The City of Onkaparinga and the local community have joined forces in a concerted effort to rid rural roadsides of invasive feral olive trees and other woody weeds. 

Ben Moulton, Senior Nature Conservation Officer, says feral olives are a declared weed, and currently covers an estimated 20 per cent of the region's rural road verges.

He says they cause several problems, including encroachment on native vegetation, heightened fuel loads, diminished visual appeal, and hazardous conditions for motorists.

“Over the past 15 years, the council has employed cutting-edge spatial mapping technology to chart the extent of woody weed infestations. 

“This information has helped us implement a range of strategies to determine priority areas for control. 

“Within the Willunga Basin, the spatial data has been instrumental in achieving several key outcomes.”

A sophisticated spatial tool enables the council, Biodiversity McLaren Vale, and the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board to pinpoint olive control locations.

They offer optimal biodiversity conservation outcomes and support private landholder conservation initiatives and can be viewed online.

Mr Moulton says that by leveraging this technology, the council successfully secured substantial Australian Government funding, totalling $3.57 million, for a council-wide Bushfire Preparedness Project.

This accelerates the council's program to remove woody weeds on roadsides and community land, with a focus on protecting communities in bushfire prone areas, including areas around the Willunga Basin.

“The spatial mapping system has aided in identifying and prioritising intersections that require the removal of woody weeds,” Mr Moulton says. 

“This targeted approach improves sight lines and enhances overall road safety for drivers.

“Additionally, a collaborative effort called the Free the Tree program was initiated. 

“Working in partnership with the Hills Fleurieu Landscapes Board and Biodiversity McLaren Vale, this program aims to combat woody weeds that are suffocating old remnant native trees, ensuring their survival and promoting biodiversity in the region.

“As the battle against woody weeds continues, progress is meticulously tracked and documented. 

“The City of Onkaparinga is committed to safeguarding the roadsides that were once infested with these noxious plants, ensuring they are diligently maintained and never left vulnerable to reinfestation.”