FAQs

Weeds are invasive terrestrial or aquatic plants that harm biodiversity, agriculture, and local industries such as tourism and recreation. They damage native plants, animals and habitats, reduce land productivity, affect livestock, and can impact human health through toxic or irritating species.

Over time, these introduced species escaped into the natural environment. Because many invasive weeds have no natural predators or diseases here, they spread quickly and thrive in Australian conditions. As a result, they outcompete native plants for space, light, water, and nutrients. This leads to the gradual decline of native vegetation, reduced biodiversity, and long‑term changes to our local landscapes.

Weeds are spread via wind, water, animals, and human activity, utilizing seeds, creeping roots, and stem fragments, to colonize new areas.

Invasive weeds can slowly change landscapes by pushing out native plants and reducing biodiversity. Over time, they can take over completely, creating dense weed‑only areas that may never return to their natural state.

If weeds are left unmanaged, their impacts will continue to worsen over time. 

One of the most immediate consequences is increased soil erosion, particularly along creeks and rivers (riparian zones). Weeds often have shallow root systems that do not hold soil together effectively. As native vegetation is lost, creek banks become unstable and begin to collapse.

This erosion leads to higher levels of sediment, debris, and pollutants washing into our waterways, especially during heavy rainfall events. This sediment can damage aquatic habitats, reduce water quality, and place added pressure on downstream rivers, wetlands, and dams.

Inaction also results in the ongoing loss of native plant diversity. As invasive weeds spread, they crowd out native species that provide food and shelter for wildlife. This has a ripple effect across the ecosystem, leading to declines in insects, birds, mammals, and other animals that depend on native vegetation. Wollondilly is already home to many threatened and vulnerable species, and we cannot afford to lose any more.

Ultimately, doing nothing allows weeds to reshape our landscapes permanently - making them harder and more expensive to restore in the future, and reducing the natural, environmental, and cultural values of our region.

A 'general biosecurity duty' is a general obligation for people to be aware of their surroundings and take action to prevent the introduction and spread of pests, diseases, weeds and contaminants. 

Council will continue managing priority weeds on public land and waterways, and work with landholders and other agencies (such as Local Land Services) to manage weeds on private land.