Council mowers spread weeds across the city
28 June, 2009
Sign Up for free e-mail updates!
Council mowers spread weeds across the city
Unwashed Council mowers are responsible for the spread of invasive weeds across the city, says Brisbane City Council’s Labor Councillors.
Spokesperson for the Environment Councillor Helen Abrahams said Council mowers were not being washed down after leaving known weed-infested areas.
“The mowers are used in weed-infested areas, and then moved to new sites carrying weeds on the mower blades,” Councillor Abrahams said.
“No cleaning or physical inspection of the mowers is carried out to prevent them from dispersing weeds to new areas.
“More than 100 weed hot spots have been identified in Brisbane, but Council is only funding the management of weeds in 32 of these locations.
“A mere 30 per cent of weed ‘hot spots’ are being treated, leaving the majority of ‘hot spots’ to spread and create bigger problems in the future.
“Council is clearly losing the battle with weeds,” she said.
This week, Councillors on the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee were told that 12 new weed species have been identified in the last 12 months, including one new species found along Lutwyche Road. It is thought that the weed was transported to this location by a Council mower.
Councillors were told this complaint was one of the most frequent raised by Brisbane residents when talking about problem weeds.
Councillor Abrahams called on the Lord Mayor to do more to meet Council’s legal obligation to eradicate weeds.
“Firstly, we need to stop the spread of weeds on Council’s contract mowers.
“Other measures include more funds for weed eradication and community education so that residents report new weeds as early as possible,” Councillor Abrahams said.
For more information on how to recognize and remove weeks, visit Council’s weeds identification website - www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds