Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is urgently calling for all local landholders to inspect their farms and properties for a noxious weed called Tropical Soda Apple.
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The council says this highly invasive weed needs to be identified and its extent determined as a high priority, so that it can be controlled and eradicated from our region immediately.
The noxious Tropical Soda Apple has recently been found for the first time in our region on a farm in Bellangry, and can have drastic impacts on local agriculture, forests and native plants.
To stop the spread and germination of this destructive plant, landholders are being encouraged to ensure their property is free of this weed, and to report any infections to Council’s Weed Team as soon as possible.
“Tropical Soda Apple is a high risk weed for the north coast area, and is incredibly aggressive with the potential to have significant economic impact on farms and the environment if not controlled,” said Acting Director Dan Croft.
“It’s vital that we control this noxious weed immediately, and as a result Council is providing any landholder who detects and reports infections of Tropical Soda Apple on their property with a free inspection and control service to eradicate the weed for up to a year.”
Tropical Soda Apple (Solanum viarum), is an aggressive, prickly shrub of around 1–2 m high. It invades open areas, particularly pastures and riparian zones, but also forests, roadsides, recreational areas, and horticultural land.
It reduces biodiversity by displacing native plants and disrupting ecological processes. The weed reproduces via seed and can regenerate from root and stem material.
The fruits from the plant are sweet, and cattle will smell and seek them out, spreading seed in their manure for up to 6 days after consuming the fruit.
Tropical Soda Apple is regulated by a Control Order under the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and applies to all landholders and carriers of stock.
The Control Order specifies that individuals must report occurrences of this weed within 24 hours of detection.
“Local landholders should focus their efforts on checking for this plant a soon as possible, report to Council if found, and hold any cattle being transported on and off their properties in weed free paddocks for at least 7 days to prevent further spread,” Mr Croft said.
For more information or to report an infection of Tropical Soda Apple on your property, or to receive a free inspection and weed control assistance, call Council's Weed Team on 6581 8111.
