Involving landholders in the management of proclaimed plants.

In the Mount Lofty Ranges (MLR) of South Australia local Animal and Plant Control Boards are taking the lead in a program to involve landholders and community groups in the management of Salvation Jane (Echium plantagineum) and a range of woody weeds. Two innovative sub-programs: “Purple Peril Attack” and “Wallop a Woody Weed” are proving successful in attracting landholders, particularly from small holdings, to field days and information sessions on weed management. Held on Saturday mornings, the field days focus on using pastures, farm forestry and native vegetation to compete with Salvation Jane and other annual weeds and on the long-term management of woody weeds. The overall program initially focussed on Salvation Jane and one local Animal and Plant Control Board area but has expanded to include the Greater Mount Lofty Ranges and to also target woody weeds. Weed management programs in the Ranges have had to be tailored to the needs of “lifestyle” farmers, to enhance the riparian and other natural ecosystems of the Ranges and to minimise the risk of herbicide movement off-site.