I wonder what their plan is for maintaining a willow-free environment. Moreover pieces of willow drifting down the Molonglo might further spread the unwanted species.
I have a little book by Alexander McTaggart which purports to tell the story of how the weeping willow, ‘which adorns the banks … of the Molonglo river at Canberra, ACT, came to those districts of Australia’. Twigs were brought from Napoleon’s grave at St Helena. I appreciate that the weeping is not the main pest species but the genus seems to be good at gaining a foothold.
From: Chris Davey [
Sent: Saturday, 20 August 2011 10:46 PM
To:
Subject: [canberrabirds] re Willow clearing
FYI, yesterday afternoon I received notice that the ACT Government will continue with their on-going program to remove invasive willow species followed up by replacement plantings of appropriate species. The planned removal will involve down-stream of Scrivener Dam to as far as the Tuggeranong Parkway and around the junction of the Molonglo and Queanbeyan Rivers at Oaks Estate. Clearing of the south bank of the Molonglo River up-stream for 2 km from the Dairy Road Bridge is in progress.
24 Bardsley Place
Holt
ACT 2615
