Council treating 105 Japanese Knotweed infestations across the North Cork region
MORE than 100 roadside sites in north Cork have been identified as being seriously infested with the invasive Japanese Knotweed plant, with the Duhallow area particularly badly affected.
The issue was raised in a motion by Cllr Ian Doyle (FF) placed before the July meeting of Cork County Council’s northern committee, in which asked for an update on steps being taken across the region by the authority to eradicate the species.
“You see various pockets of Japanese Knotweed along the roadside with warning signs saying do not cut of remove to prevent it spreading. I am concerned about this as we are entering the hedge cutting season,” said Cllr Doyle.
“Given that the council has said 105 locations in Cork with knotweed growth this is becoming a serious issue and I am wondering if the council has a treatment policy in place,” he added.
Senior council roads engineer Aidan Weir said that 88 of the sites had received their ‘year one’ treatment in an ongoing three-year programme aimed at eradicating the plant, with the remaining sites set to be treated in the autumn.
He said that ‘Japanese Knotweed – Do Not Cut’ signs had been erected along the N20, N72, N72 and with community groups also undertaking treatment measures in the Duhallow area, which he said was “particularly badly infested”.
He said the council was also trying to combat other invasive species, including Himalayan Batsam and Wild Rhubarb, but was limited in its approach due to tight financial budgets and the fact that the council did not have the power to enter private lands to treat plants.
“We do have a difficulty in that we can only treat roadsides and public spaces. A lot of the infestations follow streams that are on private property that we can not access,” said Mr Weir.
“Treating areas inside roadside fences and along stream, which are the landowners responsibility, is an area that needs to be addressed,” he said.
Cllr Timmy Collins (Ind) said that the government should step in with special funding to tackle the problem as the money currently being spend on eradication could be put to better use in other areas.
“This is a problem that has to be taken care of and the government should be funding it,” he insisted.
In reply Mr Weir said the money was coming from the council’s roads budget, which has been significantly reduced over recent years, and that the suggestion of seeking funding from another source was “most welcome.”
He said a committee set up to tackle the problem was due to present a draft report with a set of recommendations for action to full council in September.
In the meantime, the northern area committee is to write to the Department of Environment seeking additional funding to tackle invasive species and the Department of Agriculture seeking help to identify farms or private property where infestations may be occurring.