Council seeks to eradicate Willows Cactus – acting now is key

Goondiwindi Regional Council is seeking to prevent an emerging species of pest cactus from becoming as prolific and destructive as Harrisia. The Cereus or ‘Willows’ cactus is already present in the Goondiwindi region, and its numbers are on the rise.

Council is proposing to amend a local law that would change the Willows Cactus (Cereus Uruguayanus) to a declared pest species within the Goondiwindi region. This would prohibit the species and grant Council greater ability to eradicate the pest species within the local government area, and require residents to either treat or remove any instances of the Willows cactus in their gardens or paddocks.

Council is already working with residents to help them to dispose of the cactus voluntarily, and is currently treating the species on all Council roads and land where it has been reported as part of its annual herbicide program. Council will also be implementing a subsidised herbicide control program to assist rural landholders to treat self-seeded Willows Cactus on private property. This program will be funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments as part of the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative. For further information about controlling Willows cactus on your land, contact Council (07) 4671 7400.

The proposed local law amendment will be open for community consultation until 26 March 2021. In the meantime, Council is urging rural landholders, as well as local gardeners, to act now to control the weed. Councillor Susie Kelly holds Council’s Rural Services and Community Facilities portfolio. She said the region needed to act fast to prevent the species from becoming “the next Harrisia”.

“This is a situation where we need to act quickly and responsibly,” Cr Kelly said. “Council is seeking to eradicate Cereus from the Goondiwindi region before it takes hold. We need to act now, when the problem is still localised and contained, before it becomes too prolific to be controlled.

“Council is asking all residents to familiarise themselves with Cereus or ‘Willows’ Cactus and the risks it presents. One such risk is the species being sold as a pot plant and then escaping into gardens and beyond – so we’re asking all residents to check that they don't have it in their home or property,” she said.

Cr Kelly wants residents to realise that while Willows Cactus may continue to be available for purchase outside the Goondiwindi region, the local law change will prohibit local residents being able to bring it into our local government area.

Willows is already known to be present in some areas around Yelarbon and Texas, with the worst cases to the north and north-west of Inglewood. There are also reports that it has recently been sighted around Toobeah and Talwood.

The species is easy to recognise, with no leaves and thick, succulent branches arising from a short, woody trunk that can grow up to 15 m tall. The branches have prominent ribs, which can appear broken and wavy, and spines that grow in groups of 5 – 10. Willows cactus typically blooms at night - the flowers are white and up to 25 cm long. The fruit is a berry that can be yellowish-pink, pink or red, and is white inside with small black seeds.

Residents can inspect copies of the proposed subordinate local laws on Council’s website at https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/homepage/126/draft-local-laws-for-community-consultation or from Council’s Customer Service Centres in either Goondiwindi, Inglewood or Texas. Any person in support of, or objecting to, the proposed amendments must provide a written submission to Council before 26 March 2021.

• Residents should report any Willows Cactus on their property (garden or paddock) to Council on (07) 4671 7400. For more information and photos of Willows Cactus, visit: www.grc.qld.gov.au/pest-weeds/willows-cactus.