Out & About With the DPI

A weed management workshop was recently held, ANDREW RADOJKOVIC, Environmental Officer, DPI reports.

DPI, in collaboration with Boral Resources, ran a one day weed movement, machinery inspection and cleaning workshop at the Boral Deer Park Quarry. The workshop focused on preventing the spread of weeds through good planning and equipment hygiene and highlighted the issues associated with failing to adequately control weeds and the potential costs born to industry.

Run by weed specialist Michael Moerkerk (Farm Services Victoria) and part of DPI’s Weedstop program the workshop covered:

• Identifying weeds
• How weeds reproduce and spread
• Job planning to reduce weed movement
• Inspecting and cleaning machinery of contaminants
• Records and reporting
• Legislation and categories of noxious weeds

While all attendees were familiar with the major noxious weeds typically found on quarry sites (such as artichoke thistle, serrated tussock, bone seed, blackberry and Paterson’s curse), the cunning methods by which they spread were an eye opener.

For example, perennial tussock grasses (such as serrated tussock or Chilean needle grass) will spread by seed dispersed by wind, in soil or by animals, the plants themselves are also viable propagules and will happily spread if disturbed and carried by machinery.

The workshop also looked at where seed accumulates on vehicles and machinery. Interestingly, a significant proportion of seed is found on the floors and in foot wells of vehicles typically beneath the driver’s feet. Other areas of note include the undercarriage of vehicles (guards, chassis rails), engine bay (grills, radiators, mounts) and attachments (bull bars, tow bars). Surprisingly, wheels and arches tend not to accumulate as much material as their design favours self shedding.

The workshop concluded with a session on the state legislation governing noxious weeds – the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 (CaLP Act). Under the CaLP Act there are four categories of noxious weeds which are either declared for the whole state or specific catchments. Responsibility and control requirements (eg eradication versus preventing spread) vary between categories.

Importantly, the CaLP Act also specifically prohibits the transport of a noxious weed or its propagules. This has implications for contaminated machinery moving between sites or the transport off site of potentially contaminated materials.

The take home message from the workshop was the spread of weeds via contaminated machinery can be reduced by sound job planning and by practicing machinery hygiene.

The workshop was attended by industry reps from Boral, Barro, Cemex, Hanson and DPI (Minerals and Petroleum Regulation) staff (Note: the DPI pest plant and animal targeted audit is currently underway).

Weed specialist Michael Moerkerk (right) explains to DPI and industry representatives what to look for when inspecting and cleaning machinery to reduce weed movement between sites.

More info can be found on the DPI’s website www.dpi.vic.gov.au

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