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Giant pest weed control

Extermination work of a pest weed species in Broken Hill took place earlier this week.

Broken Hill City Council and Western Local Land Services (WLLS) have combined forces to tackle Giant Reed in the southern part of town.

Experts gathered on site in the regeneration area near Pro Hart Way to spray two large patches.

WLLS regional weeds coordinator,  Andy McKinnon, was glad to see the work progress on Thursday morning.

“Giant Reed has choked many waterways around the State, and it’s satisfying to see them eradicating these clumps,” he said.

“The cooperative approach of the City Council in dealing with this species and other weed issues in the area is gratifying.”

Giant Reed is a tall native grass of the Middle East and southern Asia that is an aggressive invader in parts of NSW and is tough enough to establish in watercourses around Broken Hill.

Broken Hill City Council’s staff, under the guidance of WLLS weed officers, have removed the stems from a large clump of Giant Reed that exposed the massive root system which grows underneath.

Specialised Weed Services operator, Brett Kane, applied a systemic herbicide to the regrowth to kill the root system.

“These happen to be to very big patches and we didn’t want to see them continue to spread further down along this streamline,” Mr McKinnon said.

“With the lovely hot climate of Broken Hill, it won’t take very long for the parts that have been cut off to dry out and die completely.”

Other identified patches on the outskirts of town will also be removed, with stage two of the project set to be completed next year.

Mr McKinnon urges community members to contact autorites to report any Giant Reed.

If you see this plant in Broken Hill, call the Broken Hill City Council or WLLS biosecurity weeds officer Courtney Lallard on 0499 924 501.

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