Council News

Shoalhaven City Council is encouraging local residents to identify and remove the environmental weed, Cassia from local properties.

Originating from South America, Cassia (Senna pendula) was originally brought to Australia as an ornamental horticultural plant.

Local residents will recognise the weed from its bright yellow buttercup flowers which are currently in bloom. Cassia thrives in all conditions and can be found along the area’s beaches, creeks and roadsides.

Mayor, Joanna Gash said Cassia was an incredibly invasive weed, out competing many of the area’s native plants for nutrients and sunlight.

“While the flowers may appear quite alluring, make no mistake, Cassia is a serious environmental weed that needs to be eradicated from the Shoalhaven,” said Clr Gash.

“Many of the area’s 65 Bushcare Groups already spend countless hours controlling and removing this invasive plant from our bushland reserves, however more needs to be done.

“Council is calling on the local community to identify and remove any outbreaks of Cassia from within private property.”

“Small plants, under knee high, are able to be removed by simply pulling out the shrub from the roots while larger weeds may need to be sawn or cut at the base of the trunk and the stump painted with a small amount of undiluted Glyphosate.”

“Left unattended, Cassia will continue to reduce biodiversity in our natural bushland by outcompeting our native plants and creating an unwanted mono-culture.”

Mayor Gash said any local residents looking for more information on Cassia or any other serious weeds can use the resources found on Council’s website  

or by downloading a copy of  Grow Me Instead 

Residents wanting a hard copy of the Grow Me Instead Booklet can phone Council on 4429 3111 or email
 to receive a copy.

CONTACT: Mayor, Joanna Gash – 0427 160 172