North Shore Landcare Group were successful in gaining Crown Land Funding to do an aerial spray of bitou bush using a drone. Ian Hamann from North Shore Landcare says, “the dunes were beginning to become overrun with bitou bush and we knew action needed to be taken. We went through the Crown Lands approval process and started looking into the best approach. Using drones was the most effective, targeted and safest way to manage this weed problem".
Hastings Drone Services did the spray during winter when the native plant species have slowed their growth and are more dormant. Using the drone is also very targeted, uses less chemical, can access all the weeds with ease, is safer than spraying on foot and there is also less disturbance to dunes via walking though the site. Neil from Hastings Drone Services says, “we have found drone spraying very effective on the dune because it is very targeted, and we can control the bitou bush and leave the banksia and wattles”. North shore Landcare Group will continue to monitor and carry out follow up weed control.
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