Priority and Environmental Weeds

Priority Weeds

Priority weeds are those that have been determined and assessed to cause severe economic loss to agriculture and significantly impact our natural and recreational environments. Listed below are the priority weeds commonly found in the Hinchinbrook Region. For more information on each weed, simply click on the name to open its relevant factsheet or contact Council's Biosecurity Team on 4776 4740.

Environmental Weeds

Environmental weeds are plants that invade native ecosystems and adversely affect the survival of indigenous flora and fauna. They can be foreign plants, accidentally or intentionally introduced to Australia, or they can be native plants that have become weedy due to inappropriate management or simply because they are outside of their normal range. 

Environmental weeds may have significant economic and social impacts, as well as environmental impacts, such as a reduction in biodiversity, excess costs of control, impacts on landscapes and recreational activities, degradation of water quality and increased risks of fire.

Listed below are the environmental weeds commonly found in the Hinchinbrook Region. For more information on each weed, simply click on the name to open its respective factsheet or contact Council's Biosecurity Team on 4776 4740.

Navua Sedge Trial Sites

Navua Sedge is a grass like perennial weed that grows up to 70cm in height and has a distinctive button shaped flower head and narrow glossy green leaves. It is becoming widespread in the northern parts of the Hinchinbrook Shire and is very effective at colonising new areas. Once established, it is very difficult to control and readily outcompetes pasture species and can displace native vegetation.

Prevention is by far the best defense against stopping the spread of this species and causing significant productivity and control costs across larger areas. In an attempt to develop locally relevant strategies to combat the spread of Navua Sedge in the Hinchinbrook Shire, Council's Biosecurity Team has begun laying down the first of a number of planned trial sites, to assess the timing and effectiveness of registered chemical controls.

For further information on Navua Sedge and how you can control it, please contact Council's Biosecurity Team on 4776 4740.