Biosecurity in our region Pest plants
Control of invasive pest plant species is vital to protecting our environment's unique biodiversity and productive land.
Our region's biodiversity and productive land is threatened by pest plants which can choke lakes, degrade wetlands, collapse forest canopies, smother regeneration in natural areas, invade alpine and tussockland, and reduce productive capacity of land.
Horizons employs biosecurity staff across the region. They have primary responsibility for inspection, enforcement, advisory and monitoring activities. They're responsible for organising contractors to carry out control work on zero-density plants and enforcement work.
Under the Biosecurity Act, Horizons produces and implements a Regional Pest Management Plan. The Plan is to prevent new incursions of pest plants and manage the impacts of those pest plants already established.
This plan is currently under review - you can learn more about the review here.
Report a pest or get advice
Not sure if you’ve identified a weed? Need to know how to deal with a pest? If you're having problems with pest plants our team can offer advice on control options.
Plant species in the Regional Pest Management Plan
Exclusion
Exclusion plants are those species that are not currently known to be in the region, and which Horizons would manage if they showed up. Examples of these species are:
Chilean needle grass
Noogoora bur
Phragmites australis
Eradication
Eradication plants are those species that have a limited distribution within the region, and which are feasible for Horizons to control in order to protect production and environmental values. Examples of these species are:
Alligator weed
African feather grass
Knotweed
Progressive containment
Progressive containment plants are those species that are present within the region and have a wider distribution where eradication is not feasible. The goal is to reduce the geographic distribution of these pests over time to protect the production and environmental values of the region where it is feasible. Horizons manages these pests in some areas of the region where the distribution is limited and it is feasible to do so, often through the help of biocontrol agents. Examples of these species are:
Banana passionfruit
Old man's beard
Gorse
Pest plants species
Find out more about some of the key problem species for our region, and how we manage them under the Regional Pest Management Plan.
Chilean Needle Grass
Chilean needle grass is listed in our Regional Pest Management Plan as an exclusion species. Pest plants in the exclusion category are present in New Zealand but not in the Horizons Region.
Alligator Weed
Alligator weed is listed in our Regional Pest Management Plan as an eradication species. Pest plants in the eradication category are present in the Horizons Region, but are feasibly able to be eradicated through robust control programmes.
Woolly Nightshade
Woolly nightshade is listed in our Regional Pest Management Plan as an eradication species. Pest plants in the eradication category are present in the Horizons Region, but are feasibly able to be eradicated through robust control programmes.
Weedbusters
The Weedbusters website is a fantastic online resource that gives comprehensive information on individual pest plant species. If you're unsure of the species check it out.
A to Z of pest plants on Weedbusters
Biocontrol in practice Pest plant control in the community
Pest plant control in our region is more than Horizons can manage on our own. Control programmes are a highly collaborative effort between council, partner agencies and organisations, and landowners. Read more about these programmes and how you can get involved here.