Hepburn Shire Council and local Landcare groups are stepping up efforts to control roadside weeds and prevent the spread of invasive species that threaten biodiversity, bushfire safety and agricultural productivity.
In 2024–25, Council conducted weed control along 128 kilometres of rural roadsides using its own resources, and a further 34 kilometres were treated through a Victorian Government–funded Roadside Weeds and Pests Program. With approximately 1000 kilometres of rural roadside under Council management, this work represents a significant ongoing investment in local land protection. Major roads are managed by the Department of Transport and Planning, and forest roads by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Woody weeds such as gorse and blackberry pose long-term challenges for both the environment and agriculture. Council says effective control requires methodical effort over many years to reduce infestations and minimise herbicide use. To guide this work, Council is developing a new Roadside Conservation Plan and Weed and Pest Plan to provide a more structured and coordinated approach to roadside management.
Early detection and local knowledge remain vital. In October, Ullina farmer Russell Keith noticed unusual grass tussocks on a roadside near his property and asked Council’s Biodiversity Officer to investigate. The plants were confirmed as serrated tussock, one of Victoria’s most invasive pasture weeds.
Serrated tussock is unpalatable to stock and can render farmland useless if not controlled. Council, Agriculture Victoria and local Landcare members are now working together to eradicate the small infestation before it spreads. Mr Keith had attended a Victorian Serrated Tussock Working Party talk hosted by Ullina Landcare in 2023, which highlighted the importance of vigilance in detecting new outbreaks.
Across Victoria, local communities are also receiving support through the state’s Partnerships Against Pests program. The latest round of grants, announced by Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence, will deliver $5 million to 27 projects focused on community-led pest and weed control.
Among the recipients is the Blackwood and Barrys Reef Landcare Group, which has received $50,000 for its “Upper Lerderderg Catchment Weed Mapping and Prioritisation” project. The project will bring together a range of land managers to prepare a comprehensive weed management plan and encourage coordinated action across the catchment.
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas said the funding “supports local community groups to carry out important work that protects our rural communities from invasive weeds and pests.”
Minister Spence said the program “puts the power in the hands of locals: the people who know their areas best and can lead the charge to tackle pests and weeds and protect the places we all care about.”
With coordinated efforts from Council, Landcare and state programs, rural communities are strengthening their defences against invasive weeds and helping to safeguard the health of farmland and natural ecosystems for the future.
This article is based on media releases from Hepburn Shire Council and from the office of Member for Macedon, Mary-Anne Thomas.
