Millner resident caught selling Class A weeds on Facebook marketplace

The seller told authorities they had been growing one of the country’s worst weed species in their suburban backyard for more than two decades.

The NT Weed Management Branch was alerted by a member of the public that Cabomba caroliniana was being advertised for sale on Facebook marketplace by a private resident in Millner. Officers were surprised to discover three other weeds of national significance at the suburban home. Picture: Supplied.

A Darwin resident has been caught selling several of the worst invasive weeds in the country, one of which they admitted to growing for more than two decades.

In January a member of the public tipped off the Environment Department that cabomba caroliniana was being advertised for sale on Facebook marketplace by a private resident in Millner.

Millions of dollars have been spent attempting to eradicate cabomba from Territory waterways since it was first recorded at Marlow Lagoon in 1996.

The weed is recognised as one of the 32 worst weed species in Australia – a weed of national significance – due to its incredible ability to spread, choke out native aquatic animals and plants, and degrade water quality.

The NT Weed Management Branch was alerted by a member of the public that Cabomba caroliniana was being advertised for sale on Facebook marketplace by a private resident in Millner. Officers were surprised to discover three other weeds of national significance at the suburban home. Picture: Supplied.

After being alerted to the ad, members of the weed management branch went to the Millner home and found a holding pond with five prepared strands of cabomba ready for buyers to select their preferred cutting, all about 50cm long and in full flower.

The seller pointed out a second pond where the parent cabomba plants had been growing “for many years” – along with three other weeds of national significance.

In a statement the Environment Department said the officers were “surprised to find” sagittaria platyphylla (delta arrowhead), salvinia molesta (salvinia), opuntia ficus-indica (prickly pears).

“The seller advised that despite growing the cabomba for more than 2 decades, they were unaware it was a weed,” the department said.

The NT Weed Management Branch was alerted by a member of the public that Cabomba caroliniana was being advertised for sale on Facebook marketplace by a private resident in Millner. Officers were surprised to discover three other weeds of national significance at the suburban home. Picture: Supplied.

The weed officers emptied and cleaned the entire pond to remove all plant material and substrate, filtering the water through a fine-mesh sieve to ensure no material escaped.

The pond was emptied, scrubbed clean of all algae and other material and left in a state “ready for the owner to start again” with plants that are not dangerous weeds.

The department said efforts were made to protect the fish and snails in the pond and relocate them to other ponds on the property.

Ongoing inspections will occur at the home until the weed management officers are satisfied no further germination of the weeds has occurred.

“This case highlights the critical role that citizen science plays in having ‘eyes in the community’,” the department said.

“The initial report led to swift removal of these dangerous weeds from public circulation.”

Originally published as Millner resident caught selling Class A weeds on Facebook marketplace