 |
| Egeria - Statutory Weed Management PlanEgeria densa Planch.
 | | Check the Weeds Index for more information on this and other weeds |
|
In this weed management plan (approved 30 August 2003): - “Act” means the Weed Management Act 1999.
- “Approved quarantine place” means a place approved by the Secretary under section 70 of the Plant Quarantine Act 1997 for the purpose of examining any prescribed matter imported into or to be exported out of the State.
- “Court fine’ means a prescribed penalty for breaches against the Act. Court fines may be imposed if a person is convicted of any offence against the Act.
- “DPIWE” means the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania.
- “Infringement fine” means a prescribed penalty for breaches against the Act. Infringement fines are imposed by way of an infringement notice that may be issued by a Weed Inspector.
- “Inspector” means a Weed Inspector appointed under section 34 of the Act.
- “Penalty unit” means the basic unit of the fine for which persons who fail to comply with any prohibition or requirement under the Act may be liable. One penalty unit equals $100 at April 2002.
- “Quarantine Tasmania” means that branch of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment that, in cooperation with the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service, maintains both overseas and interstate quarantine barriers for this state.
- “Regional Weed Management Officer” means a person employed in the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment under that specific title.
- “Regulations” means the Weed Management Regulations 2000.
- “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries, Water and Environment.
- “Egeria” means Egeria densa Planch. (syn. Anacharis densa (Planch.) Vict., Elodea densa (Planch.) Casp., E. canadensis var. gigantea Hort.) and includes the whole plant or plant parts. It does not include products such as tablets, lotions, tinctures or other preparations that contain extracts of these plants or other dead Egeria densa materials. People who are uncertain about whether certain products (eg. dried materials) contain plant parts capable of regenerating should contact a Regional Weed Management Officer.
 The purpose of this weed management plan for egeria is to: - Provide direction upon the implementation of the Act with respect to egeria.
- Encourage and facilitate an increase in the effectiveness with which egeria is managed throughout Tasmania, with a view to eradicating all existing populations and preventing future infestations.
- Provide legislative support to regional and local efforts to manage egeria in a strategic and integrated manner.
The State of Tasmania is covered by this management plan. Egeria is a submerged, much branched freshwater herb, the stems of which may grow to 5 m long. This plant can become extremely problematic in a variety of freshwater environments, reducing water flow and interfering with recreational activities, hydro-electric operations and irrigation. It is naturalised in a number of locations on the Australian mainland, most of which occur in New South Wales. A smaller number of infestations occur in Victoria and Queensland. Egeria is recorded as an occasional weed of ponds and streams in Tasmania. It does not appear to be widespread at this time. Whilst it is known on the mainland as a weed of slow moving waters in warm temperate to tropical regions, a recent infestation was found at Golden Valley in the state’s north. Domestic pond or aquarium occurrences are occasionally noted. Refer to Table 1. Distribution of egeria in Tasmania by municipality at 07/02.
(1) A person must not import or allow to be imported into Tasmania any egeria. It is an offence against section 57(1) of the Act to fail to comply with this prohibition. A person found committing that offence may incur an infringement fine of 4 penalty units. A person convicted in court of that offence may be liable to a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units. The Secretary may exempt a person from this prohibition under section 60 of the Act. To avoid committing this offence, actions including but not limited to the following should be undertaken: - Persons travelling to Tasmania, in particular from areas infested with egeria, such as parts of Victoria and New South Wales, should conduct thorough searches for the presence of the plant and apply appropriate hygiene measures. This applies in particular to boating equipment or vehicles that may have been used in waters hosting egeria infestations. Mud and any water are to be removed prior to entry to Tasmania. Questions or concerns about weed hygiene issues should be directed to Quarantine Tasmania personnel before or directly upon disembarkation in Tasmania.
- Persons importing aquarium or pond plants should verify that the species they are importing do not include egeria. As plant labels are sometimes ambiguous or in error, these should not be relied upon for verification of a plant’s identity. Plant identification queries may be referred to a Regional Weed Management Officer.
- Persons importing aquarium or pond fish or other freshwater animals should also check that the water used for transporting these organisms does not contain egeria material.
- Persons importing boats or boating equipment (eg. nets, outboards) should check that these items have been thoroughly cleaned so that no plant material adheres.
- Persons buying imported aquarium or pond products (including mail-order and internet purchases) should keep comprehensive records of their transactions, including the contact details of the supplier and date of purchase.
- Persons importing livestock to Tasmania should liaise with suppliers on the subject of possible egeria contamination, particularly in mud attached to hooves of stock or to the feathers and feet of waterfowl.
- Persons importing items to Tasmania that may contain egeria should have these checked for the presence of the plant. This can be arranged through Quarantine Tasmania.
Note: The importation of this species into Tasmania is also restricted under the Plant Quarantine Act 1997. Quarantine Tasmania should be contacted for information on the relevance and application of the Plant Quarantine Act 1997 to activities concerning plant species.Inspectors shall notify a Regional Weed Management Officer of any egeria occurrences in municipalities or parts of municipalities where the weed is not yet recorded. Refer to Table 1. Distribution of egeria in Tasmania by municipality at 09/03.
A person must not sell or otherwise distribute any egeria or any thing carrying egeria. It is an offence against section 56 of the Act to fail to comply with this prohibition. A person found committing that offence may incur an infringement fine of 4 penalty units. A person convicted of that offence in court may be liable to a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units. The Secretary may exempt a person from this prohibition under section 60 of the Act. To avoid committing this offence, actions including but not limited to the following should be undertaken: - Persons giving away, bartering, selling or otherwise distributing pond or aquarium plants should ensure their stock does not include egeria. This includes roadside stalls, market stalls, fundraising events, garden club swaps, nursery and pet shop sales and ANY OTHER activities that involve the distribution of pond and aquarium plants. Plant labels that accompany aquarium or pond plants and advice from suppliers should not be relied upon absolutely for identification purposes. Any plant identification queries may be referred to a Regional Weed Management Officer.
- Persons involved in the sale or distribution of vehicles, boating or other machinery or equipment likely to be contaminated with mud or water containing egeria should ensure that items are free of this plant by undertaking appropriate inspection and hygiene measures. These include introducing thorough visual checks and cleaning as routine tasks when preparing these items for sale or distribution.
- Persons involved in the sale or distribution of livestock that may be carrying egeria should ensure appropriate hygiene measures are undertaken to prevent spread of this plant. These include cleaning stock prior to transport from infested properties.
- Persons involved in the sale or distribution of boats, boating equipment, machinery, stock or other items likely to be contaminated with egeria should take direction from any local, regional or state hygiene programs being implemented in the municipality.
- Persons purchasing any items (eg. boats, boating equipment, machinery) likely to be contaminated with egeria should liaise with suppliers for guarantees of egeria free goods and materials and keep accurate records of their purchase transactions. Buyers discovering egeria contamination post-purchase should implement practices that reduce the potential for egeria establishment and spread. For example, the creation of dedicated wash down areas that do not drain into local streams, rivers, dams or ponds, can reduce the chances of egeria spread.
An Inspector may, by serving a notice on the owner of any place, require that owner to implement any of the measures described in this part of the weed management plan or any other measures consistent with it. It is an offence against section 13(3) of the Act to fail to comply with a requirement notice issued by an Inspector. A person who fails to comply with that notice may be issued with an infringement fine of 8 penalty units. A person convicted of that offence in court may be liable to a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units and, in the case of a continuing offence, a further fine not exceeding 5 penalty units for each day during which the offence continues.
Persons or organisations upon whose properties egeria occurs (including ornamental aquatics) should undertake the following: - Planning and implementation of an integrated control program the aim of which is eradication of egeria. Such a program should include an inventory of egeria infestations in the area to which the plan relates, well-defined objectives, practicable control actions, follow-up actions, a realistic timeline and a budget, as a minimum. Regional Weed Management Officers or Inspectors may be contacted for advice on developing integrated control plans.
- Seek information about any council endorsed plans relating to egeria management in their municipality.
- Seek cooperation with neighbouring property owners when egeria control measures are being planned or implemented. For example, egeria eradication measures in a downstream location are unlikely to succeed if populations for which no control is being implemented exist upstream.
Other general measures:- Persons or organisations responsible for managing water bodies which are currently free of egeria should undertake prevention measures. Such prevention measures include:
- developing an ability to identify the plant;
- noting its occurrence and progress on nearby properties;
- undertaking control of small outbreaks without delay:
- arranging on-site quarantine for, or not bringing or allowing onto the property vehicles, boats, machinery, other items that may be contaminated with egeria.
A Regional Weed Management Officer may be contacted for advice on keeping areas free of egeria. - Persons performing contract work of an agricultural, utility maintenance, roading or earthmoving nature, on-site consultations or assessments, deliveries or other visits during which they contact waters infested with egeria should undertake appropriate hygiene measures. These include thorough visual checks upon vehicles and machinery and, cleaning of the same of mud in particular, prior to leaving the infested property. Developing a check-list will help ensure such routines are rigorous and consistent. Materials or items likely to be contaminated with egeria should not be moved from egeria infested areas or to egeria free areas until any contamination risks have been minimised.
- Persons wishing to dispose of egeria or any thing contaminated with egeria should contact an Inspector or a Regional Weed Management Officer first, in order to receive direction upon how best to do this. Note that municipal waste disposal facilities vary in their acceptance and handling of declared weeds.
- Persons wishing to transport egeria or any thing contaminated with egeria, for the purpose of disposal, should ensure this is undertaken in a manner that does not permit the release and spread of egeria material. Measures include securing material in bags prior to transport, checking material at regular intervals during long journeys, avoiding egeria free waters during transport by boat and adequately cleaning boats or vehicles after materials have been unloaded.
Any thing found to be contaminated with egeria may be removed to storage at an appropriate approved quarantine place. A Regional Weed Management Officer will determine whether removal to storage at any of these facilities or treatment/destruction of material in situ is most appropriate. Failure to comply with this requirement is an offence against section 51(1) of the Act. A person found committing that offence may incur an infringement fine of 4 penalty units. A person convicted of that offence in court may be liable to a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units. The Secretary may exempt a person from this requirement under section 60 of the Act.
To avoid committing this offence, actions including but not limited to the following should be undertaken: - A person who discovers or suspects he/she possesses egeria or any thing, (eg. machinery, boating or aquarium supplies) contaminated with egeria should contact an Inspector or a Regional Weed Management Officer. The contaminated thing should not be moved, disturbed, treated or disposed of prior to making this contact. If egeria is confirmed, the person will be directed and advised in the proper management, including storage or disposal options, of the contaminated thing.
There are no other measures appropriate for the management of egeria in Tasmania at this time. A person may apply for an exemption from any of provisions of the Act that relate to egeria. He/she should contact a Regional Weed Management Officer to discuss the reasons for seeking the exemption and obtain an exemption application form. Persons granted an exemption should ensure they understand fully, any conditions specified in the exemption. Queries can be directed to a Regional Weed Management Officer. A review of this weed management plan may be undertaken at least once every five years if it is necessary and desirable to do so. The review will incorporate consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the Secretary, DPIWE.
Table 1. Distribution of egeria in Tasmania by municipality at 09/03. Note: Distribution based on Tasmanian Herbarium and DPIWE records. | Municipality | Egeria distribution | Management measures * | | Break O’Day | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Brighton | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Burnie | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Central Coast | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Central Highlands | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Circular Head | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Clarence | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Derwent Valley | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Devonport | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Dorset | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Flinders | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | George Town | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Glamorgan/Spring Bay | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Glenorchy | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Hobart | Isolated occurrences | Eradicate existing infestations and prevent future occurrences. | | Huon Valley | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Kentish | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | King Island | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Kingborough | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Latrobe | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Launceston | Localised infestations | Implement integrated control plan for eradication. | | Meander Valley | Isolated occurrences | Eradicate existing infestations and prevent future occurrences. | | Northern Midlands | Isolated occurrences | Eradicate existing infestations and prevent future occurrences. | | Sorell | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Southern Midlands | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Tasman | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | Waratah/Wynyard | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | West Coast | None recorded | Prevention and early detection | | West Tamar | None recorded | Prevention and early detection |
* When a DPIWE approved weed management strategy that has local council endorsement exists, management of this declared weed in the municipality concerned should occur with direct reference to that strategy.
| |
