The New England Weeds Authority (NEWA) have received a myriad of complaints from people suffering from allergies caused by the abundance of privet growing in the area. NEWA has inspected Armidale for the species and letters for controlling the weed were sent out to landholders.
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The removal of privet is an ongoing task, but to prevent the spread of the weed landholders should trim the shrub if they do not want to remove it entirely.
Armidale's senior biosecurity officer James Browning said nothing had been done previously to prevent the spread of privet because it was not declared a noxious weed until about a decade ago.
"So once we got it at that level, then we can start enforcing it and teaching people what it was," Mr Browning said.
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"Principally we do broadacre spraying. So, no matter what we do as part of our duties there is always a possibility that we could have what they call off-target damage."
However, there are many better alternatives to control this pest, such as cutting the plant and painting over the cut surfaces with herbicides.
Privet was introduced to Australia from China and Europe as a hedging plant and windbreak. It has become invasive, but there are management programs in progress, including the extensive removal of this weed. It is now classified as an invasive species in North America, Australia and New Zealand and causes many issues for the environment.
Blue-black berries appear after flowering and are eaten by many bird species that distribute the seed throughout the region. Both berries and leaves are mildly toxic when eaten by humans and livestock in large quantities.
For help on identification and management of weeds contact biosecurity officers (Weeds) on 67703602 or call into their office at 2/129 Rusden St, Armidale.
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