{"id":323968,"date":"2022-09-15T18:30:54","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T08:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=323968"},"modified":"2022-09-15T19:16:21","modified_gmt":"2022-09-15T09:16:21","slug":"fireweed-found-in-south-burnett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2022\/09\/15\/fireweed-found-in-south-burnett\/","title":{"rendered":"Fireweed Found In South Burnett"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fireweed is a weed with daisy-like flowers that can be toxic to livestock (Photos: SBRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 15, 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Burnett Regional Council has issued a Weed Biosecurity Alert after an outbreak of Fireweed was detected for the first time in the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

Fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis) is a restricted invasive plant which can be toxic to livestock.<\/p>\n

It was first recorded in Australia in the Hunter Valley in 1918 but over the past 30 years has rapidly increased its range.<\/p>\n

A SBRC spokesperson said targeted surveillance by Council officers had detected isolated to scattered infestations of fireweed on 15 properties near Benarkin and Blackbutt.<\/p>\n

More surveying is being undertaken from the eastern boundary with Somerset Regional Council.<\/p>\n

Areas west of Blackbutt will be surveyed as soon as possible.<\/p>\n

An official sample sent to the Queensland Herbarium has now been positively identified as Fireweed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fireweed is a yellow flowering daisy-like weed.<\/p>\n

In ideal conditions, Fireweed presents with multiple branches, long wide leaves (6cm x 2cm) and stands about 50cm tall.<\/p>\n

In dry, harsh conditions it presents with few flowers, no branching and is less than 20cm tall with narrow leaves.<\/p>\n

It is spread by wind, livestock, pasture, seed, hay, turf, mulch and vehicles.<\/p>\n

Heavy infestations can produce up to one million seeds per hectare.<\/p>\n

“For formal identification please remove the suspected weed from the soil, seal it in a plastic bag or container and bring it to a Council Customer Service Centre for identification, or leave the suspect plant in situ and contact Council on (07) 4189-9100 to arrange an on-site inspection by Council NRM Officers,” the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n