Biosecurity – Weeds

The Biosecurity Act 2015 came into effect on 1 July, 2017, and it repealed the Noxious Weed Act 1993. The new Act aims to prevent, eliminate and minimise biosecurity risks posed by weeds.

Weed Management is a major issue for all land managers. Weeds threaten our valuable agricultural industries, influence the economic viability of our communities, affect human health, and pose a major threat to Australia’s unique biodiversity. Weeds cost Australia over $4 billion per year in lost production and control measures. In NSW alone, weeds cause an estimated $600 million in losses every year.

Biosecurity Matter

All landholders and government agencies have a legal obligation to control biosecurity matter (formerly noxious weeds) on their land and have an effective control strategy that ensures that they meet their duty under the Act. Please refer to the Northern Tablelands Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan for the weeds list.

General Biosecurity Duty (GBD)

Any person or a carrier who deals with biosecurity matter and who knows, or ought reasonable to know, the biosecurity risk posed or likely to be posed by the biosecurity risk posed or likely to be posed by the biosecurity matter, carrier or dealing has a biosecurity duty to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the biosecurity risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised.

If Inverell Shire Council’s Authorised Officers believe that a land owner/occupier is failing in their biosecurity duty to control weeds on their land, they can issue a Biosecurity Direction to prevent, eliminate or minimise the biosecurity risk. Failure to comply with the biosecurity direction is an offence and could result in a penalty notice or prosecution.

To see the regional prioritised weeds list and outcomes to demonstrate compliance with the general biosecurity duty, please review the following documents and links.