Weed survey for landholders

Latrobe Catchment Landcare Network is shining the spotlight on weed and pest animal control across the region.
In the lead up to a multi-agency forum in September, the group is encouraging residents to share their pest concerns via a short five-minute survey.
"We really want everyone in our region to tell us what weeds and pest animals they're seeing on their property and in their neighbourhood," said LCLN project manager Jo Kurpershoek.
"We also want to know how much pest control is costing them on an annual basis in both hours and dollars, as well as what they think would help improve control in their area."
Jo said survey responses so far indicated blackberry, ragwort, foxes, rabbits and deer were topping the list, and many landholders were spending hundreds if not thousands of dollars annually to curb pests on their property.
"The challenge for everyone though, is that pests don't just stop at property boundaries. If just one person is not doing their bit, the whole neighbourhood has an ongoing problem," she said.
"We know that people want to do the right thing, but weed and pest animal control can be daunting, and it's often beyond what one individual can do alone."
Jo said weeds and pest animals posed a major threat to Victoria's native wildlife and natural areas which form some of West Gippsland's major tourism drawcards.
They also cost Victoria's agricultural industry hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
She said that was why LCLN was bringing land management agencies, and industry representatives, and environmental and local Landcare groups together at the September forum, where they will discuss and decide on strategic actions to improve pest control across the region.
"No one agency or individual alone can successfully eradicate or control pests which means we really are in this together. That is why it is so important we hear from community. We want to table their knowledge, concerns and suggestions at the forum in September to come up with a plan that actually works," she said.
The community pest plant and animal survey is open until August 14 and can be accessed via LCLN's Integrated Pest Plant and Animal Project webpage and Facebook page.
The survey is being undertaken through Agriculture Victoria's Partnerships against Pests Program.