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A Nietta resident is calling on Sustainable Timber Tasmania to remove all foxglove weed from the timber plantation which neighbours her property. The call comes after Robin Duncan has had to lose her organic certification on the back part of her property as she was forced to spray the toxic weed to contain it. Ms Duncan was devastated when she had to make that call as she intended on growing organically certified food for the rest of her life. "It makes me so desperate and helpless that I can't get on top of it," she said. "At the very back of my property is a timber plantation. "The block above mine is all infested and the seeds wash down and germinate on my property." IN OTHER NEWS: Ms Duncan said it should be the responsibility of Sustainable Timber Tasmania to remove the weed from the plantation. "The horrific foxglove infestation now spreading across Tasmania is the direct result of the forestry industry's exemption from normal farming practices adhered to by farmers for many years in our beautiful state," she said. "When a neighbour has an infestation of rampant weeds, like ragwort a few years ago, it was the responsibility of the owner of the land to remove the plant. "It then became mandated that landowners were required to eradicate the plant and it worked." While acknowledging the efforts of Sustainable Timber Tasmania to try and fix the problem, Ms Duncan said they didn't do enough. "They (Sustainable Timber Tasmania) have made an effort to do something about my complaint but it is a token effort," she said. "Sustainable Timbers have come up and sprayed a thin strip along my boundary fence but there are still plenty of plants and the seed will just wash down and blow down to my property." In response, a Sustainable Timber Tasmania spokesperson said foxglove doesn't fall under the weed management legislation, meaning landholders aren't required to control it. "Sustainable Timber Tasmania works proactively with its neighbours to manage matters of shared interest which is demonstrated through an ongoing commitment in the forest industry's Good Neighbour Protocol," the spokesperson said. "Foxglove is an environmental weed and is not listed under Tasmania's Weed Management Act 1999 and as such, control of the weed is not a legal requirement of land managers. "However, in accordance with the Good Neighbour Protocol, Sustainable Timber Tasmania is involved in ongoing consultation with neighbours to implement reasonable measures in matters of shared interest." Why not subscribe to The Advocate for more daily, local news? Sign up here
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January 12 2022 - 5:00AM
Nietta resident wants toxic weed removed from neighbouring plantation
Rodney Woods
Devastated: Nietta's Robin Duncan is overwhelmed by the amount of foxglove weed that has spread on to her property from a neighbouring timber plantation. Picture: Brodie Weeding.
A Nietta resident is calling on Sustainable Timber Tasmania to remove all foxglove weed from the timber plantation which neighbours her property.
The call comes after Robin Duncan has had to lose her organic certification on the back part of her property as she was forced to spray the toxic weed to contain it.
Ms Duncan was devastated when she had to make that call as she intended on growing organically certified food for the rest of her life.
Infestation: Foxglove is a toxic weed that is taking over Robin Duncan's property. Picture: Brodie Weeding.
"It makes me so desperate and helpless that I can't get on top of it," she said.
"At the very back of my property is a timber plantation.
"The block above mine is all infested and the seeds wash down and germinate on my property."
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Ms Duncan said it should be the responsibility of Sustainable Timber Tasmania to remove the weed from the plantation.
"The horrific foxglove infestation now spreading across Tasmania is the direct result of the forestry industry's exemption from normal farming practices adhered to by farmers for many years in our beautiful state," she said.
"When a neighbour has an infestation of rampant weeds, like ragwort a few years ago, it was the responsibility of the owner of the land to remove the plant.
"It then became mandated that landowners were required to eradicate the plant and it worked."
High and mighty: Robin Duncan looks up at the foxglove weed which she says is spreading from a neighbouring timber plantation. Picture: Brodie Weeding.
While acknowledging the efforts of Sustainable Timber Tasmania to try and fix the problem, Ms Duncan said they didn't do enough.
"They (Sustainable Timber Tasmania) have made an effort to do something about my complaint but it is a token effort," she said.
"Sustainable Timbers have come up and sprayed a thin strip along my boundary fence but there are still plenty of plants and the seed will just wash down and blow down to my property."
Not happy: Robin Duncan stands in amongst the infestation of foxglove weed on her Nietta property. Picture: Brodie Weeding.
In response, a Sustainable Timber Tasmania spokesperson said foxglove doesn't fall under the weed management legislation, meaning landholders aren't required to control it.
"Sustainable Timber Tasmania works proactively with its neighbours to manage matters of shared interest which is demonstrated through an ongoing commitment in the forest industry's Good Neighbour Protocol," the spokesperson said.
"Foxglove is an environmental weed and is not listed under Tasmania's Weed Management Act 1999 and as such, control of the weed is not a legal requirement of land managers.
"However, in accordance with the Good Neighbour Protocol, Sustainable Timber Tasmania is involved in ongoing consultation with neighbours to implement reasonable measures in matters of shared interest."
Why not subscribe to The Advocate for more daily, local news? Sign up here
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