An image of a group of people inspecting plants
Central Highlands Eden field trip to Cambarville, Victoria - Bradley Matthews.
An image of a weed - Gorse by Sally Lambourne.
Gorse (Ulex europaeus) in the Central Highlands Eden program area. Gorse is a listed Weed of National Significance - Sally Lambourne.
An image of a river and weeds including a blackberry infestation by Bec Schwinghammer
Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus spp. aggregate) infestation in the Central Highlands Eden program area seen on the hill in the background of the photograph. Blackberries grow particularly well in wet areas along the banks of rivers and creeks - Bec Schwinghammer.
An image of a weed - Foxglove by Sally Lambourne.
Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) is an emerging problem in the Central Highlands Eden project area and other wet forest ecosystems of South-east Australia - Sally Lambourne.
An image of a weed - the Aluminium plant weed by Bradley Matthews.
The Aluminium Plant (Lamium argentatum) is a weed found in the Central Highlands Eden project area that spreads readily in wet forests, smothering native ground storey vegetation - Bradley Matthews.

The Central Highlands Eden project is part of the Weeds and Pests on Public Land program.

The Central Highlands Eden project is a large scale weed management project that focuses on the detection and removal of high-risk weeds that threaten the plants and animals of the Central Highlands of Victoria. It has been running since 2011.

This project has achieved significant reductions in weed cover and contributes to the Victorian Government’s objective of 1.5 million hectares of weed control in priority locations across the state.

It focuses on preventing high risk and new weed species establishing and spreading. It also runs training sessions for local land managers and community groups to identify, manage, and prevent weeds from spreading.

Long-term monitoring data shows that the Central Highlands Eden project has significantly reduced overall and high threat weed cover across the project area.

Central Highlands Eden - quick facts
Target pestHigh risk weed species - over 125 species treated including biological control target species English Broom (Cytisus scoparius), Gorse (Ulex europaeus), Montpellier Broom (Genista monspessulana), and Tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum).
Target native species/landscapeTree Geebung (Persoonia arborea), Tall Astelia (Astelia australiana), Shiny Nematolepis (Nematolepis wilsonii), and intact remnant vegetation of varying Ecological Vegetation Classes.
PartnersThe Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), Parks Victoria, Melbourne Water, VicRoads, Alpine Resorts Victoria, Yarra Ranges Council, Baw Baw Shire Council, West Gippsland Water, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, AusNet Services, and the Walhalla Board of Management.
Key areasYarra Ranges and Baw Baw National Parks, Buniyp and Moondarra state parks and all interconnected state forest including Thomson, Toombon, Tanjil, Noojee, and Yarra.

How can you help?

  • Join your local Friends or Landcare group, or explore volunteer opportunities with the Parks Victoria tool, ParkConnect
  • Don’t spread weeds through the bush; practice good vehicle hygiene.
  • Consider selection of garden plants carefully; many of our environmental weeds start out in gardens. Consider planting Victorian indigenous species. Practice responsible disposal of garden waste.
  • Report new and unusual plant/weed sightings to Agriculture Victoria.

Contact Us

Please reach out if you want to learn more about the Central Highlands Eden project under the Weeds and Pests on Public Land program.

You can email us at enviro.grants@deeca.vic.gov.au

Page last updated: 24/04/24