The New South Wales Threat Abatement Plan for Bitou Bush recently received a highly commended award for Australasia from the Society for Ecological Restoration International.
Native to South Africa, the bitou bush was planted widely along the New South Wales coast between 1946 and 1968 to reduce dune erosion, but it spread rapidly and is now seen as one of the biggest coastal management issues in New South Wales.
It is found along 80 per cent of the State’s coastline and in some cases, it has spread up to ten kilometres inland.
Shoalhaven City Council on the south coast of New South Wales is involved with the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change bitou bush removal program.
The Department aims to reduce the impact of the invasive weed on threatened plant species and endangered ecological communities.
Council’s Director City Services and Operations, Bill Paterson, said work removing the bitou bush is a long term project that will have lasting benefits for native plant species and native fauna in areas that were ‘choked’ with the weed.
“In the sites where we have been controlling bitou bush there is a noticeable change in the ecology,” he said.
“Native Australian plants can now gain a foothold and re-establish in these areas. We are also able to see natural wildlife return to areas that were once infested with the weed.”
A thorough examination of the species threatened by bitou bush in New South Wales showed that at least 150 species, two plant populations and nine endangered ecological communities are at risk due to bitou bush invasion.
In the Shoalhaven area, the National Bitou Bush Southern Containment Line runs through Sussex Inlet. Authorities are aiming to eradicate all instances of bitou bush south of this line.
So far, work in the south of the City has been very successful, but like many invasive weed programs, continual follow up work must be done.
In 2007, the Australian Government granted $100,000 towards the Bitou Bush Threat Abatement program in the Shoalhaven area, up until July 2009. Council and associated groups are now seeking further funding to continue the project.
For further information contact Bill Paterson on (02) 4429 3388.
