Weed reporting and control

When it comes to controlling weeds, early detection and regular surveillance are key. Detecting weeds early means a better chance of controlling the infestation.

But what is a weed? In its basic form, a weed is defined as a plant growing where you don't want it.

However, in NSW, there are other definitions for weeds too. You may have heard of:

environmental weeds
agricultural weeds
weeds of national significance
national environmental alert list weeds.

NSW’s 11 Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans list your region’s priority weeds under four categories – prevent, eradicate, contain and assets protection.

These categories replace the noxious weeds list for NSW.

Weed definitions and identification

For further information regarding weed definitions, visit the Department of Primary Industry (DPI) website or contact your local council weeds officer.

You can check what weeds may be in your local area and how they need to be managed using NSW WeedWise.

NSW WeedWise is also available as a free smartphone app. Like the web version, the smartphone app provides key information to help users reduce the impact of over 300 weeds in New South Wales.

It’s important to note that in NSW, all plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they can pose.

Any person who deals with plants and knows of biosecurity risk has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised.

Identifying weeds

You can help Local Land Services with early detection of weeds and weed-based plants by knowing what to look for, where and when to look, and who to contact.

New weed identification

If you think you’ve found a new type of weed on your land or property, then contact your local control authority or council.

Alternatively, you can call the NSW Invasive Plants and Animals Enquiry Line on 1800 680 244 or email weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

What to look for

plants that quickly spread and take over
plants you didn't plant
unusual plants you haven't seen before.

For information on priority weeds in your region, please visit DPI’s NSW WeedWise website.

Where to look

Whether you live on acreage, a farm, or property, it’s worth looking for weeds in gardens, paddocks, fencelines, waterways, bushland, roads, tracks, stockyards, holding paddocks and worksites.

When to look

when cultivating, planting and irrigating
when moving or feeding livestock
after floods, fires or introducing gravel, sand, soil or turf.

Stop the weed spread

Visit the Department of Primary Industries website for a step-by-step guide on how to stop weeds growing on your property or contact your local council weed officer for free advice.