Responsibility

Who is responsible for the control of injurious weeds?

The landowner or occupier is responsible for the control of injurious weeds. The Department of Infrastructure have responsibility for highways and public rights of way up to the verge, but do not have responsibility for the hedge bank which is the responsibility of the landowner/occupier.

When is it an offence to have injurious weeds on my land?

Following recent changes to the Weeds Act, it is now only an offence to harbour injurious weeds if after a notice is served by DEFA, the weeds are not removed after the stipulated period (usually a week). However, it is in your best interests to ensure that weed burdens do not build up to levels that may cause a problem on your or neighbouring land, particularly agricultural fields.

Invasive Non-native Plants

Separate to the injurious weeds listed in the Weeds Act 1957 are the non-native invasive plant species listed on Schedule 8 Part II of the Wildlife Act 1990. This includes species such as Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica, Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera and common rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum, which can outcompete native plants and damage habitats.

It is an offence to plant or otherwise causes these plants to grow in the wild.

Go to the Invasive Non-Native Species webpage on the Government website for more information.