Shared responsibility – everyone has a duty to help prevent and manage weeds.
Early action – dealing with weeds before they spread is easier, cheaper, and more effective.
Legal obligation – landholders and community members must take steps to reduce weed risks or face enforcement actions.
Carry out regular inspections on private properties, public land, and high-risk sites.
Detect and control priority weeds across the Shire.
Provide education and support to landholders and residents to help manage weeds effectively.
Together, through early action and shared responsibility, we can stop the spread of priority weeds in the Southern Highlands.
Wingecarribee Shire Council’s Biosecurity Officers regularly inspect properties to detect and manage priority weeds. These inspections help protect our environment, farms, and community — and support landholders in meeting their responsibilities under the Biosecurity Act 2015.
Your property may be inspected because:
It is part of a routine inspection in your local area.
A nearby priority weed has been found.
It is considered a high-risk site for weed incursions.
Whenever possible, we’ll send you a Notice of Inspection Letter in advance.
You don’t have to be present, but you’re welcome to book a time if you’d like to attend.
Officers walk through the property to check for priority weeds.
Any weeds found are recorded and mapped.
Tailored advice is given on how to manage them.
Officers are happy to answer questions about any other weed concerns you may have.
You’ll receive a Property Inspection Report that includes:
A list of priority weeds found (with density and area affected).
Notes on any other concerning weeds.
Recommended control options.
A property map showing weed locations.
Under Section 98 of the Biosecurity Act 2015, authorised officers are permitted to enter properties for inspection and investigation.
Our officers may return later to check progress and provide further advice. This is also a great chance for landholders to ask questions and get ongoing support.
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