Weed management policy

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11.3 Specific management areas

11.3.1 Street environments

11.3.1.1 Street environments (urban) - berm and footpaths

47. Recognise the following weed species as key weeds to control on urban berms and footpaths:

• Purple nutsedge
• Kikuyu grass
• Paspalum.

48. Recognise that all berms and footpaths are equally important for weed control, where a similar standard of presentation is to be achieved across the City.
49. Adopt the weed management option of sustained control for urban berms and footpaths.
50. Select from a range of non-herbicide methods listed in Section 8.2 of this report to control weeds on berms and footpaths, based on their effectiveness in controlling weeds, cost effectiveness, least adverse environmental effects and effects on peoples' health; or introduce new cost effective methods as they become available. Currently this may include any one or a combination of:

• frequent mowing
• hot-water treatment
• edge trimming
• hot-air treatment.

51. Upgrade the standard of the edges of berms and footpaths to minimise weed control and facilitate non-herbicide weed control, including:

• concrete edges along asphalt paths and bluestone kerbing;
• progressive replacement of asphalt paths with concrete paths;
• replacement of bluestone kerbing with concrete continuous strip kerbing where the street character will not be lost by the removal of the bluestone kerbing (such as some industrial areas).

11.3.1.2 Street environments (urban) - specimen trees/tree surrounds

52. Recognise the following weed species as key weeds to control around specimen or street trees:

• Kikuyu
• Paspalum.

53. Adopt the weed management option of sustained control for specimen tree surrounds.
54. Select from the range of non-herbicide methods to control weeds around specimen or street trees, but use herbicide (glyphosate or Versatil) where non-herbicide method are not practicable, or are damaging to trees. It is not envisaged that more hazardous herbicides will be required, or should be applied in the urban street situation. Non -herbicide methods currently available include:

• mulching
• weed mat
• plastic tree surrounds
• concrete tree surrounds
• frequent mowing or use of weedeaters
• hot water treatment (not around young trees)
• edge trimming (against concrete surrounds)
• removal of weeds with a spade.

55. Carry out, on an ongoing basis, investigations into methods to eliminate the use of herbicides around street trees. This will include the greater use of plastic surrounds particularly in areas of higher public use.
56. Replace or remove, by 2005, all invasive weed species planted as trees in public parks and as street trees, within one kilometre of natural areas in parks and on private land and other public land, subject to appropriate consultation, community approval and the provision of an accepted replacement planting plan.
57. Encourage on an ongoing basis residents to assist in the maintenance of berms, including 'gardening' the berms and removing weeds by hand methods.

11.3.1.3 Street environments - rural roadsides

58. Assess, by December 1998, the extent to which an increase in resources is required to control natural area weeds on rural roads on Waiheke Island. Priority needs to be given to the weed species ranked as "high" in Appendix five - Weed species priorities in Auckland City (33kb PDF) of this report, and areas of roadsides adjacent to Auckland City areas that are ranked as "high" in Appendix Six - Weed site priorities in Auckland City (12kb PDF) of this report, or to any natural reserves or areas.
59. Adopt the weed management option of eradication for the following high priority weed species on rural roadsides, and sustained control to achieve a density of weed populations where there are no adverse effects on natural values for all remaining weed species of rural roadsides.

• Rhamnus
• Grey willow
• Climbing asparagus
• Moth plant
• Gorse
• Eleagnus
• Tree privet
• Wild ginger
• Giant reed
• Woolly nightshade
• Monkeyapple.

60. For implementation of weed control methods including herbicide methods on rural roadsides see Section 11.3.4.2.

11.3.2 Sports Parks

11.3.2.1 Sports Parks - Sportsfield/Turf

61. Recognise the following weed species as key weeds to control on sportsfields:

• Paspalum
• Onehunga weed
• Kikuyu grass (when not turf)
• Poa annua
• Catsear.

62. Recognise that all sportsfields are equally important for weed control, where a similar standards of presentation is to be achieved across the City.
63. Adopt the weed management option of sustained control for sportsfields, and aim to achieve zero-density of weeds.
64. Follow a priority order when changing from herbicide to non-herbicide turf management strategies for weed control on sports fields by firstly making the change on sand-based sports fields then on all soil-based sports fields.
65. Provide Sports Park Officers with a process to apply to use hazardous herbicides. Guidelines as to the information to be required in an application, the criteria on which decisions will be made and the likely situations where hazardous herbicides may be used will be prepared. Officers may seek guidance on preparing applications from the Weed Management Group.

11.3.2.2 Sports Parks Surrounds - Intensively Managed Areas

Refer Section 11.3.4.1

11.3.2.3 Sports Parks Surrounds - Natural Areas

Refer Section 11.3.4.2

11.3.3 Premier Parks

11.3.3.1 Premier Parks - Intensively Managed Areas

Refer Section 11.3.4.1

11.3.3.2 Premier Parks - Natural Areas

Refer Section 11.3.4.2

11.3.4 Neighbourhood Parks

11.3.4.1 Neighbourhood Parks - Intensively Managed Areas

66. Recognise the following weed species as key weeds to control on intensively managed areas of parks:

• Paspalum
• Onehunga weed
• Kikuyu grass (when not in turf)
• Poa annua
• Catsear
• Creeping buttercup
• Dock.

67. Recognise that, at present, intensively managed areas of neighbourhood parks are equally important for weed control, where a similar standard of presentation is to be achieved across the City, but this will be reviewed by December 1998, on the following basis:

• some intensively managed areas of parks are more highly valued and have higher public use than other areas by;
• the priority order of parks presented in Appendix Six - Weed site priorities in Auckland City (12kb PDF) of this report;
• giving priority to implementing non-herbicide weed control methods firstly around park facilities (such as playgrounds);
• investigating presentation standards required for the different parks across Auckland City.

68. Adopt the weed management option of sustained control for intensively managed areas of parks. Implement non-herbicide management strategies for all intensively managed areas of parks (lawns, plant beds, and soft and hard edges) by the following methods:

• frequent mowing and use of weedeaters;
• use of much, weed mat and/or plastic tree surrounds for specimen trees;
• frequent hand or mechanical weeding;
• edge trimming;
• hot water application;
• managing fertiliser application;
• not planting species which are identified in this Policy as a weed, or have the potential to become a weed;
• implementing turf management strategies for lawns;
• ensuring that all perennial and annual beds are hand weeded and where appropriate, mulched to minimise weed invasion.

69. Replace or remove by 2005 all invasive weed species planted as specimen trees, within one kilometre of natural areas on parks and private land (eg. monkey apple and Japanese spindle trees).
70. Provide Park Officers with a process to apply to use herbicides other than glyphosate, Escort and Versatil. Guidelines as to the information to be required in an application, the criteria on which decisions will be made and the likely situations where hazardous herbicides may be used will be prepared. Officers may seek guidance on preparing applications from the Weed Management Group.

11.3.4.2 Neighbourhood Parks - Natural Areas

71. Introduce a programme to progressively improve the quality of natural areas of parks by developing and implementing a natural area weed action plan by December 1998, and adopting priorities for the management of weed species and weed infested sites.
72. Provide for a budget increase to fund the effective control of weeds in natural areas of parks.
73. Adopt the weed priorities and rankings for the management of weeds in natural areas of parks presented in Section 7.1 and Appendix five - Weed species priorities in Auckland City (33kb PDF) this report. High priority weeds in natural areas are:

74. Adopt the site priorities and rankings for the management of weeds in natural areas of parks presented in Section 7.1 and Appendix Six - Weed site priorities in Auckland City (12kb PDF) this report. High priority natural area sites requiring weed control are:

Isthmus:

Waiheke:

75. Adopt and implement, according to the proposed natural area weed action plan, the prevention management option for weed species that could be carried to the Gulf Islands, particularly invasive garden plants and coastal weeds from the Isthmus and Waiheke Island. This could be applied through changes to the Regional Plant Pest Management Strategy and district plan rules.
76. Adopt and implement according to the proposed natural area weed action plan, the weed management option of eradication where this is achievable, or sustained control to achieve zero-density for all biosecurity weeds and high priority weeds on high priority sites. These are contained in section 3.1 and Appendix five - Weed species priorities in Auckland City (33kb PDF)
77. Adopt and implement, according to the proposed natural area weed action plan, the weed management option of sustained control to a level where there is no adverse effect on natural values for all other weeds of natural areas. This will be according to the flow chart in Figure One of this Policy where higher priority weed species and sites are controlled before low priority weed species and sites.
78. Ensure that all natural area weed control is part of a long-term programme that provides for the initial reduction in numbers of weeds present, where this is appropriate, then on-going maintenance to prevent reinvasion of weeds, including revegetation programmes. Priority will be given to funding existing programmes on an on-going basis or through to completion (where weeds can be eradicated) of natural area weed control before embarking on new programmes.
79. Ensure that one of the management options of prevention, eradication, sustained control or no intervention is selected before any programme of weed management for particular species, a group of species or sites is begun.
80. Co-ordinate efforts for natural areas weed management with weed work being undertaken by the Department of Conservation and Auckland Regional Council, particularly on the Gulf Islands. This is particularly so on the Gulf Islands.
81. Adopt the no control management option for weed species where there are no feasible methods of management, and initially for low impact weed species on sites of lesser importance.
82. Use physical methods, habitat manipulation, or a combination of the two methods as the first approach to controlling weeds in natural areas, and use herbicides only for weeds where there is no practicable alternative. Currently, for a number of weeds in natural areas, herbicides are the only practical method of control, and for a small number of weeds in some situations only hazardous herbicides are effective. Appendix Ten lists these difficult to control weed species.
83. Where using herbicides, use the herbicide that is effective in controlling the particular weed species and has the lowest toxicity and known harmful effects. This will generally be glyphosate or Escort ; the use of any other herbicides (apart from Versatil) requires approval from the Weed Management Group.
84. Herbicides used to control natural area weeds will be applied as a stump paint, stem injection, foliage wipe or as granules in preference to applying as a spray.
85. Where herbicides are the only practical method of weed control then use them to achieve an initial reduction of weed numbers, and then use physical methods (hand pulling, slashing, machine removal, mulching or covering with weed matt) and habitat manipulation (revegetation, planting) for on-going maintenance of target weed densities. This will reduce the long-term use of herbicides for weed control in natural areas provided a sustained effort is made to control weeds at low population levels.

Provide Park Officers with a process to apply for approval to use herbicides other than glyphosate, Escort or Versatil. Guidelines will be prepared on the information required for an application, the criteria on which decisions will be made and the likely situations where hazardous herbicides may be used.

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Reviewed - October 2006