Transcript Biodiversity Awareness

Weed Management
What is your biggest weed problem?
How can we stop weeds?
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Manage the spread
Prevent from
producing seed
Use appropriate
control methods
(chemical control and
other ways)
Prevent weeds
coming onto site
What weed is this?
Ways that weeds spread
Fine
Seed
An enticing meal for
birds
Rhizomes
Spreading roots and
root fragments
Free ride passenger
Blowin in the wind
Spreading from
machinery
Approaches to Weed Control
Knowing the right method of control
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Know your weed problem
Know why the weed is there
 e.g. spreading from dumped soil, disturbed edges,
extra moisture
Find out the legal control options
 For chemical control you must use a registered
herbicide
 Mechanical control of some weeds might spread
them in breach of the Noxious Weeds Act
Which plant is the weed?
Kangaroo Grass
Whisky Grass
There is no such thing as a plant that ‘looks like a weed’
Identify the plant BEFORE carrying out any control measures!
For more information
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Ask for advice from other
technical staff in council
Books
Weed factsheets
Websites
• www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds
• www.sydneyweeds.org.au
Handbooks & guides such as the WEEDeck
Plant identification services (Royal Botanic
Gardens & Industry & Investment NSW)
Chemicals in the workplace
What are some of the chemicals you most
commonly use at work?
Common problems & impacts on
biodiversity
Herbicides and Pesticides
• Pollute water
• Kill or harm animals or plants
• Harm yourself or workmates
Other chemicals
• Fuel
• Paints and oils
• Cleaning solvents
Inappropriate use
or disposal of
chemicals causes
pollution and
damages the
environment
The main legislation
Protection of the Environment Operations Act
1997
Penalties are very strong
•Penalties up to $5 million for companies
•Penalties up to $1 million for individuals
•Can include gaol time!
Enforcement is based on the concept of
“Due Diligence”
Other legislation to know about
NSW Pesticides Act 1999
• Must not cause injury or damage to people or nontarget species
• Must not possess or use unregistered pesticides
• Must read (or have explained) label requirements
before use
• Must follow label instructions
• Must store in appropriate container with label
• User training compulsory for work place applications
• User records must be kept
• Requirement for notification plan by councils
Case Study
Pesticide pollution case
2003
The Greenkeeper:
 250 hrs comm. service
 >$50,000 legal costs
Warringah Golf Club:
 GUILTY TIER ONE!
 $250,000 fine
 $190,000 EPA costs
 $50,500 clean up costs
 $80,403 environmental
controls
TOTAL = $570,903
Due Diligence
What can we reasonably expect people to
do to protect the environment?
It is everyone’s responsibility to:
• to identify the potential for environmental harm
• to put in place reasonable measures to
manage that risk to an acceptable level
Chemicals and
doing the right thing..
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Review your checklist of chemical reminders
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Complete the self audit
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What are the key issues that stand out to you?
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What do you think could be done to improve the
situation?
Nutrients
More nutrients are good for the soil
True or false?
Common problems and impacts
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Many Australian soils and waterways are low in
nutrients, particularly Phosphorous
Adding nutrients can favour the weeds and change
native vegetation
Nutrients in waterways can cause algal blooms, which
can lead to fish kills and poor water quality and
reduced light to aquatic plants
Too many nutrients
Algal blooms
Fish kills
These problems have been caused by
too many nutrients in stormwater runoff
Too many sediments
Erosion of topsoil and creek banks causes
sedimentation
This can:
• Smother fish habitat, such as seagrass beds
• Kill invertebrates, fish, frogs and their eggs
• Reduce light for aquatic plants
• Encourage growth of weeds
• Fill in deep pools that are used as a refuge in
times of drought
These problems have been caused by nutrient runoff in stormwater
Willows choking channels
and silting of streams
Too much water
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Many bushland environments have natural wetting
and drying cycles
Too much water provides good conditions for
weeds species
Erosion of creek lines can damage fish habitat and
breeding areas such as seagrass beds
What has happened here?
Where does this sediment come from?
Could this have been avoided?
What is wrong with
these pictures?
On the spot fines could be issued to these staff and their employer!
Things to remember
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Do not disturb more of the site than is necessary
Install erosion and sediment controls before
starting work
Maintain erosion and sediment controls
throughout the whole project until they are no
longer required
Always use the right equipment for the job
Good materials to use
Sediment fences
Tip Make sure you use
the right material for the
job. A silt fence washing
down stream can do a lot
of damage.
Coir Logs
Jutemaster
Silt Sock
Legal implications
Poor management of nutrients, sediments and
stormwater can lead to breaches of legislation
A lack of sediment control is an offence under the
POEO Act. This is enforceable by councils.
Depositing pollutants, including sediment and
nutrients, into sensitive environments could be an
offence under Threatened Species, Fisheries and
Pollution Legislation
Nutrient and sediment control
Doing the right thing..
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Review your checklist of reminders
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Complete the self audit
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What are the key issues that stand out to you?
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What do you think could be done to improve the
situation?
Remember!
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Are you showing “due diligence”?
You all have an important role to play in
protecting the Parramatta River catchment
Council staff are leaders who set an
example to the wider community
If you need assistance, talk to other
council staff with expertise in managing
natural areas
Field session
(Facilitator to insert
brief instructions on
where the
participants need to
go/meet for the site
visit)