A DECLARED weed is running rampant in a South East pine plantation, prompting a call to action by an anonymous whistleblower.
The concerned resident alerted The Border Watch to a blackberry infestation currently spreading throughout plantations in Wandilo and into native reserves and bordering properties.
The plantation affected is managed by timber industry giant OneFortyOne, which has a defined forest area of over 90,000 ha across the South East and Western Victoria.
Strict procedures apply to controlling the pest plant and the whistleblower – a landowner in both the Grant District and Mount Gambier City councils – said the weed was managed differently at their two properties compared to what appeared to be happening in the forest.
“I have land in town and we have annual Natural Resource Management (NRM) inspections to ensure we are spraying any blackberry outbreaks,” they said.
“I do not mind the inspections because at least we know it is being taken seriously.
“But these forests out in Wandilo have not been checked in years to my knowledge.”
The whistleblower said they had noticed the thickets growing for over five years without any control methods used.
They now believe the weed has spread as far as Glencoe and will continue to grow.
“It is exploding everywhere,” they said.
“I noticed it a few years ago but let it go as I thought NRM would get onto it, but nothing has happened.
“Why is not OFO being held accountable for this outbreak?
“It’s now almost out of control.”
OFO’s sustainable forest management policy states it does “comply with all relevant legislative and contractual requirements, codes and standards to which we subscribe”, but the anonymous sources believes the company is in breach of its own code.
“If they’re spraying out here they’re not doing it correctly,” they said.
“You can tell if a thicket has been sprayed as it dies and all you are left with is dried up cane.
“You also need 100pc leaf coverage when spraying or the plant will not die.
“I do not believe they are adhering to their own code and they are not being compliant like the rest of us.”
After being alerted to the issue by The Border Watch, OFO maintained it had strategies to control declared weeds throughout its plantations and currently has a plan in place to eradicate the infestation over the next few weeks.
“Like all responsible landowners, OneFortyOne has strategies in place to minimise the impact of noxious weeds,” OneFortyOne silviculture manager Gary Pearson said.
“We work with the local NRM officer throughout the year to develop our targeted annual spraying programs across our Green Triangle forests.
“Our blackberry spraying programs occur between November and April each year when blackberries are actively growing.
“We use local contractors for this important work and expect our operations to move into the Wandilo plantation over the next two to three weeks.
“Our forests team look for ways to continually improve in this area and we will triall alternative management strategies for next year as well as continuing with our established spraying programs.
“We encourage any of our neighbours to contact us directly if they have any issues.”
Governed in the South East by local NRM officers, landowners are responsible for controlling the spread of blackberry and may incur a cost if NRM is required to eradicate a break-out on roadside areas adjacent to properties.
A recent outbreak at the Valley Lakes was sprayed in an effort to control its spread through a partnership between NRM and Mount Gambier City Council.
The public is reminded not to eat blackberries found in the wild as they may have been sprayed with pesticide which can be harmful if ingested.
