Sweet Pittosporum removal in Queens Park Lorne
15 March 2024
by Kim Hammond, Conservation Leading Hand Lorne
In December, we received notice that an area of Queens Park, Lorne was part of an asset protection burn within the next fortnight. Previously, we had been notified that the burn was due in Autumn, but due to a cooler summer saw the burn date brought forward in an area that we have named working Section G.
Queens Park was divided into these sections for our Works Plan, so that we could work through each section annually. Areas are prioritised for their size and biodiversity values. We had managed to hand weed approximately one third of Section G up until last year and had an allowance for contractors last year to remove the larger woody weeds with chainsaws.
We completed the removal of all Pittosporum undulatum (Sweet Pittosporum) that was taller than waist high with chainsaws. The controlled burn will be done at a temperature that destroys the existing seed bank and all small Pittosporum undulatum below waist high. Members of the Torquay and Apollo Bay teams came in to help as weed coverage in the remaining area was estimated at around 75%.
As of March 2024, the controlled burn has not yet been conducted as we had several days of extreme bush fire danger. When conditions become suitable the area will be burnt and we are hopeful that we will now have the Pittosporum undulatum under control.
We will continue to sweep the area annually to control other woody weeds present in this section, particularly Chrysanthemoides monolifera (Boneseed), Genista monspessulana (Cape Broom) and Sollya heterophylla (Bluebell creeper). Many local gardens contain Pittosporum undulatum and these other woody weeds mentioned. The seed is spread by birds, wind and water and local gardeners can assist us in controlling these environmental weeds by removing them from their gardens.