Draft Weed Management Strategy 2025-2030
This survey is now closed.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their feedback.
We received a strong response, and your input will play an important role in shaping how Council manages weed issues across the Blue Mountains.
Submissions for The Draft Weed Management Strategy 2025-2030 will be accepted up to Tuesday 11 November 2025.
The weed management issues facing Blue Mountains City Council are unique. The Blue Mountains Local Government Area (LGA) consists of a long, linear development area, incised by a major transport corridor. It is surrounded by the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, which is directly affected by weed spread and nutrient-enriched runoff from urban areas. Weeds are a symptom of the urbanisation process and consequently one of the biggest threats to biodiversity in the Blue Mountains LGA. Weed spread and nutrient stormwater runoff from elevated urban areas, pose a continual threat to adjacent natural areas requiring ongoing management to mitigate impacts and protect biodiversity.
The magnitude of this weed problem is enormous, though not always obvious to the untrained eye. While Council and the Federal and State Governments devote considerable resources to weed management, it is not possible or practical to plan to eradicate all weeds from the Blue Mountains. Council’s weed management programs must focus on a long term, strategic approach which protects key assets and involves co-operation with all landowners to achieve high level, sustainable weed control outcomes. Council also needs to meet legislative requirements for the control of priority weeds in accordance with the NSW Biosecurity Act 2015, and as the Local Control Authority for the Blue Mountains LGA.
The Strategy focuses on achieving four goals, strongly aligned with over-arching Regional, State and National invasive weed management objectives:
1. Prevent introduction and establishment of new weed species in the Blue Mountains
2. Eliminate or prevent spread of new invasive weed species
3. Effectively manage land to reduce the impact of widespread invasive weeds on key assets
4. Ensure the Blue Mountains community has the ability and commitment to manage weeds
Given the limited resources available for weed control in the LGA, it is important for Council to maintain the budget focus on strategic, rather than reactive weed control works. Implementing integrated, cross-tenure programs, with agreed priorities and in collaboration with private landholders and other government agencies, is crucial to our success in the fight against weeds.
Council makes difficult choices about how to best use its resources to maximise benefit for the community and meet obligations for the protection of the environment. An important consideration is the need to address the causal issues not just the symptoms.
Central to the success of Council’s weed management strategy is:
- delivering high risk pathway surveillance and high-risk site inspections programs to prevent the establishment of new weeds in the Blue Mountains
- protecting high conservation value assets by implementing landscape-scale, cross-tenure weed control programs with agreed priorities and in partnership with other government agencies; and
- ongoing community engagement to increase involvement and awareness about the impact of weeds, and the responsibilities of private landholders to control weeds.
Given the significant threat weeds pose to biodiversity and the enormity of the issue, it is critical that all land managers and landholders in the Blue Mountains work together to reduce this threat.
Download the Draft Weed Management Strategy 2025-2030 by clicking the tab (right) to review.
Public exhibition dates
Submissions will be accepted up to Tuesday 11 November 2025.
How to make a submission
Submissions may be made:
• on the Have Your Say page (below)
• by email council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au Attention: Community Conservation Officer, or
• by mail:
Attention: Community Conservation Officer
Blue Mountains City Council
Locked Bag 1005
KATOOMBA NSW 2780
Hard copies can be viewed at Council’s customer service offices in Katoomba and Springwood, and at Council libraries.
If you would like further information or assistance, please contact Council on (02) 4780 5000 or email council@bmcc.nsw.gov.au
What will happen next
Submissions received will be reviewed and considered for possible incorporation into the strategy before it is presented to the Council for final adoption.
