Title: Sunbury neighbours at a loss as serrated tussock seed blows in
[Sunbury Leader, 11 Jan 2011, p. 3 By Kelly Sammut] -- Tuesday, 11 January 2011A SUNBURY couple's New Year's Eve clean-up began before their party as strong winds blanketed their property in serrated tussock. Spavin Drive resident Dave White is mad and frustrated he has to foot the bill to clean-up the noxious weed because someone else didn't control the weed on their property. He said he didn't know the plants on a neighbouring developer's block was serrated tussock until it started blowing on to his property blanketing his garden, lawns, fences and tennis court in a layer of tumbleweed like straws.
Serrated tussock has blown into Dave White's property. Picture: DENNIS MANKTELOW
"The trouble is figuring out what to do," Mr White said. "It's in the front garden and in the back it's all going to seed. "It's on the ground and when you get further back it's all in the trees. "It's going to be impossible to get it all."
His wife Kym said by Wednesday she had filled 38 garbage bags, without making a dent in the mess. She said she was relieved that Hume Council has now offered to collect the full bags, saving them tip costs . Hume Council acting sustainable environment manager Bernadette Thomas confirmed last Wednesday that large quantities of serrated tussock seed had blown into residential properties of Spavin Drive. She said the council would notify residents in the street in writing and advise them of management options, provide garbage bags and co-ordinate the collection of bagged seeds from residents.
DPI spokeswoman Melanie Curtis said the department would notify the offending landowner of its responsibilities. Landholders must take all reasonable steps to prevent the growth and spread of regionally controlled weeds and if they did not they could be fined.
The Leader was unable to contact the developer of the land the weeds are suspected of coming from.
