BALINGUP townscape committee member Peter Hicks wants locals to be on the lookout for a new pest establishing itself in the South West – longifolia.
Longifolia is a variety of wattle native to the eastern states, which is recognisable for its long leaves and long stemmed flowers, as opposed to WA’s native wattle, which has small ball-like flowers.
“It hasn’t been around for long and it’s already spreading,” Mr Hicks said.
He said the tree was starting to invade forest areas and road verges, although it was non-existent in stock paddock, because the stock ate it. It has spread through Mullalyup and up Southampton Road.
“The Golden Valley Tree Park has carried out an eradication program,” Mr Hicks said.
“It’s not on the declared list, so there’s no money for it, which means controlling it is up to community groups.”
Mr Hicks said the trees lasted about ten years before dying off and creating a massive fire risk.
“They are going to be worse than black wattle and will probably end up on a declared list,” he said.
Mr Hicks advised landowners to cut any longifolia down and pull the stump out, or poison it.
“Poisoning the stump is better than spraying all over things,” he said.
