Today I am having a look at the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 that came into play on 1 July 2017 and also the Central West Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017 – 2022 (RSWMP)

The new Act replaces 14 outdated Acts with the intention of providing a more modern and cohesive framework for protecting NSW from the threat of diseases, pests, weeds and other contaminants. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website has a range of factsheets that provide an overview of key elements and principles of the Biosecurity Act.

Broadly speaking, the objectives for biosecurity in NSW are to manage biosecurity risks from animal and plant pests and diseases, weeds and contaminants by: preventing their entry into NSW; quickly finding, containing and eradicating any new entries; and effectively minimising the impacts of those pests, diseases, weeds and contaminants that cannot be eradicated through robust management arrangements.

Factsheets have also been provided to give an overview of key elements and principles of the Biosecurity Act, summary of management tools and management arrangements for a range of biosecurity risks. These factsheets cover information from Abandoned and neglected horticultural enterprises to fodder transport and straying stock. The other document that will now underpin weed management for our Region is the Central West Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017 – 2022 (RSWMP). 

The RSWMP supports the implementation of the NSW Biosecurity Strategy, NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 and the NSW Invasive Species Plan 2015-2022 as they relate to weed management. The Weed Management Plan is a direct response to this strategic and legislative reform.

In line with new Commonwealth biosecurity measures, NSW has reformed its weed, pest and disease legislation. Together, the NSW Biosecurity Strategy 2013-2021 and NSW Biosecurity Act 2015 provide a streamlined, clear framework for safeguarding primary industries, natural environments and communities from a range of pests, diseases and weeds.

With weeds posing a threat to biodiversity and agricultural production throughout NSW, their control has both time and financial costs to landholders. Weeds are encroaching on areas that they have not been found before, which leads to a new challenge for management of existing weeds within our region, but also taking into account the weeds of the future.

The responsibility for the management of weeds, means that anyone who knows, or ought to reasonably know, that a weed issue poses a risk, should take all reasonable and practical measures to minimise or eliminate that risk. Visit centralwestlachlanlandcare.org, our facebook page, cwllpo@hotmail.com or ring 02 6862 4914. Until next week, happy Landcaring!