In September 2019, the Sydney Weeds Committees changed its name to Sydney Weeds Network. It is still a small not-for-profit incorporated association of organisations, primarily local councils, working together to assist in weed management across all land tenures in the Greater Sydney region. While Sydney Weeds Committees was made up of four subregional weed committees: North, South West, Central and West Blue Mountains, Sydney Weeds Network is made up of three roughly geographical subnetworks: Coastal, Central and West. It is still comprised of members from local councils and other land managers responsible for controlling weeds. An elected Board comprised of the Chair and Deputy Chair of each of the three subnetworks provides the executive of Sydney Weeds Network. Their function is to promote the coordination of the three subnetworks to facilitate collaboration, resource and information sharing and efficiencies in weed management and education across the region.
We aim to help coordinate weed management actions and resources to prevent further spread of weeds, and to protect the most important assets that we have – our endangered ecosystems, waterways, agricultural land and critical habitat corridors.
Much of the material for this website has been supplied by members of the previous Sydney Weeds Committees to help increase community knowledge of weeds, their impact and the techniques for control that make weeding a lot easier.
Special thanks go to the many present and past members who have supplied photographs. These include weeds officers and others who have worked with member agencies. Particular thanks go to Rob Gleeson, Adam Burrowes, Sue Stevens and Terry Inkson (of Mid Coast Council) whose photographs are used extensively in weed identification resources. Acknowledged also is the format of the ‘Garden Escapes booklet’, originally a publication by Great Lakes Council in association with the Mid North Coast Weeds Advisory Committee. We relied heavily on the format and content of that booklet for the Sydney version.
Disclaimer: The information on this website is a guide only. Sydney Weeds Network does not accept liability for any loss and/or damage, including financial loss, resulting from the reliance upon any information, advice or recommendations accessed via this website. Content on this site should not necessarily be taken to represent the views of the participating organisations. The most appropriate control methods and management of invasive species should always be checked with the Local Control Authority (local council). Herbicides should always be used according to the specific product label and safety precautions.
Member organisations and the subnetworks they belong to
Bayside Council – Coastal
Blacktown City Council – West
Blue Mountains City Council – West
Camden Council – West
Campbelltown Council – West
Canterbury Bankstown Council – Central
Central Coast Council – Coastal
City of Canada Bay – Central
City of Parramatta – West
City of Ryde – Central
City of Sydney – Coastal
Cumberland Council – Central
Department of Planning and Environment (NSW)
Fairfield City Council – West
Georges River Council – Central
Hawkesbury City Council – West
Hawkesbury River County Council – West
Hornsby Shire Council – Central
Hunters Hill Council – Central
Inner West Council – Central
Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council – Central
Lane Cove Council – Central
Liverpool Council – West
Mosman Council – Coastal
North Sydney Council – Coastal
Northern Beaches Council – Coastal
Penrith City Council – West
Randwick Council – Coastal
Strathfield Council – Central
Sutherland Shire Council – Coastal
Water NSW – West
Waverley Council – Coastal
Willoughby City Council – Coastal
Wollondilly Shire Council – West
Woollahra Council – Coastal
The Sydney Weeds Network has 5 key goals:
Key Goal 1: To provide a platform for our member organisations to have their views represented in regional, state and national weeds legislation, planning, policy and program development and vice versa.
Key Goal 2: Instigate, develop and lead collaborative weed management projects among Councils and other agencies, within subnetworks and across the Greater Sydney region as a whole.
Key Goal 3: Increase the understanding of industry best practice for weed management for our member organisations.
Key Goal 4: Increase community and industry awareness, understanding and engagement of weed issues and their management across the Greater Sydney region
Key Goal 5: Administer Sydney Weeds Network efficiently and effectively.
The Sydney region is characterised by large tracts of highly urbanised areas intersected with patches of native vegetation. Remnants of original bushland continue to exist as corridors, often in steep terrain, in the north and south; in isolated patches on the alluvial flats of the Cumberland Plain; and in large tracts in National Parks on the coastal and outer boundaries. Many tiny fragments are scattered throughout the built-up areas of central Sydney. Much of Sydney’s bushland and waterways are threatened by invasive weeds and are under constant pressure from stormwater runoff with high nutrient loads.
The following information about the former Sydney Weeds Committees Incorporated and now the Sydney Weeds Network is publicly available: