All About Weedbusters

What is Weedbusters?

Weedbusters is a national program that seeks to raise awareness about the damaging effects of weeds. Weedbusters engages the community through education and awareness activities and on-ground weed management.

Weeds are invasive plants that spread rapidly and have unwanted economic, environmental or social impacts.

Weeds can:

• damage our natural systems, agricultural systems, waterways and coastal areas
• impact on agricultural areas and poison livestock
• affect biodiversity by out-competing native plants and degrading habitat
• cause allergic reactions in people and impact on recreational activities.

Weedbuster Week highlights these issues and celebrates the contribution of the many individuals and groups of people who dedicate their time helping to control weeds.

Weedbuster Week is held in the first week of September every year.

Around the world, people are getting the Weedbusters message with Weedbuster and similar programs in New Zealand, South Africa and elsewhere.

So why not become a Weedbuster today!

Weedbusters - history

Weedbusters started in Queensland in 1994 as Queensland Weed Awareness Week.

In 1995 and 1996 it became Queensland Weedbuster Day, with thousands of people participating in events throughout the state.

In 1997, Weedbuster Week was launched nationally, with encouragement and support from the Australian government, all state and territory governments and the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Australian Weed Management.

Weedbusters has been taken up in New Zealand and South Africa, and other countries are now running their own weeds awareness campaigns.

Weedbusters is now a year-long campaign, culminating in Weedbuster Week, held in the first week of September every year.

Events around the country conducted by individuals, schools, community groups and local and state governments help heighten awareness of the damaging effects of weeds.

The events help increase public knowledge, hands-on experience or recognised the efforts of many of Australia's volunteers. The activities include weed clean-up efforts, field days and demonstrations, seminars and displays to assist with weed identification and competitions.

Themes of Weedbuster Week

• 2010 Prevention and early detection
• 2009 - Grow me instead
• 2008 - Grow me instead
• 2007 - Grow me instead
• 2006 - Communities Combating Weeds
• 2005 - Fighting Garden Escapes
• 2004 - Fighting the Weed Invaders
• 2003 - Wetlands not Weedlands (International Year of Freshwater)
• 2002 - Helping Protect Australia's Big Backyard (Australian Year of the Outback)
• 2001 - Local Heroes - Global Champions (International Year of the Volunteer)
• 2000 - Don't Hesitate, because Weeds Won't Wait
• 1999 - Prevention is the Intention
• 1998 - Identification for a Weed Free Nation…get to know the enemy
• 1997 - Nip Weeds in the Bud