Agriculture
22 November, 2023
Alligator weed spotted in region
AGRICULTURE Victoria wants the community to keep an eye out for alligator weed after infestation in the region. It says the highly adaptable weed may have spread during last year’s floods and will now start being noticeable as the weather warms...
AGRICULTURE Victoria wants the community to keep an eye out for alligator weed after infestation in the region.
It says the highly adaptable weed may have spread during last year’s floods and will now start being noticeable as the weather warms and plants grow larger.
Agriculture Victoria leading biosecurity officer incursion control Kaitlin Wright, said there was one known aquatic alligator weed infestation north of the Great Divide in Victoria, located at Bendigo Creek.
“Bendigo Creek flows through Bendigo, then passes through high value farmland, Kerang’s RAMSAR-listed wetlands and into the Murray River,” she said.
“We are asking the community to keep a careful watch out for the weed, especially when out walking along our northern waterways.
“The Bendigo Creek infestation threatens to displace local native flora, damage habitat for native animals, clog up drains and other infrastructure, and block water flow, with the plant growing rapidly on both land and water.” Alligator weed is a state prohibited weed, the highest category of declared noxious weed in Victoria – and has been found in patches over a stretch of about 30km of the Bendigo Creek.
It spreads by high water flows and being transported by humans on vehicles or equipment, such as slashing work to maintain drains.
Ms Wright asked that people shouldn’t attempt to treat or dispose of the weed themselves and that Agriculture Victoria would treat, remove and dispose of it safely and at no cost to the landowner or manager.