Cassia

Weed control program

Section 371 (1) b of the Biosecurity Act 2015

This weed control program is a Council endorsed document under Section 371 (1) (b) of the Biosecurity Act 2015. It describes how a person must discharge the person’s general biosecurity duty for the biosecurity matter (weed) described.

Plant species

Common name: Cassia
Scientific name: Senna pendula

Area of operation

Local government area of Eurobodalla Shire.

Species information

Cassia is a perennial spreading or sprawling shrub 2m to 4m tall, with bright yellow pea-like flowers and cylindrical seed pods.

Cassia plants start producing fruit after 2 to 3 years. Each plant can produce over a thousand seeds each year.

Cassia is fast growing and it invades bushland, particularly in coastal areas. It can outcompete native plants, and reduce food and habitat for native animals.

Cassia is currently impacting Murramarang National Park.

Legal obligations

Any person who deals with biosecurity matter or a carrier and who knows, or ought reasonably to know, the biosecurity risk posed or likely to be posed by the biosecurity matter, carrier or dealing has a biosecurity duty to ensure that, so far as is reasonably practicable, the biosecurity risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised.

Weed risk assessment

Risk level: Medium
Impacts: Environment
Control objective: Asset protection

Council control requirements

1. Destroy all plants, or if that is not practicable, destroy as many plants as is practicable and stop the spread of any remaining plants from the property.
2. The landholder must prevent spread from their land to high priority sites including, but
   not limited to, sites with threatened species present and/or endangered ecological communities.

Enforcement

A person who fails to discharge the person’s general biosecurity duty is guilty of an offence.

In the event that the general biosecurity duty is not discharged, Council may:

• charge a reinspection fee
• issue a fine notice (refer to Biosecurity Regulation 2017 (NSW) Schedule 6 - Penalty notice offences)
• enter the property, perform weed direction works, and recoup all costs and expenses incurred.

Review date

When required.