In 2007, Environs Kimberley began to host Community WEED (Weed Education Eradication Delivery) Project as set up by the Northern Rangelands Steering Committee. This Kimberley- based project has been delivered in partnership with the Pilbara Community WEED project and Biodiversity Projects (Department of Environment and Conservation, Karratha).
WEED broadly aims to:
Develop and implement community-level education and on-ground sustainable weed control initiatives within the Northern Rangelands of WA.
Work towards and drive a holistic community, industry and governmental response to the threat weeds impose on environmental and cultural values within the Kimberley & Pilbara regions
What do weeds do?
Two thirds of Australia’s weeds started off as friendly-looking garden plants that changed country by taking over habitat and displacing native plants. Some weeds were introduced as pasture species but have since moved on to create problems. Weeds are plants that come from other countries or from other parts of Australia. They don’t usually have any natural predators and can quickly dominate an area. Changes to the vegetation structure can harm both animals and people as habitat is destroyed and bush tucker can be much harder to find. In the Kimberley the vulnerable Purple Crowned Fairy Wren is threatened by weeds, the fragile and threatened Monsoonal Vine Thicket is being smothered to death along the coastline, and mighty rivers like the Fitzroy are being choked by weeds.
Passion Vine
Passion Vine
Picture: Passion Vine smothering degraded Vine Thicket along the Dampier Peninsula Coast. Native plants struggle to germinate and survive and the habitat value for animals and birds is much reduced. In late dry season the weeds make this area much more flammable. A hot fire can destroy many native plants and seeds and help weeds to spread into more areas.
Coffee Bush
Coffee Bush
Picture: Coffee Bush dominating an area in Kununurra. These plants form thickets and shade out native vegetation. They compete strongly with other plants and prevent germination of native shrubs, trees and understorey. The thickets reduce the habitat value of areas and also provide fuel for hot fires. The seeds are hard and germinate readily after a hot fire.
Weeds can cause hotter and more frequent fires and threaten vulnerable species with local extinction. Some weeds have defenses against being eaten, such as producing spiny fruit or being poisonous to grazing animals, so heavy grazing promotes the spread of weeds.. Healthy native ecosystems managed under natural fire regimes are the best defense against weeds. Where weeds are already a big problem, it helps to have a long-term plan, good training and methodology, and smart ideas to help restore the natural balance.
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What are Kimberley Weeds?
The Environs Kimberley Community Weed Project has compiled an (ever-growing) list of Kimberley weeds. These have been developed into downloadable weed cards so anyone in the Kimberley can learn to identify weeds and then start doing something about them.
Click the following to access the individual Kimberley Weed Cards:
• Kimberley Weed Cards (cover) • Noogoora Burr
• Bellyache Bush • Parkinsonia
• Buffel Grass • Passion Vine
• Butterfly Pea • Rubber Bush
• Candle Bush • Rubber Vine
• Coffee Bush • Siratro
• Coral Vine • Snakeweed
• Merremia • Taylor Fruit
• Mint Weed • Weed Work and Safety
• Neem • Further References
Click here to download the complete pack
of Kimberley Weed Cards (3Mb)
Click to download weeds pack
If you would like to receive a hard copy of these weed cards, please email the Community WEED Project Officer at [email protected]
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What else is the Community Weed Project up to?
The project is about creating partnerships with community and working groups, TAFE, industry, and local & state government; it is about building awareness and capacity for people to tackle weed threats.
Kimberley Weed Program Manual
Community Weed has developed an adaptable Kimberley Weed Program Manual. It has two parts:
“Keeping People and Country Safe When Doing Weed Work” which gives people lots of ideas on how to work smart, minimise use of herbicides and deal with weeds effectively without compromising human and environmental safety.
“Site Manual” which contains all the Monitoring and Record sheets you need as well as tips for creating a site plan. If you do need any advice or assistance in creating a site plan, be sure to contact the Community Weed Project. [email protected]
Minyirr Park
Community Weed Project is working with Minyirr Park to develop their weed and fire management plan. We have assembled all the equipment and done the training needed to undertake a good working weed control project. Works have begun in two small areas where some weed control has taken place before. Weeds we have been tackling are: Neem, Passion Vine, Siratro and Merremia. We hope to gradually broaden the areas we work on and will soon be targeting other weeds: Bellyache Bush, Leucaena and Butterfly Pea. Look out for Community Weedbuster Days in 2008!
Conserving Dampier Peninsula Vine Thickets
The Kimberley Community Weed Project has been collaborating with the Pilbara Biodiversity project to undertake weed control in priority Vine Thicket patches along the Dampier Peninsula. Vine Thickets are a Threatened Ecological Community (TEC), are often sites of cultural significance and contain many bush tucker plants. Many groups have been consulted and have supported the projects, including: Department of Environment and Conservation, Traditional Owner groups, the Kimberley Land Council, Kimberley TAFE. The Bardi Jawi rangers and representatives from Minyirr Park and Goolarabooloo Association have been putting the project together on the ground and doing a fantastic job! One Arm Point School has joined in by helping to plant native plants back on the weed site and learn about some of the peninsula weeds.
Read more about our weed work in Vine Thickets in a paper recently put together for the State NRM Conference (Bridgetown March/April 2008).
Download NRM Conference paper.
Working with Karajarri Rangers
One of the important aspects of weed control is the location and identification of pest plants. The Community Weed Project has been working with Kimberley TAFE to deliver the weed identification and control component of the rangers’ Conservation and Land Management Course. We have covered lots of beautiful country looking for weeds.
On one of the sites, Passion Vine was making incursions along a paperbark swamp, so we have started works in this area by removing the Passion Vine and piling it for later burning.
Pulling Passion Vine
Pulling Passion Vine.
In another site we found and removed Castor Oil Bush emerging from an old tip site and will be checking this site regularly for any new germinants.
Castor Oil plant found and removed
Karajarri Rangers, Byron, Preston and Kevin remove Castor Oil Bush
with Louise in Bidyadanga.
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Water Wise Weeds
The Community Weed Project is asking Water Corporation to amend its promotion of potentially weedy plants in the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. The plants promoted in their Waterwise booklet include only about 30% native species. Approximately 30% of the exotic species listed have demonstrated weedy behaviour in other areas of Australia, including WA and NT.
Click here to see media release (25 February 2008).
Water Corporation has recently written to Environs Kimberley and Department of Environment and Conservation to advise that they have contracted a new consultant to redevelop the Waterwise booklet, consult more widely with the community and seek advice from EK and DEC on species selection. The existing material will then be withdrawn and the website modified.
The new consultant has drafted an amended plant list and comment is sought before June 3rd 2008. If you would like to view this list and provide comment please contact Louise at [email protected]
See Broome Advertiser Article (10 April 2008).
Garden Thug of the Month
Weeds that escape from gardens and invade and destroy bushland are known as Garden Thugs. ABC Kimberley and the Community Weed Project are raising awareness about these weeds in a “Thug of the Month” radio session.
Click here to see each thug.
March http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/03/272200923.htm
Grow Me Instead
In 2008, we are hoping to put together a “Grow Me Instead” Brochure for the West Kimberley. It will highlight west Kimberley weeds and showcase some beautiful locally native plants that can be used to replace those weeds.
“Grow Me Instead” will provide Kimberley gardeners with options to enhance beautiful gardens, attract abundant local wildlife, grow bush foods, lower water use and reduce the impact of weeds on the fragile Kimberley environment we know and love. I will be looking for community and industry input, so please let me know if you are interested in being involved.
Louise Williams
Community WEED Project Officer
Weed Education & Eradication Delivery
M: 0448 472 005
Ph: 08 9192 1922
Fx: 08 9192 5538
PO Box 2281 Broome WA 6725
[email protected]
Louise Williams
In partnership with:
Natural Heritage Trust & Rangelands NRM Coordinating Group