Pests, Weeds and Biodiversity

Many roadside reserves contain the last remaining intact areas of plant communities that provide habitat and wildlife corridors for plants and animals.

The State Government assists Council's through the Roadside Weeds and Pest Program to manage the pest and weeds located alongside the lengths of our rural roads. Council receives $75,000 on an annual basis.

Our program prioritises 'regionally prohibited weeds' which are weeds that Council is legally required to eradicate. After this, 'regionally controlled weeds' and pest animals are prioritised where:

• Partners including Landcare and the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) have targeted control programs (eg. Gorse in Yarram area and Serrated Tussock in Stratford area).
• There is a likelihood of high threat agricultural weeds spreading (eg. African Love Grass).
• Adjoining landholders have carried out weed control works.

The program is funded by Wellington Shire Council and the Victorian Government. We use the above priorities and consider seasonal conditions when planning our annual program.

For further information, please see the Native Vegetation Removal page.

Council’s Urban Biodiversity Plan was developed to align with Wellington Shire Council’s Public Open Space Plan 2014-2024, the Wellington 2030 Strategic Vision, and the Victorian Government’s Protecting Victoria’s Environment - Biodiversity 2037 Strategy.

The State-wide Integrated Flora and Fauna Teams (SWIFFT) provide a useful resource of current threatened species across Wellington Shire:

• Threatened Fauna
• Threatened Flora