST AUTHORITY33-35 Gunnedah Rd, (PO Box 500), Tamworth NSW 2340 Ph (02) 6762 2900, Fax (02) 6762 2977 Tamworth Greg Lumber 0427 293 892 greg.lumber@lhpa.org.au; Graham Kelly 0419 403 261; Gunnedah Bruce Henry 0428 344 492

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATERNamoi Catchment Management AuthorityAndrew Schweitzer - Invasive Species Coordinator, PO Box 528 Tamworth NSW 2340Ph (02) 6764 5914, 0427 101256 andrew.schweitzer@cma.nsw.gov.au

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATERBorder Rivers - Gwydir Catchment Management AuthorityJonathan Lawson – Invasive Species Coordinator, PO Box 569 (66-68 Frome Street), Moree NSW 2400 Ph (02) 6757 2550 - 0429 914 207 brg@cma.nsw.gov.au

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATERNSW National Parks & Wildlife Service Armidale Ken Pines, Project Officer (Weeds), Northern Tablelands Region, PO Box 402 Armidale NSW 2350 Ph (02) 6776 0012, 0427 218 248 ken.pines@environment.nsw.gov.au Glen Innes Stuart Boyd-Law, Project Officer (Weeds), PO Box 281, Glen Innes 2370 Ph 6739 0700, 0408 463 425 stuart.boyd-law@environment.nsw.gov.au Narrabri Duane Shawcross Senior Ranger (Pests), Northern Plains Region, 100 Maitland St, Narrabri NSW 2390 Ph (02) 6792 7300, 0428 686 166 duane.shawcross@environment.nsw.gov.au

COUNCIL AND OTHER CONTACTS (continued)

5

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATERRegional Operations Unit, Environment Protection and Regulation Group (Pesticides Act)PO Box 494 (Ground Floor, 85 Faulkner Street) ARMIDALE NSW 2350 Ph (02) 6773 7000 Fax: (02) 6772 2336, email: armidalemailbox@environment.nsw.gov.au

LANDCARE GROUPS WITHIN THE NIWAC REGION

• GWYMAC, PO Box 18, Inverell NSW 2360 www.gwymaclandcare.com.au Ph (02) 6721 1241

• Granite Borders Landcare Committee, PO Box 400, Tenterfield NSW 2372 www.gblc.org.au Ph (02) 6736 3500

• GLENRAC, PO Box 660, Glen Innes NSW 2370 www.glenrac.org.au Ph (02) 6732 3443

• Southern New England Landcare, PO Box 75A, Armidale NSW 2350 www.snelcc.org.au Ph (02) 6772 9123

• Upper Gwydir Landcare Assoc, PO Box 108, Bingara NSW 2404 www.uppergwydirlandcare.com Ph (02) 6724 2052

• Liverpool Plains Land Management Committee, PO Box 777, Gunnedah NSW 2380 www.lplmc.com.au Ph (02) 6741 8332

• Tamworth Manilla Landcare Assoc, c/- Chair Jean Coady jeancoady2009@gmail.com

• Moree c/- Border Rivers-Gwydir CMA, PO Box 569, Moree NSW 2400 Ph 67572550

USEFUL WEEDS WEBSITES • Australia Pesticidies & Veterinary Medicines Authority - search for herbicide registrations, permits:

www.apvma.gov.au

• Australian Weeds Committee – search all weeds – includes the list of Australia’s twenty (20) Weeds of National Significance or “WONS” as they are called: www.weeds.org.au/

• CSIRO Pest Management (Canberra) – looking at the big weeds picture: www.csiro.au/science/PestManagement.htm

• NSW Government Parliamentary Counsel’s Office - view/download State Acts including Noxious Weeds Act 1993: www.legislation.nsw.gov.au

• Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Committee (NIWAC) - representing weed control authorities in the north west and northern tablelands area of NSW: www.niwac.org.au

• North West Weeds – local identification and treatment information on weeds within north-west NSW – also lists district spray contractors: www.northwestweeds.nsw.gov.au

• NSW Dept of Industry and Investment (Weeds Sub-Program) - information on NSW weed control issues: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds

• Royal Botanical Gardens Herbarium PlantNET - information on most plants recorded in NSW (try the “quick search” inquiry button): http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au

• Native Vegetation Act: www.nativevegetation.nsw.gov.au or freecall 1800 237 012

COUNCIL AND OTHER CONTACTS (continued)

7

The Noxious Weeds Act 1993 (as amended) defines the roles of government, councils, private landholders and public authorities in the management of noxious weeds. The Act imposes penalties for non-compliance. It categorises and defines control requirements for the various noxious weeds, according to their perceived potential to cause harm to our local environment.

Control Class Action required

1

Notifiable*. The plant must be eradicated from the land and the land must be kept free of the plant. The control objective for weed control class 1 is to prevent the introduction and establishment of those plants in NSW.

2

Notifiable*. The plant must be eradicated from the land and the land must be kept free of the plant. The control objective for weed control class 2 is to prevent the introduction and establishment of those plants in parts of NSW.

3

The plant must be fully and continuously suppressed and destroyed. The control objective for weed control class 3 is to reduce the area and the impact of those plants in parts of NSW

4

The growth and spread of the plant must be controlled according to the measures specified in a management plan published by the local control authority. The control objective for weed control class 4 is to minimise the negative impact of those plants on the economy, community or environment of NSW. Each Council writes its own CC4 management plans to suit its local area.

5

Notifiable*. The requirements in the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 for a notifiable weed must be complied with. The control objective for weed control class 5 is to prevent introduction of certain plants into NSW, the spread of those plants within NSW or from NSW to another jurisdiction, e.g. movement of contaminated fodder.

*Notifiable: The plant’s presence must be notified to the local Council within three (3) days of detection. A notifiable category also means the plant or plant material cannot be sold, propagated or knowingly distributed.

Council obligations under the Act…Local Councils are responsible for administration of the Noxious Weeds Act, including:• development, implementation, coordination and reviews of noxious weed control policies

and district noxious weed control programs• control of noxious weeds on Council lands including fenced roads • inspection of private and public lands and ensuring, so far as practicable, that occupiers of

private and public lands carry out their legal obligations to control noxious weeds.

Landholders’ obligations under the Act… 1. In the case of private landsOccupiers of private lands must control noxious weeds on the land, as required under the control class or classes specified in relation to the weed concerned (section 12).2. In the case of public lands (e.g. National Parks, etc.)Occupiers of public lands must control noxious weeds on the land, as required under the control class or classes specified in relation to the weed concerned, to the extent necessary to prevent the weed from spreading to adjoining land (section 13).

NOXIOUS WEEDS ACT 1993 submitted by Les Tanner

8

Common Name Scientific Name Tam

wor

th

Gun

neda

h

Gw

ydir

Nar

rabr

i

Live

rpoo

l Pla

ins

NE

WA

*

Mor

ee

Inve

rell

Gle

n In

nes

Tenterfield

African boxthorn Lycium ferocissimum 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

African feather grass Pennisetum macrourum 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

African lovegrass Eragrostis curvula 4

African turnip weed Sisymbrium runcinatum 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

African turnip weed Sisymbrium thellungii 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Alligator weed Alternanthera philoxeroides 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Anchored water hyacinth Eichhornia azurea 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Annual ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Arrowhead Sagittaria montevidensis 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Artichoke thistle Cynara cardunculus 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Athel tree/Athel pine Tamarix aphylla 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Bathurst/Noogoora/California burrs Xanthium spp. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Bear-skin fescue Festuca gautieri 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Black knapweed Centaurea nigra 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

BlackberryRubus fruticosus agg. spp. except cultivars

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Blue heliotrope Heliotropium amplexicaule 4 4

Bridal creeper Asparagus asparagoides 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Broomrapes Orobanche spp. except certain natives 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Burr ragweed Ambrosia confertiflora 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Cabomba Cabomba caroliniana 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Cayenne snakeweed Stachytarpheta cayennensis 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Chilean needle grass Nassella neesiana 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Chinese violet Asystasia gangetica subsp. micrantha 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Clockweed Gaura parviflora 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Columbus grass Sorghum x almum 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Corn sowthistle Sonchus arvensis 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Crofton Weed Ageratina adenophora 4 4

Dodder All Cuscuta spp. except native spp. 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

East Indian hygrophila Hygrophila polysperma 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

English broom Cytisus scoparius (see Scotch broom) 4 4 4

Espartillo Achnatherum brachychaetum 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Eurasian water milfoil Myriophyllum spicatum 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Fine-bristled burr grass Cenchrus brownii 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Fountain grass Pennisetum setaceum 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Galenia Galenia pubescens 4 4

Gallon’s curse Cenchrus biflorus 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Galvanised Burr Scerolaena birchii 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Giant Parramatta grass Sporobolus fertilis 3 3 3 3 4 3 3 3

Glaucous star thistle Carthamus glaucus 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Golden dodder Cuscuta campestris 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Golden thistle Scolymus hispanicus 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Gorse Ulex europaeus 2 2

Green cestrum Cestrum parqui 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Grounsel bush Baccharis halimifolia 3 3

Harrisia cactus Harrisia spp. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Hawkweed Hieracium spp. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Hemlock Conium maculatum 1 4 4 4 4 4 4

Horsetail Equisetum spp. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Hymenachne Hymenachne amplexicaulis 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Johnson grass Sorghum halepense 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Karoo thorn Acacia karroo 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

KochiaBassia scoparia except B. scoparia subspp. trichophylla

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Lagarosiphon Lagarosiphon major 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Lantana Lantana spp. 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Leafy elodea Egeria densa 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Lippia Phyla spp. 4 4 4 4

Long-leaf willow primrose Ludwigia longifolia 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Long-style feather grass Pennisetum villosum 4 4 4 4 4 4

Mesquite Prosopis sp. 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Mexican feather grass Nassella tenuissima 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Mexican poppy Argemone mexicana 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

DECLARED NOXIOUS WEEDS - Northern Inland and North West NSW

As at September 2009

9

DECLARED NOXIOUS WEEDS - Northern Inland and North West NSW

Common Name Scientific Name Tam

wor

th

Gun

neda

h

Gw

ydir

Nar

rabr

i

Live

rpoo

l Pla

ins

NE

WA

*

Mor

ee

Inve

rell

Gle

n In

nes

Tenterfield

Miconia Miconia spp. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Mimosa Mimosa pigra 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Mintweed Salvia reflexa 4 4

Mossman River grass Cenchrus echinatus 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Mother of millions Bryophyllum spp. and hybrids 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Nodding thistle Carduus nutans 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Onion grassAll Romulea spp. except R. rosea var. australis

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Oxalis All Oxalis spp. except certain native spp. 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Pampas grass Cortaderia spp. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Parkinsonia Parkinsonia aculeata 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Parthenium weed Parthenium hysterophorus 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Paterson’s curse, Vipers/Italian bugloss Echium sp. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Perennial ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya 4 4 4 4

Pond apple Annona glabra 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Prickly acacia Acacia nilotica 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Prickly pear Cylindropuntia spp. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Prickly pear Opuntia spp. except O. ficus-indica 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Privet (Broadleaf) Ligustrum lucidum 4 4 4

Privet (European) Ligustrum vulgare 4 4 4

Privet (Narrow-leaf/Chinese) Ligustrum sp. 4 4 4

Red rice Oryza rufipogon 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Rhus tree Toxicodendron succedaneum 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Rubbervine Cryptostegia grandiflora 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Saffron thistle Carthamus lanatus 4

Sagittaria Sagittaria platyphylla 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Salvinia Salvinia molesta 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Sand oat Avena strigosa 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius 4 4 4 4 4

Scotch, stemless, Illyrian & Taurian thistles

Onopordum spp. 4 4

Senegal tea plant Gymnocoronis spilanthoides 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Serrated tussock Nasella trichotoma 3 4 3 4 3 3 4 3 3

Siam weed Chromolaena odorata 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Silk forage sorghum Sorghum spp. except hybrid cultivar 4 4

Silver-leaf nightshade Solanum elaeagnifolium 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Smooth-stemmed turnip Brassica barrelieri subspp. oxyrrhina 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Soldier thistle Picnomon acarna 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Spiny burrgrass Cenchrus incertus 4 4 4 4 4

Spotted knapweed Centaurea maculosa 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Star thistle Centaurea calcitrapa 4

St Johns Wort Hypericum perforatum 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3

Sweet briar Rosa rubiginosa 4 4 4 4 4 4 4

Texas blueweed Helianthus ciliaris 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

Tree of heaven Ailanthus altissima 4

Water caltrop Trapa spp. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Water hyacinth Eichornia crassipes 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

Water lettuce Pistia stratiotes 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Water soldier Stratiotes aloides 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Wild Radish Raphanus raphanistrum 4

WillowsSalix spp. except S. babylonica, S. x reichardtii, S. x calodendron

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

WitchweedStriga spp. except native spp. and Striga parviflora

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Yellow burrhead Limnocharis flava 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Yellow nutgrass Cyperus esculentus 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

EDITOR’S NOTE: this two-page list of 114 noxious weeds looks very daunting, but most of the plants named are not actually present in northern inland NSW.

Class 1, Class 2 and Class 5 weeds are declared under the Noxious Weeds Act as a precautionary measure to prevent their entry into or further movement within New South Wales. Examples of such weeds found from time to time in the NIWAC region are parthenium weed, Mexican feather grass, water lettuce, salvinia and water lettuce. These isolated outbreaks are always given top priority. That basically leaves the Class 3 and Class 4 weeds. These weeds are generally widespread throughout northern inland NSW, and require ongoing attention from Councils and all land managers.

Please refer to the Noxious Weeds Act summary on page 7 for explanations of the various Control Classes.

*NEWA stands for New England Weeds Authority and covers the Shires of Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha

10

THE PESTICIDES ACT 1999 – WHAT IT MEANS FOR WEED CONTROLLERSThe Pesticides Act 1999 has been in operation since 1 July 2000 and the NSW Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (DECCW) enforces it. The term ‘pesticides’ in the Act includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides and baits.

WHAT DOES THE ACT SAY? The Act says that if you use pesticides it is your responsibility to use them strictly according to the label direction and to take all reasonable actions to prevent off-target impacts. The aims of these rules are to protect your health, other people’s health and property, the environment and trade. WHO DOES THE ACT APPLY TO? Everyone who uses a pesticide and everyone involved in the decision making about using a pesticide. For example, it applies to land occupiers, farmers, aerial operators, ground rig operators, pesticide users in council or government agencies, pest controllers and domestic users. HOW CAN YOU MAKE SURE YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING? The control of noxious weeds is a very important job and needs to be done with care. If you use pesticides you need to remember some important things:• only use registered pesticides and make sure that the product you choose is specifically

registered for your target weed• only use the pesticide as directed on the label (unless you have a permit from the

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to allow specific off-label use)• check for people, houses, crops and livestock downwind of the application site and make

sure they will not be exposed to the pesticide• if you are the farmer or manager and you have asked someone else to apply a pesticide,

provide that person with the information about nearby houses, sensitive areas or items that must not be harmed

• spray in suitable weather conditions so that spray does not drift outside the target area. Don’t spray in high winds or when there is no wind. A light steady wind blowing away from houses and other sensitive areas is best. Don’t spray just before rain

• use the right equipment and make sure it is well maintained, calibrated and operated• provide adequate instruction and training to all employee or family members who use

pesticides on the farm, property or public land• do not store pesticides in containers which do not bear an approved label

SOME OTHER KEY FEATURES OF THE ACT Maximum penalties for most offences are $60,000 for individuals and $120,000 for corporations. Fines for offences committed willfully or negligently are up to $120,000 and $250,000 respectively. There are also Penalty infringement Notices (like on-the-spot fines) rather than prosecution for minor offences.Lower application rates are permitted unless specifically disallowed on the label.

RELATED ACTS – PESTICIDES ACT submitted by Principal Policy Officer, Chemicals Policy, NSW Dept of Environment and Climate Change – July 2009

11

WHAT RECORD KEEPING, TRAINING AND NOTIFICATION IS REQUIRED?

RECORD KEEPING: Record keeping requirements apply to you if you use pesticides as part of your business or job such as a farmer or weeds officer. They do not apply to household pesticide users.

Records need to be kept on:• the full name of the crop or situation of use • the rate of application and the quantity applied • the equipment used to apply the pesticide (e.g. boom sprayer, power spray unit) • the detailed location of the spraying • the date and time of spraying, including start and finish times• names and contact details of the person who applied the pesticide (or in some circumstances

their employer or supervisor)• relevant weather conditions specifically wind speed and direction and anything else required by

the label (eg temperature, humidity)

Records need to be made as soon as possible after the application and no longer than 24 hours after the pesticide has been applied.

Records need to be kept for 3 years.

Spraying of weeds in pastures or on fallow crop land using hand held and hand powered spray equipment does not require a record.

Spot spraying weeds within tree crops using hand held and hand powered equipment does not require a record, providing the application is no closer than 20 metres to a property boundary.

An example form and guidance information about keeping records is available from the DECCW. Please see the end of this article for details.

TRAINING:All commercial pesticide users, including weed controllers, farmers, council and government agencies, are required to have certain qualifications before they can use pesticides. In most cases the training involves a two-day course, based on national chemical user competency standards. A shorter refresher course is required every five years. Information on trainers is available on the DECCW web site. NOTIFICATION:All public authorities (local councils, county councils, NSW Government agencies) are required to give notice of their outdoor pesticide use in public places in accordance with a publicly available pesticide use notification plan. If you are an employee or contractor working for a public authority you should ask what notice should be provided before you use a pesticide in a public place. In other situations, notification of neighbours by weed controllers is generally voluntary (but good practice), unless required by the product label or permit.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?Information about the Pesticides Act 1999 and the record keeping regulation is available from the DECCW’s Environment Line on 131 555 or www.environment.nsw.gov.au/pesticides/pesticides.htm

RELATED ACTS – PESTICIDES ACT (continued)

12

NATIVE VEGETATION ACT 2003 IN RELATION TO NOXIOUS WEED CONTROLRoutine agricultural management activities (RAMAs) are farming, safety and other activities (noxious weeds) where clearing of native vegetation does not require approval under the Native Vegetation Act 2003 (NV Act).

Clearing of native vegetation must be to the minimum extent necessary to allow for the removal of noxious weeds authorised under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993.

For more information please contact your local CMA or visit www.nativevegetation.nsw.gov.au, email: info@nativevegetation.nsw.gov.au or freecall: 1800 237 012.

Note: This information does not constitute legal advice. Please seek specific advice from your local CMA before undertaking any native vegetation clearing.

RELATED ACTS – NATIVE VEG submitted by Andrew Schwietzer

13

Names used in booklet Active constituents

To assist with herbicide selection, these are matching products under different brands names. Not all of them carry identical registrations so, as always, CHECK THE LABEL

Access® Triclopyr as butotyl (240g/L) + picloram as Ioe (120g/L)

No other matching product found. (See also “Vigilant” by Macspred Pty Ltd – a convenient GEL in a tube, ideal for injection or cut stump application for many weeds)

Amitrole T® Amitrole(250g/L)+ammonium thiocyanate(220g/L)

Aggrav8, Weedeath, Amitrole T (by Nufarm), Amitrole T (by Chemag),

Dicamba® MCPA as dma(340g/L) + dicamba as dma(80g/L)

Disarm, Dicamba – Mcpa, Cutlass M, Cutlass M Turf, Kontroller, Kamba M, Dicamba-M, Dicamba + Mcpa, Dicamba M, B’leaf Bindii & Clover Selec. Herb, Trichem

Garlon® Triclopyr as butotyl (600g/L)Garlon 600, Grando 600, Hurricane 600, Invader 600, Maca 600, Melon 600, Safari 600ec, Triclon 600, Triclopyr 600, Trident 600

Graslan® Pellets Tebuthiuron (200g/kg) Tebulan 200GR

Grazon® Triclopyr as butotyl (300g/L) + picloram as hopa(100g/L)

Allgraze, Conqueror, Fightback, Gallop, Grass-Up, Hatchet, Ken-Zon, Picker, Pickout, Token, Trichloram, Triclopyr/Pic, Triclozon, Tri-Pick, Wood; (Grazon Extra same but also contains aminopyralid)

Lantana 600® Dichlorprop as K salt(600g/L) No other matching product found.

Lontrel® Clopyralid as K salt (750g/kg)

Archer, Clash 300, Clock 300, Clomac Forestry, Clopyralid, Clopyralid 300, Clopyralid 750 Sg, Corsair, Ken-Trel 300, Ken-Trel 750 Sg, Lontrel 750 Sg, Rally, Rally 750 Sg, Riddler, Sparta 300 Sl, Sparta Wg, Sylon, Sylon 750, Transit, Victory

Brushoff® Metsulfuron methyl 600 g/L

Associate, Brushmaster, Bushwacker Wg, Ken-Met 600, Lynx Wg, Metsulfuron, Metsulfuron 600, Echem Metsulfuron 600 Wg, Parti-San 600, Sum-Met Df, Two-Way 600 Wg, Woody Weed Spray, Ally®

Roundup Biactive®

Glyphosate as ipa (360g/L) – formulated for use in aquatic areas (“frog-friendly”)

Aqua-Tech Glyphosate 360, Banish 360, Biochoice 360, Cleanup 360, Clearup Bio 360, Envirospray 360, Ken-Up Aquatic 360, Klin-Up 360 Biaquatic, Set-Up Biaquatic 360, Squaredown 360, Wipe-Out Bio

Roundup 360® Glyphosate as ipa(360g/L)

AS ABOVE glyphosate products PLUS Ecomax, Glister 360, Glycel 360, Glyphokill 360, Ken-Up, Knockout 360, Panzer 360, Roundup, Shoot 360, Touchdown 360, Wipe-Out 360

Starane® Fluroxypyr as mhe (200g/L - some products up to 400 g/L

Acclaim, Comet 200, Decoy 200, Flagship 200, Fluroken 200, Fluroxypyr 200 Ec, Neon 200, Prostar, Restrain 200, Starane Advanced, Staroxy 200

Taskforce® Flupropanate as Na salt (745g/L) Flupropanate, Kenock, Rambo, Smack, Tussock

Tordon 75-D® 2,4-D as tipa (300g/L) + picloram as tipa (75g/L)

Commander 75-D, Towelup 2,4-D, Trooper 75-D, Ricochet

Herbicide Trade Names Comparison Chart – Aug 2009

REFERENCES TO HERBICIDE RECOMMENDATIONS within this booklet name the most common PRODUCT/TRADE NAMES as examples to help the user identify particular groups of like products. Users are reminded that in most cases there are competing brands of herbicides containing the same actives – as per the above Comparison Chart. Current as at Aug 2009.

14

General guide only because of seasonal/locality variations. 3=optimum. Ideally, plants should be actively growing at time of treatment – certainly NOT stressed…

Plant Janu

ary

Febr

uary

Mar

ch

Apr

il

May

June

July

Aug

ust

Sept

embe

r

Oct

ober

Nov

embe

r

Dec

embe

r

African boxthorn 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 3 2 2 1African lovegrass 3 2 2 2 2 1 0 2 2 3 3 3Blackberry 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 3Blue heliotrope 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3Chilean needle grass 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 3 3Common pear 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 3 3Coolatai grass 3 2 2 2 2 1 0 2 2 3 3 3Foxtail (longstyle feather grass) 3 2 2 2 2 1 0 2 2 3 3 3Fireweed 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 3 2 1 0 0Galvanised burr 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 2 3 3 2Giant Parramatta grass 3 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 3Golden dodder 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3Green cestrum 3 3 3 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 2 2Harrisia cactus 2 2 3 3 3 2 1 1 2 3 3 2Hemlock 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 3 3Honey locust (basal bark/Stara) 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3Johnson grass 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 3 3Lantana 3 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 2 3 3 3Lippia 3 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 2 3Mesquite 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 3 3Mimosa bush 3 3 3 3 2 0 0 0 1 2 3 3Mother of millions 0 0 0 1 1 3 3 3 2 1 0 0Nodding thistle 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3 2Noogoora burr, cockle burr 2 3 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1Pampas grass 3 3 3 2 2 0 0 0 3 3 3 3Parkinsonia 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 3 3Paterson’s curse, Vipers bugloss 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 2 1 0 0Privet 3 3 2 2 1 0 0 0 2 3 3 3Rope pear, devil’s rope pear 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 3 3Scotch broom 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 3 2 1Serrated tussock 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 2 1Silverleaf nightshade 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 3St John’s wort 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 3Sweet briar 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 3Tiger pear 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 3 3Tree of Heaven 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 3 3Velvety tree pear 3 3 3 3 2 1 1 1 2 3 3 3Water hyacinth 3 3 3 3 3 2 1 0 0 1 2 3Water lettuce 3 3 3 3 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 3Willows 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 3

Treatment Calendar contributed by all NIWAC Weeds Officers

REFERENCES TO HERBICIDE RECOMMENDATIONS within this booklet name the most common PRODUCT/TRADE NAMES as examples to help the user identify particular groups of like products. Users are reminded that in most cases there are competing brands of herbicides containing the same actives. Please see Trade Names Comparison Chart (page 13).