Sydney Golden Wattle has been a popular garden plant as it has attractive golden flowers in winter. Sydney Golden Wattle escapes gardens and spreads into bushland where it smothers important and unique flora including orchids and wildflowers. Sydney Golden Wattle’s scientific name is Acacia longifolia and it is an invasive weed in the South West of Western Australia.
Shire President Paul Omodei stated "Local governments and land managers in the South West are spending time and money on tackling this weed due to its quick spreading nature. The Shire of Manjimup has been mapping the Sydney Golden Wattle's population over the last 5 years. The mapping reveals that the weed has spread into many bushland reserves. The Shire of Manjimup has been undertaking control where possible and due to the successful partnerships with Southern Forests Community Landcare, Main Roads WA, Department of Biodiversity Conservation Attractions and the Manjimup Weed Action Group, control is widespread over multiple tenures within the Shire of Manjimup".
Sensitive areas such as Windy Harbour have received funding from the State Natural Resource Management Office and through the Windy Harbour Reserve to control the weed. "Our Parks and Gardens team have removed a large amount of this weed in our reserves this year. There are still many private properties and reserves that need control. To achieve a landscape scale approach of control, the community will need to work together. Targeting this weed now will reduce a costly legacy for future generations" he added.
Sydney Golden Wattle is finishing flowering in August and is about to set seed. The Sydney Golden Wattle can be confused with native wattles. Contact the Shire of Manjimup’s Environmental Sustainability Officer for advice on identification of the weed. The priority weeds in the Shire of Manjimup are listed on the Shire website with remedies for treatment.
