Arum Blitz workshops coming to Margaret River, Vasse and Dunsborough this month

Holiday homeowners are being urged to sign up for the fight against the top-rated invasive weed species threatening biodiversity across the Capes region. The latest move in Nature Conservation Margaret River Region’s Arum Lily Blitz — which is co-ordinating more than 2000 landowners — has turned to absentee property owners for help. Arum lilies hail from South Africa and were particularly devastating in WA’s South West because they out-compete native flora, reducing habitat and food availability for local wildlife. Co-ordinator Genevieve Hanran-Smith told the Times the blitz was now turning to people who owned their own getaways in the region to add to the efforts. “We see the amazing impact it can have when a whole street or community does arum lily control, and we also see how just one landholder can let down the neighbourhood by not controlling arum lilies,” she said. “It means the seed easily spreads from one property and it can undo the hard work of neighbours. “That particularly applies to absentee landholders who aren’t always around to see the problem and might not have the time to carry out arum lily control.” The co-ordinator said arum lily strongholds were noted at properties owned by absentee landholders which then allowed the weeds to continuously re-seed into surrounding areas. Workshops to educate property owners on effective control methods and use of herbicides were set for Margaret River, Dunsborough and Vasse in coming weeks. Supported by the City of Busselton, the first workshop at the Vasse Hall will run on August 19 from 3.30pm, while the Margaret River Community Centre will host a workshop on Saturday, August 24 from 2-3.30pm. Another session on August 31 runs from 2-3.30pm at Naturaliste Community Centre in Dunsborough. The end of winter was a key time for arum control with tubers sprouting into tall white flowers during spring.