General News
29 June, 2026
Getting rid of creek’s weeds
CASSOWARY Coast Regional Council has been awarded $135,000 to tackle weeds in the Liverpool Creek catchment.
The funding will be used to “target delineation and treatment of aquatic weeds” in the catchment.
The catchment is particularly vulnerable to several highly invasive species that block waterways, alter hydrology and damage native ecosystems:
Pond apple (Annona glabra): A highly invasive tree found along creek banks and swamps. While it provides some food for cassowaries, it crowds out native species and requires targeted stem-injection control
Hygrophila (Hygrophila costata): An aquatic weed spreading rapidly in the lower Liverpool Creek area, forming dense mats that smother riparian vegetation and degrade water quality.
Other threats: Aquatic weeds such as bog moss (Salvinia or similar), brillantaisia and Siam weed have historically plagued the area and require continuous surveillance and eradication.
Almost $1m were allocated to five local councils in Far North Queensland for weed and pest management post Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
The cyclone hit the Far North in December 2023, but heavy rainfall and flooding into January 2024 continued the destructive impact.
A funding package being delivered through the Department of Primary Industries’ Pest and Weed Management Program offers support for local councils and resource management groups to address the pest and weed challenges brought about by the impacts of TC Jasper in identified areas.
Member for Mulgrave Terry James said funding continued to support the longer-term recovery efforts being delivered by our council and natural resource management group, “so our community isn’t left with a pest and weed legacy from TC Jasper”.
Member for Barron River Bree James said when people thought about disaster recovery, they often considered roads, homes and other infrastructure – which were vital, “but environmental recovery was also critical because healthy landscapes supported local livelihoods, tourism, agriculture and the long-term resilience of our community.”
“By tackling invasive pests and weeds now, we’re not only repairing damage caused by TC Jasper, we are also reducing future risks and helping these regions recover better,” she said.
“Supporting environmental recovery is an investment in resilience, ensuring communities are better prepared for whatever challenges come next.”
Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said that the management of invasive plants and animals was a shared responsibility and working with federal and local-level partners was important for success.
“Disasters like TC Jasper create favourable conditions for pests and weeds to thrive, as seeds are transported on the wind or in flooding disbursing the invasive pests further, particularly in proximity to waterways,” he said.
Read More: Cassowary Coast