By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
WEEDS have infested residential nature strips in Endeavour Hills due to a Casey Council road improvement project.
Vic Cassol, who lives in the affected section in James Cook Drive, said his nature strip was exclusively filled with weeds and devoid of grass since the council dug it up and reseeded it in November.
One of the weeds is a nastily long-spiked weed but the most virulent is thought to be the potentially deadly Paterson’s curse – a purple flowered, hairy stalked weed that has blanketed many pastures, roadsides and waterways in Australia.
The latter has spread along James Cook Drive and into Mr Cassol’s front yard.
According to Agriculture Victoria’s website, Paterson’s curse can invade naturally vegetated areas, suppress smaller plants and poison animals.
Its pyrrolizidine alkaloids can cause cumulative chronic liver damage and sometimes death, the website stated.
“It’s a weed that I’ve never seen around here before,” Mr Cassol said.
After complaining to the council, Mr Cassol was visited by council staff but nothing has happened since.
“They said don’t worry, we’ll fix it.
“I’ve never complained before but the grass used to be so beautiful. When I see the weeds going up, I just can’t stand it.”
During the council works, footpaths and gutter kerbing were replaced. Top soil and grass seed were then reinstated on nature strips.
Many of the affected nature strips in a 250-metre stretch between Matthew Flinders and Charles Green avenues are denuded or patchily covered in weeds.
A scarce minority was regrassed successfully.
Casey roads and construction manager Wayne Mack said the grass seed had “not grown as desired”.
“Council is working with its contractor to reinstate the nature strips to the appropriate standard including removal of this common weed seen in the area, as well as re-seeding, to be completed in early March.”
