IN LAST week’s edition of SGCT October 3, the surface condition of the South Gippsland Highway, main arterial roads and their roadside slashing, along with an article on controlling blackberries On
The Land, all caught one’s attention. However, nothing was mentioned as to the appalling amount of noxious and/or environmental weeds that now cover the roadsides of the aforementioned highway and main roads.
Once upon a time local government councils stated that roadside noxious weeds and rabbit control was the responsibility of the adjoining land holder from their property frontage line to the centre line of the road, on all roads under Council control. A local law that by and large worked well, as no rural landowner wanted blackberries and
ragwort, in particular, seeding and spreading over their farming properties, or wild rabbits
Enter, the metropolitan State Government, declaring that the responsibility for control of such issues was the responsibility of Local Government.
South Gippsland Shire Council now states on its website, “blackberry and ragwort sprayed at the discretion of Council’s Biodiversity Supervisor”. If that be the case, after looking at local roadsides, then maybe SCSC does not have such a supervisor on its staff.
As for VicRoads, the all-powerful arm of the Vic State Government, their overwhelming infestations of blackberries and soon to flower ragwort does not comply with its own roadside policies.
Proof of my observations can be seen on the short drive between Korumburra and Leongatha and as one enters Leongatha, you may observe the wild rabbits on the mown area between the blackberries along the rail trail and the highway. May be a novelty for some.
While the mixture of blackberries and other noxious weeds along the highway that adjoins Korumburra’s SGSC controlled Coal Creek Park, almost beggars’ belief.
I suggest that any South Gippsland rural landowner, who now has to bear the brunt of State or Local Governments lack of responsibility and inaction regarding roadside noxious and environmental weed control, should contact their regional politicians and protest a situation that is fast becoming not only a blight on our landscape, but will adversely affect their property and fast growing cost of its management.
Never in my lifetime of being a South Gippsland resident have I seen such neglect of our roadside environments and the threat it poses to our unique rolling hills and pastures.
Dennis Conn, Whitelaw
