A large spray drone generated lots of interest at a series of weed control workshops delivered by South Gippsland Landcare Network (SGLN), the Victorian Blackberry Taskforce (VBTF), Envirogain, South Gippsland Shire Council (SGSC) and Agriculture Victoria.
Over 90 people attended the three workshops which were part of SGLN’s Your Backyard, Our Backyard project. The workshops focused on blackberry, ragwort and thistles which landholders are required by law to control, and many environmental weeds such as hemlock, ivy and boxthorn also made an appearance. Here is a short video of the workshops.
Correct identification of weeds is the first step in determining the most efficient way to control them. All attendees received the perfect companions to weed ID and control in the form of SGLN’s Weed Control Cycle brochure and the VBTF’s highly informative WONS Blackberry Control manual.
Contractors from Envirogain demonstrated a range of different control methods that landholders can use as part of an integrated weed control plan, while Council discussed SGSC’s roadside pest plant program.
A highlight at each workshop was the spray drone demonstration by Advanced UAV which encouraged many questions about new weed control techniques and how property owners can work together to control invasive weeds. Discussions also included the importance of having (and committing to) a weed control plan.
Through the Your Backyard, My Backyard project SGLN developed a weed control plan resource to assist all landholders develop their own weed control plan.
For further information on weed control visit:
https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/ or https://vicblackberrytaskforce.com.au/
South Gippsland Landcare Network’s Your Backyard, Our Backyard project is funded by South Gippsland Shire Council’s Community Grants Program, supported by the South Gippsland Shire Council; Victorian Blackberry Taskforce; and the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority.
