Roadside vegetation plays a significant role in our environment and provides a variety of ecosystem services including:
- Roadside vegetation acts as a corridor between otherwise isolated native vegetation stands, linking different native vegetation communities
- Provides a habitat for native species and important refuges for feeding, shelter, and breeding
- Preserving ground-cover vegetation helps prevent soil erosion on the road shoulder and in table drains
- Filtering sediment and pollutants from road runoff such as petrochemicals, improving water quality entering watercourses and protecting adjacent vegetation patches from stormwater impacts
- Reducing weed maintenance by acting as an effective means of weed control through the preservation of native vegetation cover
However, roadside vegetation continues to be under threat from poor management practices, including weed infestation, grazing, illegal firewood collection, road maintenance, stockpiling, dumped rubbish and vegetation removal.
There are ways in which the community can contribute to the protection of roadside vegetation, including:
- Avoid stopping your car within red guidepost areas to prevent the spread weeds
- Appreciate native vegetation for its natural state by not mowing, clearing or ‘tidying up’ roadside reserves
- Monitor the health of roadside vegetation and report any damage including illegal clearing, firewood collection and waste dumping
- Buy firewood from a reliable source, never take firewood from roadsides or bushland
What is Council doing to enhance roadside native vegetation?
Wagga Wagga City Council developed the 'Wagga Wagga Roadside Vegetation Management Plan' with funding from Local Government NSW and the NSW Environmental Trust, in partnership with Lockhart Shire Council. The aim of this plan is to protect and enhance these vital areas of vegetation into the future.
Council has also implemented various projects and programs including:
- Installing various weed hygiene station around the Wagga Wagga LGA
- Installing red and green guidepost program
- Conducting regular inspections on rural properties, providing feedback and advice on best methods of weed management