Restoration project targets Serrated Tussock on Western Grasslands Reserve Land
We are excited to share an exciting update from the field!
A major ecological restoration project is underway in Victoria’s future Western Grassland Reserve, led by Wyndham City Council (WCC) through its Land Protection Grant Scheme. Funded by the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), the multi-year initiative is targeting dense infestations of Serrated Tussock across private land earmarked for conservation. The project combines aerial herbicide application, ecological burning, and native grass reseeding to restore biodiversity and improve long-term land health.
This project showcases an innovative approach, combining state-of-the-art technology with time-tested ecological practices.
Phase 1: Assessment and Aerial Control
The work began with a thorough flora survey of the entire property, organised by WCC. The assessment revealed a significant challenge: 42 hectares of land suffering from dense Serrated Tussock infestations.
To hit these dense areas hard, WCC project officers organised two different aerial treatments in Winter 2024. Due to varying site access—including the presence of powerlines—some areas were treated by a fixed-wing plane, while others required a drone application. Both methods involved an aerial boom spray application of flup (flupropanate) at the lower rate of .
Phase 2: Ecological Burn and Follow-up
Following the aerial treatment, the next critical step was the ecological burn. In Winter 2025, 32 hectares were safely burnt. Burning dead tussock in winter is a crucial safety measure, significantly reducing the risks associated with burning in drier seasons like spring or autumn.
The goal of this controlled burn is simple but effective: to eliminate the majority of the biomass on the ground, creating a clean slate for the next stages of restoration. The WCC team will now monitor these burnt sites closely, applying follow-up weed control for problem species like artichoke thistle and great mullein as needed.
Watch the Action!
You can see footage of one of the contractors conducting this critical winter burn in the video, “Themeda Ecology Prescribed Burn Moretons rd” (5:28), on the Themeda Ecology YouTube channel.
Phase 3: Fencing and Drone Seeding
The most exciting part of the restoration involves the return of native grasses. The landowner has generously agreed to fence off 14 hectares from livestock for the next few years, allowing us to exclude grazing. This ungrazed area provides the perfect opportunity for direct seeding.
In mid-Spring 2025, WCC plan to spread approximately of native perennial grass seed. The terrain is extremely rocky, so WCC are leveraging technology, utilising a drone to spread the seed efficiently across the landscape.
WCC specifically chose indigenous summer-growing perennial grass species because they offer two key advantages:
- They are resistant to the flup herbicide that will still be persisting in the soil.
- Once established, they will be a fierce competitor against the inevitable reinvasion of Serrated Tussock, as both actively grow during the summer months.
The species chosen for this crucial re-establishment phase are: Themeda triandra (Kangaroo Grass), Chloris truncata (Windmill Grass), Bothriochloa macra (Redleg Grass), and Dicantheum sericeum (Silky Blue Grass).
A Partnership for Success
This ambitious project highlights the power of collaboration. The landowner fully supports the plan, recognising that continued grazing in such dense infestations isn’t viable and is committed to resting the land to allow the native grasses to establish. By taking up the opportunity through Wyndham City Council’s Land Protection Grant Scheme, the landowner benefits from WCC project management, handling all the complex logistics, from sourcing skilled contractors to managing insurances.
Awards Recognition!
In further fantastic news, WCC are proud to announce that our Land Protection Grant Scheme has been named a finalist for the 2025 Tidy Towns & Cities Sustainability Awards in the Environment Category! This recognition underscores the vital work being done to protect and restore our precious Western Grasslands.
Stay tuned for more updates as we monitor the success of the seeding and watch the native grasses reclaim this valuable land!
