Noxious weed to be eradicated at Kerrs Reach
Noxious weed to be eradicated at Kerrs Reach
The stretch
of river at Kerrs Reach will be closed on Tuesday December
2
as Council staff spray the river to eradicate an
introduced noxious pond
weed.
The Egeria pond weed has
an aggressive growth habit and could
threaten
recreational boating and rowing activities
unless it is promptly
eradicated. It would have a major
consequence to river users if it were
to take hold and
spread to other areas throughout the city.
City
Environment General Manager Jane Parfitt says "Eradication
will
strictly follow consent conditions, and will have
little impact on the
public. It will be done at low tide
and be quickly diluted and
dispersed.''
Council staff
have been working with boat and rowing clubs,
warning
river users to be vigilant and ensuring they wash
their boats. However
now is the optimum time for spraying
to eradicate the weed.
The introduced weed species which
roots on the bottom of the river, has
dark-green leaves
and white conspicuous flowers which emerge above
the
water.
In 2001, Council staff eradicated a similar
outbreak of Egeria at Kerr's
Reach by a vigorous campaign
of public awareness and through spraying.
"On that
occasion we were successful at removing the weed,'' says
Mrs
Parfitt. "This time we need make sure that the public
are aware of steps
they can take to stop the spread of
this weed which was probably
re-introduced by a river
user who has not been
vigilant.''
ends