Joint Sea Spurge control success
Published on 01 September 2024
Bushcare volunteers and Council’s Environmental Services staff have joined forces to remove a patch of Sea Spurge from Manyana Beach.
Sea Spurge is a coastal weed with buoyant, sea-water resistant seeds. It spreads easily on the tides and the patch at Manyana Beach had taken hold.
That was before the group planned to attack the patch and pulled it all from an area of about 2,000m2.
Sea Spurge can spread over long distances by ocean currents and early detection and eradication is critical to prevent the pant from taking over dunes and forming a thick carpet.
In some areas such as parts of Tasmanian beaches, Sea Spurge is the dominant plant on dunes and foredune areas. The team of seven people also removed a number of established African Daisy plants which are also introduced beach plants.
“Our group is so pleased this activity has occurred and having enthusiastic Council staff to assist with our weed control is a real bonus,” said Volunteer Bushcare Coordinator for the Cunjurong Manyana Bushcare Group, Dennis Buttigieg.
“We also discussed some other weeds which Council will help target including Arum Lily and a patch of Green Cestrum, which is beyond our group capacity to control, so this is a great outcome of the day,” he said.
Combining Bushcare volunteers and Council’s Environmental staff is a great way to discuss existing and emerging environmental issues, share ideas, formulate plans and form stronger working relationships, while removing a priority weed listed in the South East Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan.
Council’s Environmental Services staff look forward to the next joint activity and hope they help to build stronger relationships with the community, while tackling high priority weeds across the Shoalhaven.
To join an existing local Bushcare group and to learn about Bushcare activities visit Council's Bushcare page or sign up to receive our ‘Bushcare Links’ e-newsletter.
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