Harvester to make short work of weeds
Date published: 25 October 2016
Council has brought in the big guns in the fight against weeds in the city’s recreational water reserves.
An aquatic weed harvester will begin work today at Blacks Weir to clear a build-up of floating and aquatic weeds that has impacted recreational users.
Once completed, the harvester may also be used to remove weeds from other sections of the Ross River as well as Aplins Weir and Fairfield Waters.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said council had responded to concerns from recreational users of the weir regarding the weeds that had spread as a result of the ongoing drought.
“Blacks Weir is a very popular spot for a multitude of groups who use it for boating and recreational sports including kayaking, dragon boating, paddling and water skiing,” Cr Hill said.
“Those groups have had concerns for a while now associated with the gradual spread of the weed which has come about as a result of a lack of decent rain to flush the river.
“Short of a big wet to clean out the river the only other option is the harvester which we’re very pleased to have been able to secure.”
Cr Hill said the harvester was on loan from south-east Queensland but council would consider its purchase following this clean-up work.
Infrastructure Committee chairman Cr Mark Molachino said council had last resorted to the use of a weed harvester during the 2005 drought when more than 70,000sq m of weeds were pulled from Aplins Weir.
“The use of herbicide has had only minor effect on the surface weed (hyacinth), but no impact at all on the Cabomba weed which grows at the bottom,” Cr Molachino said.
“The weed harvester is designed to effectively remove the weed from the root, making it a much more sustainable solution.
“This is great news for those using our waterways for boating and water based activities.”
Hire of the harvester including transport and an operator will cost $32,716.
Blacks Weir will be cleared in time for the Townsville Ski Club’s Croc Run on November 12 and 13 that last year attracted 84 competitors.
