Biosecurity broached at Landcare weed swap launch in Port Macquarie

Representatives from Landcare Port Macquarie and the Port Macquarie Hastings Council spoke about the need to encourage homeowners to bring the bush into their own backyard by swapping weeds for native plants.

Members gathered to hear the speeches and attend afternoon tea at Port City Bowling Club on February 26.

Landcare’s Estelle Gough said partnering the weed swapping project to restrict the spread of potential dangerous invasive species was being discussed.

"The weed swap could be used in working together to prevent spread problem weed species," she said.

"All the members know each other and have a care for the environment... for a long time this project was planned after the nursery was established.

"This is the first step from the bush into the backyard."

The first Landcare weed swap will be on May 26, at the corner of Lord Street and Hill Street in Port Macquarie.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council bio-security officer Matt Bell, who spoke at the event said he outlined some key points about bio-security, legislation and weed priorities.

"Tropical soda apples, yellow bells and Salvinia are priority weeds in the Port Macquarie area," he said.

"They spread rapidly, they can cause farmland to be unproductive and unusable... Salvinia can choke waterways.

"There isn't much soda, yellow bells are in gardens and are threatening to escape, while Salvinia is present in a lot of dams but is treatable."

Mr Bell also spoke about invasive weed detection dogs and bio-security law.

"This is an opportunity to reach people in Landcare, teach them about bio-security legislation which is relatively new," he said.

"It has new categories for priority prevention, eradication, containment and asset protection - they relate to abundance and risk of certain weed."

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