Arum Lily Blitz

In 2020 Nature Conservation successfully obtained $340,360 in funding from the WA Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program to deliver a three year Arum Lily Blitz in the Margaret River region.

The Arum Lily Blitz is bringing together the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), City of Busselton, Shire of Augusta Margaret River, Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, Yallingup LCDC, Friends of the Cape to Cape Track and private landholders for a coordinated, concerted and sustained control effort.

The blitz is guided by the Arum Lily Management Plan for the Margaret River Region, prepared by Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and DBCA in 2018.  The plan offers clear direction on the coordinated approach needed to control arum lily to protect the well recognised values of the region.

For an update on achievements in 2019 go to https://natureconservation.org.au/blog/2019-arum-lily-blitz-update/

There is more information on the progress of the Arum Lily Blitz here

Weed management plans and priority control

Nature Conservation continues to undertake strategic weed management planning and priority control in accordance with the Capes Regional Environmental Weed Strategy developed in 2015.  The Capes Regional Environment Weed Management Group (CREWG) is coordinating priority control and community awareness raising activities across organisations and tenures.

Five management plans for priority emerging weed species and five for widespread weed species have now been completed and reviewed by CREWG members. Weed control programs in accordance with these management plans are currently funded by the State NRM program on a cost sharing basis with landowners, the Shire of Augusta Margaret River and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

The annual blackberry control will continue in the Margaret River foreshore reserve in the 2022_2023 season. Control of other priority species such as African feathergrass, dolichos pea and pittosporum is ongoing.

Project Officers: Mike Griffiths

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Community urged to control weedy wattles

Landholders are urged to control spreading weedy wattles that are threatening biodiversity in the Margaret River area.

Many wattle species native to eastern Australia have been widely planted in rural residential areas in the Margaret River region in gardens, windbreaks and revegetation. Whilst planted with the best intentions and following advice provided at the time, we now know that these plants are very invasive and are spreading throughout bushland areas where they reduce the variety of native plants and animals. They also increase the fuel load in the bush and the risk of fire.

Control methods
Wattle species can be controlled all year round by the following methods:
Hand weed. Be wary of soil disturbance and trampling. Suitable for light infestations of many seedlings and small saplings, not suitable for suckers
Felling and ringbarking. To ringbark, cut away a strip of bark at least 10 cm wide and deep enough to sever the flow of plant food up the trunk. When felling, cut as close to the ground as possible to minimise the probability of reshooting.

For more information contact Mike Griffiths on 9757 2202 or [email protected]

Pictured left Sydney Golden Wattle