‘Good neighbours’ at work
Good Neighbour Program participants have completed extensive weed control works along Hickmans Creek near Mt Cole to prevent the spread of invasive plants.
Facilitated by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, DELWP, and Parks Victoria, Good Neighbour Program brings landholders together to help control pest plants and animals that have the potential to wreak havoc on native plant species.
Elmhurst Landcare Group, Crowlands-warrak Landcare Group, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and Project Platypus worked together on the Hickmans Creek project.
Good Neighbour Program manager David Miralles said the three-year project, which started in 2020, had already reversed the spread of reported weeds in some areas.
“We’ve been focusing on the treatment of blackberry, spiny broom, Prunus species and other woody weeds that have the potential to spread downstream to the Wimmera River,” he said.
“Other garden escapees found and treated include cherry plum, bushy needlewood and pampas grass.
“So far, the project has completed about one kilometre of works fronting private property and another kilometre of works through the Mount Cole State Forest.”
Other Good Neighbour projects in the area include feral pig trapping at Mount
Buangor and Langi Ghiran, fox baiting at Paddys Range, gorse control at Fiery Creek and sweet briar control in the lower gullies of the Pyrenees Range.
Mr Miralles said DELWP and Parks Victoria had delivered more than 200 Good Neighbour projects across the state this year.
“There’s opportunities for more local districts to get involved, so we’d urge people to get in contact if they think the Good Neighbour Program could help better control invasive pest plants and animals in their area,” he said.
People can call DELWP’S customer service centre on 136 186 or email customer.service@delwp.vic.gov. au for more information or to become involved in the Good Neighbour Program.