Case Study: Targeting Honey Locust on the Severn River

Improving river health and habitat values on the Severn River between Strathbogie and Ashford in Northern NSW through baseline

The issue

This project aimed to improve the health and habitat values of the Severn River, in the headwaters of the Murray-Darling Basin, as well as protecting priority species and their

ecosystems by reducing the threat from invasive weed species Honey Locust ( Gleditsia triacanthos ). Honey locust is a thorny woody weed that poses a serious threat to catchment areas and riparian communities.

Funding of $49,957 was secured from the Australian Government's Murray-Darling Healthy Rivers Program (Round 1) to address the issue.

The solution

Collaboration across a range of stakeholders was a highlight of the project. We engaged both private and public land managers with connections to farmers; Landcare; government agencies - National Parks & Wildlife; Crown Lands; Local Land Services and Local Government (Inverell and Glen Innes) and Local Aboriginal Land Councils- Glen Innes and Ashford, throughout the project.

In November 2022 an aerial helicopter survey was completed along a 50km stretch of the Severn River between Kwiambal National Park and Pindari Dam to form a baseline for the current level of infestation.

Following the aerial survey, expressions of interest to participate in on-ground works was called for. In total 17 private landholders and 1 Local Aboriginal Lands Council were engaged in the project. These properties completed control on 145-ha along 61km of the Severn River.

Assistance for control works was provided in the form of with chemical, knapsacks and reimbursement for diesel costs and a limited number of properties having access to

contractors to complete the control.

The impact

Baseline monitoring was collected in 2013 through separate funding and this project builds on that dataset. In the intervening years no ongoing support was available to continue the onground works. Over the same period the region has experience drought, bushfires and floods.

Property ownership has also changed significantly with an estimated 50% change in ownership compared with 2013. This project has engaged new participants in landscape

scale weed control; reinvigorated previous project participants and through the provision of resources enabled landholders to focus on this key weed.

This weed has now been listed as a regional priority weed for Containment in the 2023-2027 Northern Tablelands Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan.

Key facts

• This weed is a threat to production agriculture and the environment.

• 145-ha control completed

• 50km aerial survey

• Follow up is required.