The report ‘Coastal Environmental Weeds on the NSW Far South Coast’ written by local botanist Stuart B Cameron, forms part of a project for supporting community-based coastal weed control.

This project is a joint initiative of the Bega Valley Shire Council, Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, National Parks and Wildlife Division of Department of Environment and Climate Change, and Far South Coast Landcare Association, with funding provided by the Natural Heritage Trust.

Over the last 12 months Mr Cameron has surveyed the coastline of the Bega Valley Shire for coastal environmental weeds, with an emphasis on the settled areas of Bermagui, Tathra, Tura-Merimbula-Pambula Beach, and Eden.

His survey found that the greatest concentrations of environmental weeds on the Far South Coast are close to gardens, especially in the reserves around our coastal villages.

"It has been estimated that 70 per cent of the environmental weeds invading our native vegetation were initially garden plants, so this finding is not surprising," Mr Cameron said.

"To tackle the weeds around our urban areas, work action plans have been developed to focus efforts on weeds that can be effectively controlled, and those that pose the most serious threat to our native vegetation."

The survey results and action plans form the basis of Mr Cameron’s report.

"Another important part of the Coastal Weeds project is supporting the efforts of our local community groups who have been tackling coastal weeds for a number of year," Mr Cameron said.

"Koori work crews will be tackling the priority weeds identified through the survey and will also help boost the efforts of our committed community groups and volunteers."

A work crew from Eden Local Aboriginal Land Council has spent two weeks working in the Eden and Pambula Beach areas, and next week a crew from Merrimans Local Aboriginal Land Council will commence work in the Bermagui area.

Bega Valley Shire Council’s noxious weeds manager, Ann Herbert, said Mr Cameron’s work was vital to ensuring a co-ordinated approach to combating coastal weed threats.

"This report creates the platform for moving ahead," she said.