South Coast Environmental

12/12/2025

Arum Lily Blitz

The army in the war against the South West's worst invasive w**d has grown this year.

Managed by Nature Conservation Margaret River Region, the Arum Lily Blitz team say they've had another record-breaking year to stop the spread of the w**d.

Despite their beautiful appearance, arum lilies are toxic to native plants and found widespread throughout the region.

Arum Lily Blitz officer Ben Howell told Stan Shaw on ABC South West Breakfast they've experienced highest participation numbers so far.

"We're up to 2200 properties registered since the start of the program in 2019," he says.

"Over 30,000 hectares currently under management, eight businesses supporting us with herbicide distribution... and also record year for people picking up that herbicide which sort of indicating that lots more people are getting on board."

Mr Howell believes there's still a long way to go in educating the public about the deceivingly attractive w**d.

"A lot of people do think they are beautiful... but once you see what they are doing to the biodiversity of the region and smothering areas of native vegetation you kind of get that picture of it being fairly ugly."

New collaborative strategies included involving school kids with infestation mapping and cave divers removing the w**ds from the South West's famous caves, an initiative through the Capes Foundation.

"This year they had some local cavers from the Leeuwin caver club, and they were able to abseil into the doline of the Lake Cave and we were able to target the arum lilies growing in there - they're not selective, they'll grow everywhere."

🎧Listen to the full interview here: https://ab.co/3XOgJtC

26/07/2024

Sydney Golden Wattle 🤔

One of our region’s worst w**d trees – Sydney Golden Wattle – is blooming now and our message is to show no mercy when it comes to eradicating it!

It’s from eastern Australia but doesn’t belong in our region, where it can dominate whole areas of bush.

We’ve made a comprehensive video explaining how to identify Sydney Golden Wattle, how to tell it apart from native wattles that belong here, and how to eradicate it.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/pvJOhvFqpNc

Or find out more here: https://natureconservation.org.au/blog/say-goodbye-to-sydney-golden-wattle/

12/01/2024

Interesting 🧐

16/11/2023

Community garden at old Mt Barker Primary School

16/09/2023

To complement the State Government's $15 million Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program (CF-LRP), a new Carbon for Farmers Voucher Program will provide financial support for farmers to access expert advice on their carbon farming future. Congratulations to the 67 successful applicants announced...

16/09/2023

Did you know?

Arum lily contains a mineral called calcium oxalate. All parts of the plant, especially the flower, are poisonous and can cause: eczema and dermatitis.

Arum lily competes with valuable perennial pasture plants on summer land. It has been claimed to cause eczema in humans. Stock deaths have occurred from grazing arum lily. Arum lily has fleshy roots and forms extensive tubers which store food for future use.

Arum Lilies form dense clumps along streams and can restrict water flow and displace native vegetation. These lilies were originally introduced from South Africa for horticulture purposes. Arum Lilies are Declared Plants in Western Australia and all movement is prohibited.

If you need help to control Arum Lilies on your property give Matt a call on 0417 992 892.

We are currently spraying in the Robinson area.

14/09/2023

The truth about Arum Lillies:

How does this w**d affect you?

Arum lily is a garden escapee that has spread to wetlands, other natural areas and pastures.
It is toxic to people, livestock, pets and native animals, can choke waterways,
reduces pasture productivity and
outcompetes native plants.

Human poisoning:

Arum lily contains a mineral called calcium oxalate. All parts of the plant, especially the flower, are poisonous and can cause:

Eczema and dermatitis ,irritation, burning and swelling of the mouth and throat,
breathing difficulties, severe nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, diarrhoea, shock and exhaustion and death.

Livestock poisoning:

It is not common for livestock to eat arum lily plants, but death can occur if they do. When ruminants (sheep, cattle and horses) eat arum lily it can cause:
irritation, burning and swelling of the mouth and throat, excessive drooling
vomiting, difficulty swallowing.
Poisoning of other animals
Arum lily can also be toxic to dogs, cats and birds. If you think you have affected animals contact your vet.

If you need help controlling Arum Lillies give us a call on 0417 992 892

14/09/2023

We are currently spraying Arum lilies in the Robinson area, Albany. Now is the time to tackle this significant environmental w**d which is also toxic to stock. If you need us to spray your rural property while we are in the area, please give us a call on 0417 992 892.

14/07/2023

Keep an eye out for our little Rakali

04/10/2022

Excuse the swearing but you get the idea!

Nothing is more precious than life.CREDITS: Writer Adam McKayVoice Steven San MiguelEditor Bruce HerrmanProducer Staci Roberts-SteeleSpecial Thanks Lost Plan...