Weed Society President Rachel McFadyen and the Hon. Mike Horan at the booklet's launch

Southern Downs Regional Council is urging land owners to get their copy of the third edition of ‘Weeds of Southern Queensland’.

The long-awaited update published by the Weed Society of Queensland and sponsored by Regional Councils of Southern Queensland is now available after being officially launched by the Honourable Mike Horan earlier this month.

It is now available for free from Council offices.

Ken Harris, Council’s Director of Planning & Environment, said Council fully supports the publication and distribution of this booklet.

“It’s an invaluable tool to help people identify problem declared plants,” Mr Harris said.

Weed Society President Rachel McFadyen said the publication had pictures and identifying information for 132 common weeds of southern Queensland, with information on their management including the herbicides registered for use.

“This update contains information on more weeds, and caters for a wider audience including farmers, contractors, service providers and peri-urban dwellers,” Dr McFadyen said.

“Previous editions of this book were so popular that they sold out long ago, and more than 90% of the 60,000 copies of this current edition were sold prior to printing.”

Dr McFadyen said the Weeds of Southern Queensland publication had been the first port-of-call for basic and practical weed identification and management information for land managers from all backgrounds since 1996.

“This new edition will be invaluable to everyone working to manage weeds.”

The book has been developed by a working group of Weed Society of Queensland members with a great depth of weed management experience across Southern Queensland. They represent local government, state government agencies, research and development companies and regional natural resource management bodies.

Weeds of all types are covered including woody weeds, cacti and succulents, vines, groundcover and herbs, grasses, and aquatics. There is an extensive section on weed management techniques and weed hygiene. Declared weeds are listed, together with a page on landholder obligations for control of these Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 weeds.

Copies are available from Southern Downs Regional Council as well as the Queensland Government, Dow AgroSciences, Technigro, and the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin Committee.