Our beautiful region is being overrun by a toxic and aggressive invader, but we have a plan to restore harmony and we need your help.

Backed by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State NRM Program, Nature Conservation Margaret River Region and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions are spearheading the biggest arum lily control program this region has ever seen. In 2019 and 2020 an impressive 1020 landowners took part, actively controlling arum lilies across 16,100 hectares. Nearly 2450 hours of spraying has been undertaken by contractors on private property, National Parks and reserves. Private landowners themselves have completetd over 2140 hours of control.

Volunteers from the Yallingup Land Conservation District Committee and the Friends of the Cape to Cape Track sprayed arum lilies within the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park, completing an incredible 442 volunteer hours of hard work.

The Shire of Augusta Margaret River, City of Busselton and Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association are also making a valuable contribution with 1020 hours of control undertaken in 2020.

In 2021 Nature Conservation has received funding to work in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions to control arum lily in the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. Over $60,000 has been allocated to tackle many infestations across the Park including following up and extending previous areas of control and also beginning work in the karri forest at Boranup. The funding has come from the Government of Western Australia’s Offsets Funds for Recovery and Native Vegetation Rehabilitation Scheme programs. We are very pleased about this work as it will make a good start to match the considerable effort being put in by landholders and volunteers across the region.

Motivating and supporting shared management by landowners, volunteers and government agencies across thousands of hectares is a huge challenge and we are excited by the progress that has been made in the first two years of the Blitz. It is an inspiring effort of a whole community working together.

Please join us in this war on the most widespread, damaging weed in our beautiful region. We are in the third year of the three year Blitz so the time to get involved is now.

In the first year of the Blitz we learnt that the majority of landholders want to control arum lily on their properties. People are often uncertain how to go about it and they want to know that it is worthwhile, that others in their neighbourhood are also controlling the weed.

We have addressed these obstacles by providing free herbicide and instructions on how to spray, or how to manually control arum lily for landholders that have just a few plants. We are also working hard to get everyone in our region involved.  A coordinated, concerted and sustained efforts across the region is essential to snuff out this fast-growing, easily spread weed.

In 2018, Nature Conservation partnered with DBCA in developing the Arum Lily Management Plan for the Margaret River Region, which offers clear direction, a coordinated approach and outlines priorities for the 2018-28 period. The Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, City of Busselton, Lower Blackwood LCDC, Yallingup LCDC and the Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association have also signed onto the Blitz. But there is one critical piece of the puzzle remaining: You.

Whether you own a large rural property, a bush block, or a house in the suburbs, we’re inviting everyone to get involved. We are asking you to register as a participant in the blitz so we can let you know about assistance, keep you informed on progress, and so we can track where arum lily control is being undertaken. This will allow us to recruit other properties in your area, improving efficiency and reducing the risk of reinfestation. It also demonstrates participant numbers to our funding bodies, helping our chances of future funding for ongoing work.

REGISTER TO JOIN THE ARUM LILY BLITZ