The council has issued a warning to residents living in areas surrounding the Calder Freeway, including Taylors Lakes and Cairnlea, to keep an eye out for serrated tussock, which is being blown onto people’s properties.
Serrated tussock is one of the most serious weed problems affecting Victoria, damaging farm land and creating fire hazards.
It needs to be controlled due to its invasiveness, environmental impact and potential to spread.
It is spread by seeds, which are carried on the wind.
Paul Younis, the council’s General Manager of Infrastructure and Environment, said the council had become aware of the city’s weed problem this month, with large amounts of the weed blowing onto residents’ naturestrips.
The majority of serrated tussock is being blown from privately owned open land on the Calder Freeway, with properties along nearby Perceval St among the worst affected.
The council and Department of Primary Industries have asked the land owner to control the problem by slashing the offending weeds.
Meanwhile, the council has urged affected residents to stop the spread by placing them in garbage bags and notifying the council. The weeds can be left on residents’ nature strips for the council to collect.
The council’s cleansing department will patrol the area on a regular basis to pick up and dispose of the weeds.
Anyone wishing to have weeds collected can call Brimbank Council’s Customer Service Centre on 9249 4000.
