Weed Control

Services and Operations Weed and Grass Control Program

Services and Operations have the need to control grass and weeds in various situations. The reason to control the grass and weeds on council managed land is for fire prevention, road safety, road maintenance and longevity, aesthetics, maintain high standards in council’s sports reserves, open spaces and general weed control. These situations include but are not limited to areas close to fences, footpath edges, tree surrounds, drains, footings of street furniture, walking or bike trails, road shoulders, open spaces, playing surfaces of sport reserves, etc.

Under the Services and Operations Weed and Grass Control Program, Colac Otway Shire Council performs some treatment in-house but also engages contractors to undertake this treatment.

Staff and contractors are trained in a range of methods, including spot spraying, boom spraying and using approved selective and non-selective herbicides. 

Request a Weed Treatment Exemption

Council operates a Weed Treatment Exemption Register which gives residents the opportunity to avoid use of weed treatment applications on road reserves adjoining your property (please note, applications are subject to Council approval). You can also register to be notified when works are scheduled to take place in close proximity to your property.

Environmental Weed Control Program

Under the Environmental Weed Control Program, Colac Otway Shire Council engages suitably qualified contractors to undertake targeted treatment of noxious weed infestations to protect road reserves and other reserves throughout the shire with significant environmental values, including high-quality remnant indigenous vegetation and threatened species.

The program is organised by targeted and grouped weed species at sites of known infestations, so that the timing of treatment ensures the weed control will be as effective as possible. Contractors are engaged to use a range of methods, including ‘cut and paint’ and ‘spot spraying’ using selective herbicides, and the program is designed to ensure there are no off-target impacts. The chemicals - and dosage applied - are those most appropriate to weed species, the life stage of the plant, the location of road, surrounding vegetation, and adjoining properties.

Boxthorn Roads List(PDF, 88KB)

St-Johns Wort Roads List(PDF, 86KB)

Blackberry-Ragwort-Roadsides-Program-Central-21-22(PDF, 597KB)

Blackberry-Ragwort-Roadsides-Program-Partnership-21-22(PDF, 571KB)

Council also has an ongoing program of treating 'hotspot' roadsides, where individual projects are undertaken to remove substantial or emerging infestations on problematic roadsides. 

Please note: Marker dye is applied with all herbicide applications under Council’s Environmental Program, so that treated infestations are identifiable post treatment.