2020-02-11 P&E Agenda - Item 5 - Attachment 2 - Draft Noosa Biosecurity Plan 2020

5.1.2       Management techniques
Public and private landowners use various methods of control of invasive species, often together to
take an integrated approach to management. Council is guided by industry best practice and will
continue to explore management alternatives that are safe, cost effective and practical. Each method
of invasive plant control can have advantages and disadvantages as tabled below.




Figure 4: Integrated weed management (IWM) (Source: Annie Klodd in IWM)


 Method            Advantages                      Disadvantages                    Examples
 Mechanical        Targeted,        immediate      Can be labour intensive          Groundsel at young growth
                   results.                        unless using machinery,          stage.
                                                   and impact off target
                                                                                    Steaming of weeds along
                                                   species. Still may require
                                                                                    pathways.
                                                   follow   up    with  other
                                                   methods.
 Chemical          High level of effectiveness,    Concerns       from     some     Glyphosate and Metsulfuron
                   reduces other disturbance,      sectors of the community         to control weeds
                   and can be targeted             over potential health effects.
 Biological        Once established,       self-   Expensive, requires years        Biological control of Lantana
                   sustainable                     of    research,   potential      and Salvinia
                                                   impacts    to   non-target
                                                   species.
 Cultural          Can be cost effective           Can be labour intensive and      To minimise spread avoid
                                                   high risk if not well managed    slashing Giant Rat Tail
                                                   (e.g. fire management).          grass prior to seeding.
                                                                                    Fire management.

Table 4: Advantages and disadvantages of various weed control methods




Noosa Biosecurity Plan 2020                                                                            Page 17