About Sydney Weeds Network Inc.

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:

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