Gunnedah Shire Council has tackled 20 infestations of Alligator Weed found in the Namoi River from the Peel River junction through to Gunnedah.
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The 2017 summer inspection program was funded by North West Local Land Services (NW LLS) and targeted Alligator Weed and Honey Locust in the Peel and Namoi Rivers.
The program took around two weeks to complete and covered an area from Sandy Creek near Somerton to the Narrabri township. High rainfall prior to the program, coupled with one of the hottest summers on record produced the perfect environment for Alligator Weed.
“Although the infestations were relatively small and in close proximity to existing sites, a couple of larger plants outside those sites caused us some concern,” Council’s senior weeds officer Lee Amidy said.
All infestations in the Peel and Namoi Rivers have since been removed manually or treated with chemical. The sites will be continually monitored for regrowth.
“The program also provided us with an opportunity to assess the extent of regrowth of Honey Locust trees along both rivers following three separate treatment programs over the last 10 years,” Mr. Amidy said.
The results from control programs targeting this thorny invasive tree were described as extremely encouraging, with local weeds officers agreeing that the platform had been set for the containment and eventual eradication of Honey Locust in the Namoi River.
Information on invasive weeds is available from council, NW LLS and NSW DPI.
