Work has begun on Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula and the Mid North to stop the westward spread of the weed, boneseed, across Australia.

The Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management (NRM) Board has joined forces with the Northern and Yorke NRM Board to control the weeds in their respective regions, as part of a national program to establish a western containment line.

This line runs diagonally across South Australia from Broken Hill to Kangaroo Island.

It aims to prevent the spread of boneseed by targeting strategic outlying populations of the weed, eliminating existing seed sources and encouraging rural landholders and householders to destroy plants on their properties.

Boneseed is a flowering South African shrub that was introduced to Australia as a garden plant and is considered one of the country’s worst weeds because of its impact on native vegetation, its ability to adapt to a wide range of habitats and its ability to produce enormous amounts of seed and spread quickly.

Under the State’s Natural Resources Management Act, it is an offence to grow to let the plant grow and this can result in a fine of up to $500.

EPNRM acting biosecurity manager Peter Sheridan said if property owners suspected they had boneseed growing, they should first have the plants identified as they looked very similar to some species of native plants.

He said EPNRM staff in Port Lincoln, Tumby Bay, Elliston, Ceduna, Cleve and Whyalla could help to identify the plants and provide advice on controlling them.

For more information, call the EPNRM office on 8682 7555.