TLC Central Highlands Weeding 2023

Over the past ten summers, dedicated volunteer teams have contributed over 600 days of work removing invasive weeds from the TLC's beautiful Five Rivers Reserve and Silver Plains New Leaf carbon property in Tasmania's Central Highlands. We estimate that together we have removed well in excess of 1,000,000 weeds from this important landscape!

This summer we're back at it again. We need committed teams of up to12 volunteers for three successive volunteer trips. It's hard work but bound to be a lot of fun, and a great chance to meet like-minded people - so express interest today! 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

When  

• The weeding activity dates are:
  • Tuesday 31 January - Friday 3 February at Silver Plains, Interlaken  
  • Thursday 9 - Sunday 12 February at Five Rivers Reserve, Bronte 
  • Friday 17 - Monday 20 February at Silver Plains, Interlaken     
    

Availability

• Ideally you will be available for the full four days of a weeding activity; however, you are welcome to express interest if you are only available for two-to-three days in a row. 
• Please do not express interest if you can only come for one day, or if your availability is on and off.
  

The activity

• We will break up into small teams of around three people to search for weeds, mostly from vehicles but also on foot. 
• Each team will include a weeding expert leader. 
• When we find weeds, such as ragwort and great mullein, we will either pull them out by hand when possible, or spray them with a low-toxicity herbicide*. 
  
• If you would like to participate but are concerned that you will not have the stamina to complete a full day of weeding, you can still express interest. We may be able to organise gentler volunteer activity for you in the afternoons. 
• A couple of volunteers from each team will be required to record weed data via an app on a TLC or their own smartphone. 
• The work can be hard at times. You may encounter challenging weather conditions. March flies and mosquitoes can also be unwelcome features of these trips. 

Getting there

• Silver Plains and Five Rivers Reserve are about two hours' drive from Tasmania's two major cities - Hobart and Launceston. 
• We will send directions, maps and other more detailed information a week or so before the activity. 
  

Start times

• We will start the first day at 10.00AM to allow enough time for travel to the starting points. 
• On all other days, we will start work around 8.00AM and will work until mid-to-late afternoon.
• If you are starting your volunteering stint on a day subsequent to the start day, ideally you will arrive the evening beforehand so as to be able to start at 8.00AM along with the rest of your team. Otherwise, we ask that you arrive at or before 8.00AM on your start day. 
• You must arrive punctually and commit to staying for the whole time that you are registered for.

Accommodation  

• All volunteers are required to self-sufficiently camp at Five Rivers Reserve. 
• It is preferable that all volunteers self-sufficiently camp at Silver Plains, but some single bunk beds in shared rooms are available upon request, subject to availability.
• There are very basic toilet and shower facilities at both locations. 
• More detailed information about the accommodation will be provided before each weeding trip. 
  

Transport 

• You can express interest in carpooling during registration. We will do our best to match volunteers requesting lifts with those offering lifts. A lift is not guaranteed. 

Required knowledge, skills and ability

• No special knowledge or skills are required to perform the weeding; full training will be provided to ensure you can perform the work safely and effectively.
• We will require some volunteers to record weed data via an app on a TLC or their own smartphone at times. 
• A good level of physical fitness and mobility is required. You will be required to walk over rocky, hilly terrain at times. You will need to be able to work in hot or cold temperatures. 
  
• You will need good long-distance eyesight (with eye glasses is fine) to be able to spot weeds.
• You will need to be comfortable wearing personal protective equipment when undertaking spraying*. Required personal protective equipment includes cotton overalls or a spray suit, safety glasses, gloves, a broad-brimmed hat and gum boots. We will provide these.

Safety 

• Your safety is our first priority. 
• Before the activity commences, we may contact some volunteers to discuss and determine their suitability to participate. 
• Before participating, we will require you to complete and sign a Volunteer Safety Form. 
• Required personal protective equipment will be supplied and must be worn while undertaking spraying. 
• Supporting COVID-19 containment efforts still requires everyone, including TLC staff and volunteers, to minimise contact with others and to take measures to help stop the spread. Accordingly, we will be implementing the following safety measures:
  • Volunteers and staff will maintain a minimum 1.5 meter distance between each other while working and there will be no more than one person per 2 meters squared at indoor volunteer activities. 
  • Those who wish to wear masks will be supported to do so.
  • Volunteers and staff will not be permitted to attend activities if they have the following symptoms: 
    • fever,
    • runny nose
    • cough 
    • sore/itchy throat or 
    • shortness of breath. 

What to bring

• Your own food for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and drinks in your own cooler. We will provide tea and coffee, some snacks, some alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and a delicious, wholesome dinner each night to suit all dietary requirements.
  
• Snacks or alcoholic drinks to share in the evenings (optional). 
• If you opt to sleep in a bunk at Silver Plains, you will need to bring bedding including a sheet, pillow and sleeping bag.
• If you choose to camp, you will need to bring your tent and camping equipment including bedding.
• Clothes suitable for hot or cold weather including lightweight clothes to wear underneath coveralls i.e. shorts, a t-shirt or singlet and thermals for cold days. 
  
• A raincoat.
• A broad-brimmed, washable hat. 
  
• Gum boots or other rubber boots to wear if spraying, and sturdy bush walking boots (we can provide a pair of gumboots for you if you require them). 
  
• A towel and toiletries.
  
• A torch.
• A first aid kit.
• A board game (optional).

Express interest now

We really need a great response so please express interest now. We look forward to working together with you to secure a healthier highlands environment!

* Using low-toxicity herbicide. Our weed control methods exceed best practice standards. It is impossible for us to control weeds across such a large reserve estate using manual methods alone. This means using some herbicides where hand-pulling is not possible or practical. This is consistent with best practice. For this project, we use a low-toxicity herbicide called Associate, which is selective, meaning that it only affects certain types of plants. With careful spraying, we have no impact on the surrounding vegetation. This herbicide also has a minimal effect on mammals, birds and fish, and we use it in such low quantities that it does not enter the water table. It also breaks down rapidly in the soil, which means that it does not have a lasting effect on the environment. Spraying is usually only a small component of the work day (averaging about 30 mins – 1 hour), with most of our time spent searching for weeds as we drive along tracks or walk through grasslands. If you would personally prefer not to spray herbicide, you are still welcome to express interest for this activity, acting as a weed spotter and puller, but preference may be given to volunteers who are willing to spray.

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Phill Laroche on 0438 826 606 or plaroche@tasland.org.au

Photo credit: Phill Laroche