Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)

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 and describes how a person must discharge the person’s general biosecurity duty for the biosecurity matter (weed) described.

Plant species

Common name: Salvinia
Scientific name: Salvinia molesta

Area of operation

Local government area of Eurobodalla Shire.

Species information

Salvinia is an aquatic fern which floats on the water surface. It can be found in fresh water bodies such as farm dams, lagoons on river floodplains, rivers and creeks. Still or slow flowing water is preferred.

Salvinia blankets the water surface reducing light levels, temperature and oxygen in the water below. This has profound effects on communities of native plants and animals in the water. It also interferes with animal access for drinking water, human access for swimming and boating, reduce water quality and block pumps.

Dumping of aquarium or ornamental pond plants is often the means of spread for aquatic weeds. Salvinia molesta is a sterile hybrid and only reproduces vegetatively, from broken-off pieces or whole plants being moved on boats or fishing equipment or washed from one water body to another in floods.

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: High
Impacts: Environment
Control objective: Extirpation

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 in a manner agreed to, or dictated by, Council.
  2. The landholder must prevent spread from their land to high priority sites including, but not limited to, potable water sources, water bodies used for irrigation, water bodies that are used for aquatic recreation, water bodies containing endangered ecological communities and / or threatened species.
  3. The plant must not be propagated or distributed.

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.

Contact details

Invasive Species Supervisor - Biosecurity Act 2015 Authorised Officer
PO Box 99
Moruya NSW 2537

T: 02 4474 1000
E: council@esc.nsw.gov.au