What are Weed Spotters?

Weed Alert program | Who are Weed Spotters? | Where to look for new weeds? | Which weeds to look for? | What do Weed Spotters do? | Want to become a Weed Spotter? | How can I give feedback on Weed Spotters?

Weed Alert Program

Weed invasion is a significant threat to Victorians in lost agricultural production, control costs, environmental and social impacts. If we can prevent new high risk invasive plant introductions or identify and eradicate new infestations early then it is significantly cheaper and less time consuming than waiting until the weeds cover thousands of hectares. The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in Victoria recognise the importance of preventing the weeds of the future. DPI’s Weed Alert program focuses on these threats. With help from Weed Spotters, Weed Alert aims to prevent new high risk invasive plants from establishing and spreading in Victoria.

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The Weed Alert program is detailed within the Weed Alert Plan (formally the Weed Alert Rapid Response Plan).

Who are Weed Spotters? Weed Spotters assist the Victorian Government by looking out for and reporting new high risk invasive plants. This includes State prohibited weeds and Victorian alert weeds. Weed Spotters are individuals with an interest in plants including gardeners, contractors, consultants, horticulturalists, local government staff, and other agency staff including Parks Victoria, Catchment Management Authorities, DSE and DPI. There are a range of training activities and publications available to Weed Spotters to assist them to identify Weed Alert species. Training includes weed identification, distinguishing characteristics of the State prohibited weeds and how to make new high risk invasive plant report. Publications include a handbook, WEEDeck and subscription to the regular Weed Spotter newsletter. The information gathered by Weed Spotters helps to locate new high risk invasive plants and assist in their management. More information about Weed Spotters and how to report new high risk invasive plants is available in the Weed Spotter Handbook (PDF 645kb). Page Top Where to look for new weeds? New high risk invasive agricultural and environmental weeds often inadvertently escape from urban areas by ‘jumping the garden fence’ and may be found growing or be traded anywhere. Weed Spotters can look for Weed Alert species in a wide variety of environments including natural areas, farming areas, roadsides, cemeteries, car parks, waste places and urban fringes, gardens, restaurants, rivers and creeks, wetlands or home gardens. They may also be found for sale in nurseries, garden centres, markets, catalogues, in the media or on the internet. Which weeds to look for? Weed Spotters are only being asked to look for and report new high risk invasive plants in Victoria. These are State prohibited weeds and Victorian alert weeds. This does not include common weeds like Paterson’s Curse, Blackberry, Ragwort, Serrated Tussock, Gorse or St John’s Wort, even if they are new to one part of the State and common in others. Weed Spotters are only being asked to report State prohibited and Victorian alert weeds. What do Weed Spotters do? Weed Spotters are asked to be observant during their day-to-day activities and look out for new high risk invasive plants. What happens if a new weed is found? 1. Weed Spotter reports plant to their local Weed Alert Contact Office (WACO) 2. If a new weed for Victoria, DPI assess its potential threat 3. DPI responds according to its potential threat 4. Weed Spotter will be kept informed by the WACO throughout the process If you would like to report a new high risk invasive plant to Victoria, ask for your local Weed Alert Contact Officer on 136 186. DPI are not asking Weed Spotters to become involved in the on-ground management of these weeds, however Weed Spotters do contribute valuable information towards validating the distribution of Victorian alert weeds in Victoria and directing the DPI to the location of State prohibited weeds. Page Top Want to become a Weed Spotter? If you would like to register to become a Weed Spotter contact the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186 and provide your name, postal address, daytime phone number and email address. Alternatively you can download the Weed Spotter Application Form (PDF 272kb). The personal information you provide will be used by the DPI in accordance with the principles of the Information Privacy Act 2000 to distribute information and publicise events in relation to the Weed Spotter network. Your personal information will not be disclosed to any other organisation, unless authorised by law. If you wish to access information held about you or have any other enquires about this project please contact your local Weed Alert Contact Officer via the DPI Customer Service Centre on 136 186. How can I give feedback on Weed Spotters? We are always pleased to receive feedback from our Weed Spotters on all aspects of the network including training sessions, newsletters, our response to your weed reports or any other feedback that you may have. To provide us with your feedback contact your local Weed Alert Contact Officer or send an email to weed.spotters@dpi.vic.gov.au.

Weed Spotters in the field Photo: Catherine McInerney Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb) State Prohibited Weed Photo: Lalith Gunasekera Weed Spotter collecting a plant specimen in the field