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Quick Statistics
History of Bitou Bush
Fast Facts
Biology of Bitou
Project Aim
Proposed Research
Areas of Interest
Priority Sites
Approach (The "Dane" Method)
Monitoring
Links

Quick Statistics

Project Start Date: 14 Dec 2010
Stats as at 14 Feb 2011 (all plants from seedlings to large plants and all species)

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History of Bitou Bush ^{_{(Sourced from DECCW Fact Sheet)}}

South African bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera) was first recorded in Australia at Stockton near Newcastle in 1908. Between 1946 and 1968, it was widely planted to stabilise mined sand dunes. However in 1999, 'invasion of native plant communities by bitou bush and boneseed' was listed as a key threatening process by the NSW Scientific Committee and bitou was declared aWeedWeed|||||A plant that is unwanted or undesireable in the given location.of National Significance by the Australian Government in 2000.

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Fast Facts

Botanical Name: Chrysanthemoides monilifera
Sub Species: rotundata (Bitou Bush)
Sub Species: monilifera (Boneseed)

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Project Aim

To remove, supress and prevent further infestations of bitou bush from areas of interest within the Gosford, Wyong and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas. To monitor the effect the project through statistical analysis. To report to any land owners where Bitou is present and where access is not available. To educate and encourage those land owners to work towards the common goal of long term complete eradication.

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Proposed Research

As part of an ongoing process I would like to try and gather information relating to the removal and regeneration (large or small scale) from individuals and groups who have successfully or unsuccessfully removed and regenerated areas. I would particularly like to talk to anyone who has any statistical information that may be of use within this research. I would like to undertake field trials of some of my methods and theories alongside existing methods to further understand the effects of Bitou and allelopathy to enable a more sustainable and effective (both environmentally and economically)  method to be fully developed and tested.

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Areas of Interest

Areas of interest have been identified primarily by my frequented travel routes (both vehicular and foot) with beach areas and areas with poor accessibility also being targeted ie. cliff faces and areas not able to be accessed by the average person. I have also chosen to target smaller areas for initial control to ensure that follow up work can be achieved and monitored closely. As the project moves forward, larger areas will be targeted. Areas within DECCW's priority sites will also be considered for Bitou Busting.

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Priority Sites

The below sites have been identified in a list from the NSW Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Plan by DECCW as being priority sites for bitou bush control that will have the greatest benefit to the biodiversity most at risk.

Lake Macquarie SCA
Wallarah NP
Munmorah SCA
Budgewoi
Wyrrabalong NP & Council Rd Reserve
Wyrrabalong NP South (Bateau Bay to Wamberal North)
Wamberal Lagoon NR
Bouddi NP
Lion Island (north east face)

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Approach (The "Dane" Method)

I have strong reservations regarding the use of poisons for any purpose unless absolutely necessary. I do not believe that poison should be used as a control method for any plant or weed unless extensive testing has been undertaken to ensure that there will be no ill effects on the soil or the regeneration process.

I have therefore selected to hand weed all plants, pulling out the root systems to prevent stump regrowth. Due to the nature of the usually small root zone (compared to the canopy spread) of Bitou Bush, even when disturbed, I feel the minor soil disturbance will not have a significant effect towards destabalisation or erosion of the soil.

As it is an offence under Australian Law to transport Bitou Bush I will stack plant material from each area weeded into one or more piles located as close to the weeded area as possible. The pile(s) will be located as far away from any significant native plants as practical. I have chosen this method of disposal/break down as opposed to leaving the plant in situ to minimise the effect of the allellopathic nature of the Bitou plant. Small seedling sized plants have also been found to be surrounding areas of heavy infestation and this method also allows for the removal of these plants.

This process will ensure larger time frames between monitoring activities which in turn will allow more time to be spent removing Bitou. Moving a large amount of Bitou to a single large pile will also allow self regeneration in a timely fashion of a larger area. The impact area that wont regenerate for the longer period of time will then only be limited to the area where the plants have been placed to wilt and die.

As the project is well underway and the piles start to die off options to burn the wilted and dead Bitou will be looked into to speed up the decomposition process and ensure unsightly dead material will not litter the streets and beaches for extremely long periods of time. I am sure this process may create some concern to some. Extreme care and necessary precautions will be put in place during any activity involving fire and the area and size of the fire will be kept to an absolute minimum. Burning of the entire pile by simply setting it on fire will not occur. No petrol or other accellerant will be used to initiate the fire with the exception of matches or a lighter.

Currently I believe that once an area has been manually cleared of Bitou that it will need to be left for a period of at least 6 months, but more likely 12 months to allow the soil to break down the growth inhibitor. During this time, normal monitoring and weeding activities will need to occur to ensure no other weeds are enabled to colonise the area prior to regeneration. After the 6 or 12 months has passed, the site can be planted out with natives, or more preferably continued monitoring and weeding at intervals of no less than 3 months but no more than 6 months to allow for natural regeneration.

If monitoring activities are carried out and no weeds are found, increasing the weeding intervals is suggested. 

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Monitoring

Monitoring is something I am very comitted and excited to do.  I want to find out and record statistics of re-infestation and try to determine if this is a result of the viable seeds remaining at the time of removal or if this is a result of new seeds brought in by contaminated bird or animal faeces or other means.

The first site on Ruttleys Rd, Wyee Point I revisited 2 weeks after our initial removal effort and in the area we cleared there were 2 small roots that hadnt come out with 1 - 3cm regrowth already. This is going to be one tough weed to conquer.

I am up for the challenge.

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Links

DECCW Bitou Bush Threat Abatement Plan
DECCW Bitou Bush Fact Sheet
Weeds of National Significance - Bitou Bush
Bitou Bush - Allelopathy??
Bourkes Backyard Bitou Bush Fact Sheet 
ANBG Weed impacts on Biodiversity (Bitou Bush)
Regional Weed Management Plan - Bitou Bush
VIC DPI - Bitou Bush and Boneseed Information
Noxious Weeds ACT 1993

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