Noxious Weeds Review

For the first time in 30 years the Victorian noxious weeds list is being reviewed, and the first of several stages to update it has been completed. The review looked at the list of currently declared Noxious weeds and made changes to classification that came into effect on the 6th March 2008.

The noxious weeds review involves a cooperative effort from a number of agencies including the DSE, DPI, the ten Catchment Management Authorities (CMA) across Victoria and the Victorian Catchment Management Council.

A key aspect of this review is the use for the first time of a scientific, evidence based approach to assess the potential risk and impact of invasive plant species on Victoria’s social, economic and environmental values. This information has been gathered by Biosciences Research Division and can be viewed at Victorian Resources Online.

The remaining stages will look at weeds identified through the CMA’s Regional Weed Action Plans, plants nominated by the garden and nursery industry, the National Environmental Alert List, Weeds of National Significance and plants suggested by the wider community.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Noxious Weed Review?
2. Why is the Noxious Weeds Review being undertaken?
3. Who is involved with the Noxious Weeds Review?
4. What is involved in the Noxious Weed Review?
5. How is the Noxious Weed Review being organised?
6. What is a Weed Risk Assessment?
7. What are the roles of the Government agencies in the Noxious Weeds Review?
8. What happens to the recommendations that the Catchment Management Authority has put forward?
9. Is this the same process for declaring the Weeds of National Significance?
10. Will State Prohibted Weeds be reviewed in this process?
11. What effect does a change in category have?
12. Does a change in category change the importance of a weed species?
13. How was the community involved in nominating weeds to be reviewed?
14. How do I get more information on individual weeds?
15. Where can I get more information on how to eradicate weeds on my property that are now Regionally Prohibited?
16. What new plants have been added to the list?
17. When will the next phases of the review be complete and new weeds added?
18. Have any species been removed from the list?
19. What obligations will change for landowners?

• The Noxious Weed Review is a process being undertaken to assess all the Regionally Prohibited and Regionally Controlled species within Victoria as well as assessing potential weed species with the prospect of being declared under the Catchment and Land Protection Act (1994) and added to the noxious weed list.

• This is the first time that the declared list has been reviewed in 30 years. The previous declaration had gaps in the consistency of classification of weeds across the state.
• With the current knowledge of the impact, invasiveness, and present and future distribution of plant species, the review will allow for a consistent approach to weed management across the state.
• The key benefit of the Noxious Weed Review is that the application of resources to manage weeds will reflect the best community benefit and return for investment.

• The Noxious Weed Review is being conducted by the Department of Primary Industries in partnership with the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Victorian Catchment Management Council, the 10 Catchment Management Authorities around the state, and the wider community through each of these Authorities.

• The Noxious Weed Review covers all Regionally Prohibited and Regionally Controlled species, priority weed species in each Catchment Management Authority’s Weed Action Plan, plants identified by the Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria, the National Environmental Alert species, Weeds of National Significance and those nominated by the community through the Catchment Management Authorities.
• Each weed species undergoes a Weed Risk Assessment and goes through public consultation in conjunction with the Catchment Management Authorities.
• Each species undergoes a consistency check across the state and is submitted to the Victorian Catchment Management Council for consideration of declaration.
• The process for declaration is outlined in Section 69 of the Catchment and Land Protection Act (1994).
• The Noxious Weed Review does not include State Prohibited weeds or Victorian Alert Species unless the community nominates them.

• Phase 1 is assessing the weeds that were previously declared as Regionally Prohibited and Regionally Controlled under the Catchment and Land Protection Act (1994).
• Phase 2 is assessing the weed species that are not currently declared which are considered priority weed species under each Catchment Management Authority’s Weed Action Plan.
• Phase 3 is conducted in two parts; Phase 3a is assessing plants identified by the Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria, National Environmental Alert Species and Weeds of National Significance that are yet to be reviewed.
• Phase 3b is assessing weed species nominated by each of the Catchment Management Authorities from community nominations.

• The Weed Risk Assessment is an evidence based approach and includes the impact, invasiveness, current and potential distribution of each species.
• A detailed summary of each Weed Risk Assessment and the process can be found at Victorian Resources Online.

• Catchment Management Authorities – Consult with the community in their region and after consideration recommends the appropriate category for each species in their region. Catchment Management Authorities also develop Regional Weed Plans.
• Department of Primary Industries (Biosecurity Victoria) – Undertakes overall project coordination and policy direction. Provides advice to the Minister for Agriculture on proposals.
• Department of Primary Industries (Catchment and Agriculture Services) – Validates the present distribution of weed species within the Catchment Management Authority regions, undertakes the economic analysis and assists Catchment Management Authorities.
• Department of Primary Industries (Biosciences Research Division) – Undertakes the Weed Risk Assessments which include invasiveness assessments, potential distribution and impact assessment.
• Department of Sustainability and Environment – Provides advice to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on proposed declarations.
• Victorian Catchment Management Council – Reviews the recommendations from the Catchment Management Authorities, the Weed Risk Assessments and economic analysis and provides advice to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change on proposed declarations.

• Each Catchment Management Authority uses their own process within guidelines to determine what they believe the classification of the weed should be in their region.
• Under the Catchment and Land Protection Act weeds may be declared as State Prohibited, Regionally Prohibited, Regionally Controlled or Restricted. The last three categories are specific to each Catchment Management Authority region.
• Catchment Management Authority recommendations on which category is appropriate for each of the species are submitted to the Department of Primary Industries, at which point a state level consistency check is undertaken. The consistency check ensures that where a weed is at a similar stage of spread and poses a similar threat in several regions it is not being recommended for different categories in them.
• The recommendations, Weed Risk Assessments and Economic Evaluation are then passed on to the Victorian Catchment Management Council for their consideration and advice to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change.
• The proposed declaration is then provided to the Minister for Agriculture for endorsement and then to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change for recommendation as the Minister who is responsible for the Catchment and Land Protection Act.
• Following recommendation by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, the proposed declarations are passed to the Executive Council for approval and then become official following publication of an order in the Government Gazette.

• The Weeds of National Significance are the 20 species which are considered to have the greatest impact socially, environmentally, agriculturally and economically at a National level. The process for identifying Weeds of National Significance is not the same as the Victorian Noxious Weeds Review.
• The Victorian government made a commitment that it would declare all the Weeds of National Significance as noxious weeds. Those which had not previously been declared became Restricted in every Catchment Management Authority region in Victoria.
• Those Weeds of National Significance which have not already been assessed as part of Phase 1 & 2 of the Noxious Weeds Review will be reviewed as part of Phase 3a.

• Species which have been previously classified as State Prohibited Weeds will not be reviewed as part of the Noxious Weeds Review.

• A change in category will change the responsibility for the control and prevention of spread of weeds on different land tenures.
• The category of a species will determine the requirements of government and land managers in a region as to whether the species is to be eradicated, controlled from growing and spreading or be restricted in movement and trade.
• For a full list of classifications and definitions go to www.dpi.vic.gov.au/weeds

• Each Catchment Management Authority’s Weed Action Plan determines the priority of weed species in the Authority’s region. The classification of weeds species determines what the responsibilities are for landholders in combating weeds on there property.

• Nominations of plant species from the community were sought in Phase 3b of the Noxious Weeds Review by each of the Catchment Management Authorities. This was achieved through advertising in local papers, letters sent to Landcare groups and notices on the Catchment management Authority websites. This process has now been completed.

• Information is available through the Weeds Information Notes series.
• Contact your local Pest Management Officer.

• Information is available through the Weeds Information Notes series.
• Contact your local Pest Management Officer.

• No new plant species have been added to the list in this phase of the review.
• Other currently non-declared species have been assessed during phase 2 and 3 of the Noxious Weeds Review.

• Phase 2 and 3 of the Noxious Weeds Review, which will both involve the addition of new species, are still continuing and will be completed in the near future. Please monitor this page for updates.

• No species have been removed from the current noxious weeds list.
• Many species have changed classifications though. A full list of classifications and definitions are available online via the Weeds Information Notes series.

• State prohibited – these are weeds that either do not occur in Victoria but pose a significant threat were they to enter, or are present in small numbers, pose a serious threat and can reasonably be expected to be eradicated from the State as a whole. The Victorian government is responsible for their eradication.

• Regionally prohibited – these are weeds which are not widely distributed in a region, capable of spreading further and capable of being eradicated in that region. Land owners must take reasonable steps to eradicate regionally prohibited weeds in relation to their land.

• Regionally controlled – these are weeds that are widespread but considered to be important in that region. Continuing control measures are required to prevent further spread. Land owners must take reasonable steps to prevent the growth and spread of regionally controlled weeds in relation to their land.

• Restricted - this is the lowest level category, where weeds are a serious threat to primary production, Crown land, the environment or community health and have the potential, if sold or traded, to spread within or from Victoria. There are no specific obligations under the Act for landowners to control restricted weeds, but they must not be sold or traded in Victoria.