COASTAL WEEDS STRATEGY An 18 month project implementing a Coastal Weed Strategy in a significant tract of the Cradle Coast was completed in mid 2011, but its legacy will be long felt in the region as the fight against invasive weeds continues. Funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country, the $72,000 project built on previous weed control investments and focused on invasive coastal weeds such as African Boxthorn, Blackberry, Boneseed, Bridal Creeper, Cape Ivy, Gorse, Pampas Grass, Pyp Grass, Rice Grass and Sea Spurge. The strategy implementation was lead by Cradle Coast NRM’s Coastal Weeds Officer, Matt Rose, and delivered weed control over 150 hectares and across 40 sites throughout the region’s coastal zone. The works have been mapped and evaluated to ensure an effective outcome. Such a large-scale project couldn’t be undertaken alone and relied upon a coordinated effort between all of the region’s coastal Councils plus the Aboriginal Lands Council of Tasmania, Six Rivers Aboriginal Corporation, Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and Crown Land Services.
The on-ground works were assisted by more than 30 community group land management activities involving more than 500 people. In addition to weed removal, the activities included native plant and weed identification workshops, tree planting, mapping and monitoring training, and plant pressing to establish a herbarium. The Coastal Weed Strategy took this holistic approach to weed control to ensure that the knowledge associated with weed management lived on long after the end of the official strategy implementation. The working relationships formed during the implementation period are another legacy that will continue to deliver benefits to the region. The goals and strategies of the Coastal Weed Strategy have now been integrated into the broader Cradle Coast Regional Weed Management Strategy developed by the Cradle Coast Weeds Advisory Group.
INFORMATION SHEET COASTAL WEEDS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The project was supported by Cradle Coast Natural Resource Management (NRM) through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country. Implementation was assisted by the region’s coastal Councils plus the Aboriginal Lands Council of Tasmania, Six Rivers Aboriginal Corporation, Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and Crown Land Services. Thank you to the following community groups for their ongoing efforts to control coastal weeds: • Cooee to Camdale Coastcare • Circular Head Landcare • Friends of Don Reserve • Friends of Lillico Penguins • Friends of Riverside Avenue • Sisters Beach Environment Team • Sulphur Creek Coastcare • Rubicon Land and Coastcare • Girl Guides North West region • Boat Harbour Surf Lifesaving Club
PO Box 338 30 Marine Terrace Burnie Tasmania 7320 Phone: 03 6431 6285 Fax: 03 6431 7014 E-mail: nrm@cradlecoast.com www.cradlecoastnrm.com.