Claim ivy may kill residents

By Ed Merrison
LOCAL environment advocates are calling for urgent action to combat the insidious threat posed by English ivy.
Selby environmental consultant and Upper Yarra and Dandenongs Environmental Council member Darcy Duggan last week warned inaction by residents and authorities was creating a ‘mega-multi-million dollar problem’ in the shire, and warned of possible loss of life if the English ivy threat was not addressed.
“(English ivy) is a really insidious threat hiding behind the scenes and no people in authority seem to be paying attention.
“Trees become weaker in structure and there is an increased risk of them falling on property, cars and powerlines,” he said.
Mr Duggan said the ivy, which gradually strangles the life out of trees by competing for sunlight and cutting the flow of water to the tree’s leaves, has been left to reach a mature stage in many cases.
According to Mr Duggan, this had led to a massive infection process throughout the region as the plant flowers and produces fruit.
In addition, Mr Duggan said ivy provided a harbour for boring insects that contribute to a tree’s decay and also increased the weight and wind resistance of a tree, making it more likely to fall.
“It’s a horrendous situation, and it doesn’t help that the State Government has cut the pest, plant and animal budget from $900,000 to $100,000 over the past two years.
“We’ve got a massive crisis looming and people are just burying their heads in the sand,” he said.
Shire of Yarra Ranges Billanook Ward councillor and Environmental Reference Group member Tim Heenan shared Mr Duggan’s concerns, calling the ivy a ‘silent killer’.
“I have really grave concerns for the future of residents in the Dandenongs and in the Yarra Valley through the threat of English ivy in their back yards.
“It is now at the stage where I think it will threaten people’s lives and properties,” he said.
Shire spokesman James Martin said Mr Duggan was right to be concerned.
He said the council had been alerting the community to the seriousness of the threat posed by the ivy as well as many other weeds.
Mr Martin cited the shire’s recently launched Weed Blackspot Strategy and Program and regular Ivy Blitz days as evidence of the council’s approach to weed eradication, in addition to a $100,000 increase in funding in this financial year which took spending on vegetation management to $650,000.