Victorian communities band to tackle bridal creeper

Community groups from across Victoria are helping to spread millions of predators among coastal native plants as part of a project to combat one of the nation's worst weeds.

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) project has garnered the support of the community in controlling infestations of bridal creeper.

Since being introduced to Australia the climber has had no predators, invading native bush habitats in the southern states including valuable coastal vegetation.

The weed's climbing stems form a dense canopy, smothering native plants while its underground roots and food-storing 'tubers' form a thick mat that prevents new plants from establishing.

Funding

DPI received around $300,000 over three years from the Australian Government to undertake community-based weed control work.

School groups, friends groups, Landcare groups and local councils are involved in the release and spread of the biological control agents, which include the rust fungus, leafhopper and leaf beetle.

While the agents are harmless to native plants, they are the natural enemies of bridal creeper in its native South Africa.

DPI Research Officer Greg Lefoe said that without the support of the community the weed would continue its advance, destroying native plants and the animals that depend on them.

Activities

Under the project a DPI biocontrol expert works with local groups to identify appropriate sites for the release of one or more of the agents. The sites are carefully managed to enable the agents to breed and multiply to provide a source for further distribution by hand.

So far the rust fungus has been the most effective in removing the weed in coastal areas. It attacks the weed's leaves and stems, severely reducing its ability to develop, reproduce and spread.

The leafhopper, which also feeds on the leaves, has been less consistent, creating havoc in some infestations while in others doing only minor damage.

Coastal Officer for the Swan Bay Integrated Catchment Management Committee, Sue Longmore is a part of the project to control the creeper along the Bellarine Peninsula.

"Last year we released rust at 10 sites between St Leonards and Breamlea where the creeper was taking over the understorey of the threatened Coastal Moonah Woodland," Ms Longmore said.

"The rust seems to be hitting it a bit harder than the leafhopper - we're really heartened to see it spreading so rapidly."

Students get involved in biological control through Weed Warriors, which allows them to breed the leafhopper in the classroom and release it in their local area.

More information

• Greg Lefoe, Department of Primary Industries: (03) 9758 0158 or greg.lefoe@dpi.vic.gov.au
• Department of Primary Industries website: www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreinf
• Sue Longmore, Swan Bay Coastal Officer: (03) 5258 1836 or long54@bigpond.net.au

Australian Government NRM Team
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
1800 552 008 (toll-free)

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Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative jointly administered by the Australian Government departments of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts