Weeds and Pest Animals

Landowners have a legal responsibility to take all reasonable steps to prevent the spread of, and wherever possible eradicate, declared or noxious weeds and pest animals from their land.

Gorse in flower

Declared (Noxious) Weeds

​Declared weeds; also commonly known as noxious weeds, and pest animal species are governed by State legislation the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Under the Act, landowners have a legal responsibility to take all reasonable steps to prevent the spread of, and as far as possible eradicate, declared weeds from their land.

The Agriculture Victoria are the authorised body under the Act for enforcement action on landholders who fail to meet their legal obligation to control declared weeds and pest animals.

Some of the control methods that are used to control weeds include:

  • Manual and mechanical removal

  • Herbicide application

  • Burning

  • Slashing and grooming.

More information/need help?

For more information on identifying weeds and their control, check out our FAQ sheets or contact Council's Natural Resources Officer.

The Victorian Gorse Taskforce (vicgorsetaskforce.com.au) and Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party (serratedtussock.com) have excellent resources on controlling these two weeds.

Declared (Noxious) Weeds FAQ

Environmental Weeds FAQ

Weeds Pamphlet and field guide

Pest Animals (Rabbits and Foxes)

Rabbits

Pest animal species (e.g. rabbits, foxes) are governed by State legislation the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Under the Act, landowners have a legal responsibility to take all reasonable steps to prevent the spread of, and as far as possible eradicate declared pest animals from their land.

Rabbit and foxes can be troublesome in rural areas. Foxes have the capacity to kill native wildlife and stock and rabbits can overgraze and destroy native vegetation, pastures and gardens.

Foxes

Council controls foxes on Council managed land when they're found within a den. The den is fumigated to destroy the fox. Council does not control foxes using 1080 meat baits due to the risk of poisoning residents dogs.

Fox control on private land is the responsibility of the landholder.

Rabbits

Council controls rabbits on Council managed land and can provide advice to landholders regarding rabbit control on their land.

There are a variety of methods for controlling rabbits including:

  • Harbour destruction
  • Exclusion fencing

  • Baiting (poisoning)

  • Fumigation

Best effect is achieved when landholders work together.

Council's Rabbit Management Program

Council has developed a Rabbit Management Strategy and Rabbit Management Plan to guide our efforts to control rabbits on Council owned or managed land. These two documents contain information on best practice rabbit management.

 

Rabbit Management Strategy     Rabbit Management Plan

Roadside Weeds and Pest Animals

Council has been actively controlling roadside weeds and pests since 2010 on Council managed roadsides and has received funding annually from the State Government under the Local Government Roadside Weeds and Pests Program (RWPP) as part of its ongoing commitment to controlling roadside weeds and pests.

The RWPP provides funding support to eligible councils to plan and implement control activities for weeds and pests on municipal rural roadsides.

The funding is used to support Council’s roadside weed control program which has seen invasive weeds controlled on over 1600km of roads in the Shire, targeting declared weeds including Serrated Tussock, Gorse, Blackberry, Sweet Briar, Broom species, Boxthorn and Hawthorn.

Roadside Weeds and Pest Control Plan 2023-2026

More information/need help?

Contact Council's Natural Resources Manager for advice.

The Victorian Rabbit Action Network (VRAN) has some excellent resources at vran.com.au.

Further information on rabbit control can be seen in this brochure, courtesy of Nillumbik Shire Council.

Further information on weeds and pest animals can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website.

Environment and Sustainability

 

Rate this page

Is this page useful?