Environment

Firewood Collection

Collecting firewood from roadsides or within NSW Forests is banned within the Berrigan Shire without a permit. Permits for firewood collection are available from the Forestry Department or more information is available from the Berrigan Shire Council.

Weeds & Spraying

Berrigan Shire Council is concerned with providing residents and visitors of the Shire with a safe and sustainable environment and has developed recommendations and guidelines for maintaining land and eradicating weeds within the Shire.

Noxious Weeds

Although there are many plants that could be classed as weeds, only those plants which have a detrimental effect or cause serious economic loss to agriculture or the environment are considered as candidates for declaration as noxious weeds or plants.

There are two categories of noxious plants:

• State declared - these noxious weeds are the most important and pose an ongoing serious threat to agriculture or the environment throughout the state
• Local Council declared - they are noxious plants that cause problems within a local county area, catchment or region

For more information about Noxious Plants and identifying them, phone the Finley office of the Central Murray County Council on (03) 5883 1764 or the NSW Department of Primary Industries here http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pests-weeds/weeds

The Central Murray County Council (CMCC) is the Local Government body responsible for the control and eradication noxious plants in the Murray, Berrigan, Conargo, Windouran and Deniliquin Shires.

CMCC is also responsible for inspecting private property for noxious plants and advising landholders or occupiers on control and eradication.

Stormwater

The Drain is just for rain

Berrigan Shire, in partnership with the NSW Environmental Protection Authority is part of a campaign to reduce pollutants in drains and our water ways which includes the Murray River.

Any litter, garden fertilisers and pesticides, grease and oils, cigarette butts, sediments and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, washed down drains can cause serious stormwater pollution and is dangerous to the environment.

Every resident in Berrigan Shire can help ensure our waterways and the environment remains healthy by being aware of the dangers.

"The drain is just for rain".

Tips to reduce stormwater pollution

• Don't put any rubbish or pollutants down the drain. This includes leaves, grass clipping and pet droppings
• If washing your car, do so on grass or over gravel, not on the street
• Keep your driveways and gutters clean andsweep up leaves and grass clippings and place in your compost bin
• Ensure chemicals are stored properly and safely and clean up any spills quickly. Do not allow any chemicals to leak into drains and gutters.

Savernake and Native Dog Landcare Group

The Savernake and Native Dog Swamp (SAND) Group obtained a National Heritage Trust grant in 1999 to conduct a research and planning project with Greening Australia and CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.

The SAND Farmscapes Project encourages the local community to learn about the diverse wildlife in this region and to develop ways to conserve wildlife within a sustainable farming system.

Further information regarding the SAND Farmscapes Project can be found by clicking here.

Contact details

Residents can contact Council for more information regarding environmental issues during business hours on (03) 5888 5100 or visit Council offices between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday.