How Council and Community Control Weeds

A council worker and volunteers clearing weeds in the bush

Weed management in the Wingecarribee Shire is a collaborative effort involving Council staff, contractors, and community volunteers. Council plays a key role in identifying and controlling priority weeds across public lands, road reserves, and waterways, ensuring compliance with biosecurity legislation and protecting the region’s natural assets. Contractors assist in delivering targeted control programs and large-scale weed treatments, while community volunteers contribute through bush regeneration, revegetation, and native plant nursery activities. Together, these combined efforts help restore native habitats, reduce the spread of invasive species, and improve biodiversity of the Shire’s bushland and open spaces.

Council’s Work

Biosecurity team – Our Biosecurity Team develops and implements control programs across the Shire and conducts Biosecurity Inspections on public and private land, as well as along high-risk roadsides. During these inspections, the team identifies Priority Weeds and provides guidance to landholders on how to correctly identify and manage them.

Bushland Field Team – Our Bushland Field Team regularly inspects and controls weeds across our natural bushland using a variety of effective methods. These include targeted herbicide spraying, cut-and-paint or chainsaw removal of larger woody weeds, supervising community volunteer working bees, and conducting revegetation and bushland restoration works.

Parks & Open Spaces Team – Manages weeds in parks, gardens, sports fields, and public spaces. 

Roadside Programs – Contractors are engaged to inspect and control weeds along roadsides.

Council Worker Spraying Serrated Tussock in a Bushland Reserve

 

Community Volunteering

Bushcare Volunteers – Local residents can register as Bushcare Volunteers to help control weeds and restore bushland andwaterways in Council-managed reserves.

Southern Highlands Landcare Network & NPWS – Both offer additional volunteer opportunities for community members to get hands-on with invasive weed control and bushland restoration.

A group of volunteers conducting weed control

 

Revegetation & Native Plant Nursery

Wingecarribee Shire Council operates its own native plant nursery, producing a wide variety of local species. With the help of volunteers, these plants are used in revegetation projects across the Shire — boosting biodiversity and helping native plants outcompete invasive weeds.

Volunteers planting native vegetation around the Welby Bird Hide

 

Report a weed

Spotted a weed in your area? You can report it using our Report a Weed form by clicking the button below.

When reporting, please include:

  • A clear photo of the plant (include flowers or seed heads if possible).

  • Location details – an address, description, or GPS coordinates.

Our Biosecurity Team will contact you to arrange an inspection and confirm the plant's identity.

Report a Weed Form

 

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