Weeds officers from Councils across the Mid-North Coast in conjunction with other stakeholders delivered a series of well attended community workshops to introduce newly developed biological controls for managing some widespread weeds and to raise awareness of the new and emerging weed African Olive.

Great Lakes Council’s Noxious and Environmental Weeds Coordinator Mr Terry Inkson said, “Approximately 240 land managers came from as far as the Liverpool Plains, Tamworth, the Central Coast and local Mid North Coast to Gloucester and Dungog to the very informative presentations over three separate days.”

“Three workshops were held – at Telegraph Point (70 people) Krambach (120 people) and Stroud (45 people). We thank the stakeholder team that included Hastings, Manning, Great Lakes and Karuah Landcares, Hunter Local Land Services, the CSIRO and local ecological consultants, whose efforts ensured the success of the workshops.”

Presentations covering a number of subjects were delivered by Canberra CSIRO scientist Dr Louise Morin, ex NSW DPI Strategy Leader (Invasive Species) Mr Royce Holtkamp who now resides at Herons Creek, Mr Jeremy Bradley from Beechwood Biological Solutions, Hunter Local Land Services Senior Officer Ms Lorna Adlem and Mr Inkson.

“Crofton Weed and Giant Parramatta Grass are hopefully going to be a little worse for wear after these new controls are established in the environment and African Olive should be very scared now that the community knows of its insidious impacts,” said Mr Inkson.

Local Councils of the Mid North Coast have applied to the environmental trust for funding to manage African Olive with the aim of forming a northern containment line in Great Lakes, Gloucester and Greater Taree Local Government areas.